BrokenEchoes

    I spent the morning getting things ready I sharpened my tools I packed my provisions Arranged them into a convenient bundle That nestled comfortably between my shoulder blades Then I started climbing Hours later I reached the summit The apex of my world Cloudless sky in every direction The entirety of the mountain under my feet I can see the dark forest from here I can see the dank swamp And I can see my grey house They are closer than I remember I don’t want to go back I will die free on this peak Rather than return to those traps I will rest here, these final days.

  Taking slow, measured steps Like walking in a minefield There is concealed danger in every direction Carnage a footstep away I am nearly paralyzed with fear But I can’t stay here I am wounded I need medical attention If I don’t get out of here, I will die I gingerly test the earth with each new step Knowing that the smallest mistake Will be catastrophic.

  I had a feeling Deep and disquieting I worried that this might happen There was a chance I could be wrong But I wasn’t To no one’s surprise, You met my abysmal expectations I am trying to help you I want to help you But you must contribute also If you want to get better You must put in the work Do you? Do you want to get better? I’ll keep trying if you will start.

  At sunrise the ritual will begin again I will be awakened at first light I will scrape the impurities from my skin Wrap myself with the ceremonial garments I must ingest the foul tonic A moment to embrace my family Craft my farewells Then I start the journey to the village square I will meet with the elders I will be questioned Guided Tested They will judge me If I am deemed worthy, the ritual will repeat If not, if the elders disapprove I will be banished To live a life outside Where resources are scarce Where I may starve, or worse With fortune I have pleased the elders so far I have lasted longer than most Every day I fear may be my last I must continue passing the tests I must continue winning their favor My life depends on repeating the ritual.

  I have been steadfast I have been honorable and dependable I have been consistent You have not My part has always been done Yours has not Now our journey is ended Our time together is over In all truth I couldn’t be happier Fate has smiled upon me A great burden has been lifted from me And the obstacles have been cleared from my path.

  Here we are again Same as before Nothing has changed We have no new plan We have no new information We keep trying And we keep failing I won’t last much longer We must make some progress We have to make this work Or I will fall apart Into lifeless chunks That crumble into fine dust That are carried away on the wind The atoms that I was Never to be reunited.

  It happens whenever this song plays I can hear her voice as she sings along Adding shape to the abstract And color to the unseen Her cadence ebbs as I inhale Flows as I exhale Her fingers snap along with my heartbeat During the chorus, she spins I get dizzy She is with me while the tune exists But gone when it is over As the music fades into oblivion So does she.