Conditional Reality

Psychward Snakeskin fell in love with atoms. He adored these fundamental building blocks of the observable universe. Then he discovered atoms are made of protons and electrons and such. Psychward took a deep breath and accepted these as the ultimate constituents of matter. But no. Protons and electrons are made of quarks. Fine, said Psychward through clenched teeth, I love quarks. But wait. Quarks are made of strings. Psychward was punch-drunk and brokenhearted. I can’t switch loves again, he said, it hurts too much. No one has had the heart to tell him that strings are made of donut holes.