Saturday, December 12, 2009
The Thieves
"They're stealing from me."
The sincerity in his eyes was the only communication that made sense to me.
"Why do you think they're stealing from you?"
A woman walked by in mid-conversation with another. "Look at her. She walks by, pointing and laughing because she knows." She continued out the door, oblivious to his words.
"Grandpa, I think she's just a visitor now going home." He looked intently at me, as if he wondered if I was in on the scheme as well.
"They're stealing from me. I used to have things, but I no longer do. And now I don't remember."
I nodded because I understood. It was the first time he made sense to me in years. His paranoia has only escalated over time. At 94, his body wants to continue, but his mind gave up long ago. Not so long ago he would walk around, talking to anyone who feigned to listen, his body able to take care of itself. But his mind, oh his mind. It wandered the streets, seeking warmth in the darkness, alone in the bleakness of the night. It disappeared like a magician, leaving those in its midst full of bewilderment. Where had it gone? But it always returned, having found daylight for a time.
"I know you," he said, focusing my attention on him again. I smiled, amazed at his lucidity.
"Yes, yes you do."
"Teddy. Where have you been?"
"What?"
"Where have you been, Teddy?"
I slipped it back on, the mask waiting to be replaced. It was of a face plastered with an understanding smile. I didn't want him to see the real face I hid below.
I turned to her, asking who Teddy is. She said it was her cousin and also his brother. There were two: father and son. For the briefest of moments I looked down at myself, wondering what about me looked masculine. Just as the embarrassment began to fill me, I looked up at him again. There was a light in his eyes that had previously been faded. I hadn't seen such happiness in quite some time.
The thieves had not taken all his memories, but one day would return for what they left behind.
"I'm here. It's good to see you," I said, simply because it was kind. I wanted the light in his eyes to shine brightly and light my pathway through his mind. His meanness had vanished along with the dark. I wanted always to reflect that light and absorb it into my flesh.
The thieves come for us all at some point. What they steal depends on what they need for their collection. Sometimes they steal organs, sometimes minds, recycling body parts to put together new flesh so they can continue to live on and steal from the rest of us. I'm not sure when they'll invade me or what they'll steal, but I know there is nothing I can do to stop them.
Until then, I will focus on the light in his eyes, and let the light in mine guide the way.
The sincerity in his eyes was the only communication that made sense to me.
"Why do you think they're stealing from you?"
A woman walked by in mid-conversation with another. "Look at her. She walks by, pointing and laughing because she knows." She continued out the door, oblivious to his words.
"Grandpa, I think she's just a visitor now going home." He looked intently at me, as if he wondered if I was in on the scheme as well.
"They're stealing from me. I used to have things, but I no longer do. And now I don't remember."
I nodded because I understood. It was the first time he made sense to me in years. His paranoia has only escalated over time. At 94, his body wants to continue, but his mind gave up long ago. Not so long ago he would walk around, talking to anyone who feigned to listen, his body able to take care of itself. But his mind, oh his mind. It wandered the streets, seeking warmth in the darkness, alone in the bleakness of the night. It disappeared like a magician, leaving those in its midst full of bewilderment. Where had it gone? But it always returned, having found daylight for a time.
"I know you," he said, focusing my attention on him again. I smiled, amazed at his lucidity.
"Yes, yes you do."
"Teddy. Where have you been?"
"What?"
"Where have you been, Teddy?"
I slipped it back on, the mask waiting to be replaced. It was of a face plastered with an understanding smile. I didn't want him to see the real face I hid below.
I turned to her, asking who Teddy is. She said it was her cousin and also his brother. There were two: father and son. For the briefest of moments I looked down at myself, wondering what about me looked masculine. Just as the embarrassment began to fill me, I looked up at him again. There was a light in his eyes that had previously been faded. I hadn't seen such happiness in quite some time.
The thieves had not taken all his memories, but one day would return for what they left behind.
"I'm here. It's good to see you," I said, simply because it was kind. I wanted the light in his eyes to shine brightly and light my pathway through his mind. His meanness had vanished along with the dark. I wanted always to reflect that light and absorb it into my flesh.
The thieves come for us all at some point. What they steal depends on what they need for their collection. Sometimes they steal organs, sometimes minds, recycling body parts to put together new flesh so they can continue to live on and steal from the rest of us. I'm not sure when they'll invade me or what they'll steal, but I know there is nothing I can do to stop them.
Until then, I will focus on the light in his eyes, and let the light in mine guide the way.
