Presage (verb): To predict or foretell a future event. Presage (noun): An omen, portent, or indication of a future event.
The term “presage” originates from the Latin word “praesagium,” combining “prae-” meaning “before” and “sagire” meaning “to perceive keenly.” It entered the English language in the late 14th century, retaining its meaning related to foretelling events.
Fuck, he thought for the seventh time in the last minute. He had never been this blocked. He’d had days, even the occasional week that he couldn’t write. But never like this…never months. It wasn’t that he didn’t have anything to say…quite the opposite, actually. He had so much to say he didn’t know where even to begin. For months now, significant events had unfolded far more rapidly that society could process them, and far too fast for him to keep up with, commentary-wise. And thus, things had spun out of control months ago.
The previous year, in a series of meticulously crafted blog entries, he began to presage the downfall of the American Republic. His warnings were not borne out of paranoia but from a deep analysis of the incumbent president’s actions. The president’s clear contempt for democratic norms, relentless assaults on the free press, and almost comically divisive rhetoric had people concerned, especially in light of the alarming increase in public pants-shitting episodes. Each post was a call to arms, urging his fellow citizens to recognize the signs before it was too late.
One entry, titled “The Twilight of Democracy,” stood out. “We stand on the precipice of a new era,” he wrote. “An era where the very foundations of our Republic are under siege. The signs are clear—our freedom teeters on the edge as authoritarian shadows loom large.”
Despite his compelling arguments and data-backed insights, he faced a barrage of skepticism, vitriol, and bullshit. Many dismissed his predictions as alarmist or paranoid, while others accused him of partisan bias. Undeterred, he continued his crusade, hoping that his words would reach those who could still make a difference.
Months turned into years, and the political landscape grew increasingly volatile. Scandals erupted, institutions crumbled, and civil liberties were eroded. As the country’s stability waned, his presages seemed to transform from speculation into grim reality. Those who once jeered at his predictions now revisited his blog with a newfound respect.
In the end, his voice echoed through the annals of history as a presage unheeded. His story serves as a poignant reminder: sometimes, the most critical warnings come not from official channels, but from the perceptive minds that dare to foresee the future.
N.P.: “Cast No Shadow” – Tales of Sound and Silence
