The Guy, in the saddest place.
The place in the center of his chest feels like it’s in pieces. But that’s okay.
Because The Guy thinks, “Maybe this is how The Fella felt when The Guy did this to him.”
So The Guy thinks, “This is deserved.”
The Place in the center of his chest feels different, less…
… just less.
The Uncertain Future appears.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Hey.
THE GUY
Hey.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Maybe it didn’t.
THE GUY
Huh?
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Maybe it didn’t feel the same.
THE GUY
What did?
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
The place in the center of his chest when you did this to him.
THE GUY
Oh.
Yeah.
I hadn’t thought of that.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Because you seem to be the only one here.
THE GUY
Well, there’s you.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
I don’t count.
THE GUY
Then, yeah. There’s just me.
The Guy imagines for a second what happened after he did this to The Fella.
In what he imagines, nothing’s broken.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Sucks, huh?
THE GUY
A little.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
So, what are you doing here?
THE GUY
I don’t know.
I want him to realize I’m here
and I want him to feel so bad that I’m here
that he leaves where he is
and he comes to find me.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
But how can someone find you
if they’ve never been to the place where you are?
THE GUY
I don’t know that’s true.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
If what was before
was anything like this…
he’d have been here already.
The guy looks around.
He sees that he’s the first person in this particular place.
Because every relationship, no matter how small, builds a place like this – the place where the people in it go when something breaks inside them, the place people go to repair.
He got here first. As far as he can tell.
THE GUY
Maybe I can wait for him.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Why? He’s not coming.
THE GUY
Maybe.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
He’s not coming.
THE GUY
You don’t know that.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
He’s not coming.
A long silence. Where The Guy thinks that it doesn’t matter anymore whether or not The Fella ever felt like this, because even if he did, he’s not coming back, not ever, because things (once they’re broken) can only be fixed by people who want them fixed, and nobody can fix something like this alone.
THE GUY
He’s not coming.
We should go.
The Guy scribbles a note on a piece of paper from his pocket and leaves it in the center of this place.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
What’s that?
THE GUY
A note.
In case he comes looking for me.
Because maybe he’s late.
Maybe he’s just unsure of the directions.
Maybe he’s just trying to avoid ever having to come back to a place like this.
I don’t know.
But if he comes.
I don’t want him to think I was only making it up that I was here.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
Oh. But he’s not coming.
THE GUY
I know, but if he does –
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
He’s not.
THE GUY
I know.
I’m hopeful.
Even though I shouldn’t be.
Even in the absence of whatever makes me hopeful.
He’s worth that much.
The guy makes sure the note can be read from whatever distance one sees it.
THE GUY
Ok.
UNCERTAIN FUTURE
What?
THE GUY
Let’s go. If he’s coming, he’ll catch up.
The Guy walks off, and is gone, followed by his Uncertain Future.
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3 comments:
oh my god...i'm crying...seriously...i hate you...how can you make someone feel so much from words. you've definitely got a gift. it could also be used as a weapon. huh. i don't really hate you.
What are we supposed to do about our Uncertain Futures? Are we supposed to let things happen to us? Is there enough time for that? Or are we supposed to be proactive and take things into our own hands? I've been in that place before. It's lonely, especially when you hear the rustling of leaves under thousands of people's feet around you, but when you look around, behind trees and rocks, there doesn't seem to be anyone there. This one's sacred. I feel bad leaving a comment, like I'm walking into your mind with muddy shoes.
It's weird...I use that word alot...but when Greg and I broke up...for the first little while I remember wishing that he would fight for me...that he would appologise and everything would be the way it was and that we could work it out...NOW when I think about those days I'm glad I didn't act on that...because I know I'd be right back where I was in that place that made me more and more unhappy as every day passed...
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