Hastening the End

An anxious sadness overtakes me. There is nothing special about the day, it feels as if it has been this way for some time. My thoughts turn to the end, and wondering how soon it may come. One could force the end, as well, I ponder this. I am a gentleman, but I feel I am reaching my melting point. What might happen once my core integrity and control begin to crack. These thoughts fly through my head, as I am harassed constantly by locusts, the kind that simply say "Hey." Over and over; it is tortuous.  I feel myself losing patience.

That's when I remember something. "There is a way a gentleman can force the end." My mind returns to a plan once concocted. She seems to avoid me as I brew this plan, nervous of the outcome. It does involve crossing a line, but oh so faint.  It forms first in its smallest details, and then a song comes on strengthening my focus. Then another comes on to embolden me, and I move with determination.

I arrive in typical fashion for days like today. You seem surprised to see me, and then even more as the look on my face conveys a daring you seem to have not seen in some time. You do not take a step though, forward or back, nor speak a word.  There is still a taunting smile faintly visible on your face, the final echoes of "So what are you gonna do?"

I begin to dance to the first song, weaving intention into movement, I don't know how much of it you see, nor do I care at this point. You do not take a step until the second verse, choosing to remain silent.  Like a harmonizing chorus we dance around each other each adding our own perspective to the movements. I have my answer. The stage is finally set when the second song begins.

I appear at the start of the second song, in typical fashion. You seem surprised to see me, and have a curious look on your face as I walk toward you in a determined fashion. If I had not seen the first, I would have hesitated in this moment, but layered reality has betrayed your intentions. I reach my hand out and at full stride touch your forehead lightly, immediately pulling back.  Your shock permeates the moment, as we both know what this means. I see the entire image flashing in your mind and mine simultaneously.

A shock wave emanates from you. In the vicinity all childhood cancer immediately dies, and then the wave intensifies, shaking reality, as the same happens worldwide. You look at me in a way I have never seen before, honest awe leaving behind no expression. I smirk, it is not done.

Wave two erupts, and all disease is wiped out worldwide. A third erupts, this time from within us all at a molecular level, I can see our DNA shifting, casting off the shackles of age.  Hunger, thirst, all the pains of this world, are expelled with it.

You turn back to me, shocked at my boldness, but not particularly angry. "It had to happen sometime, in some way. My hourglass runs out of sand, I feel as though I may die without you. On the brink of death, who knows what might happen. I know I have started a clock for everyone here, but it is a clock we can all live with, and race against together. I, for one, am not ashamed of the hand I played in this dance. If the end must come, let a gentleman escort her in, even if it is not of one's typical character."

My brazen edge turns askew for just a moment, tone inflecting a question, a request for a clear reply.