""Some people get vengeance and karma a bit confused with the other. Karma is something that simply balances the scale of action. Vengeance however, is a punishing action purposely inflicted onto another solely for self-gratification. And the guilt that follows can take you straight to hell."" -Unknown Source
The term, 'insanity' gets thrown around a lot these days. However, even with the amount of horror movies, books, and legends there are out there, no one has ever really explained it in its full detail. In all honesty, the only way to understand true insanity is to experience it. As for me, I think my insanity began with forgetting to let my dog out.
He wasn't really the brightest of mutts. I got him when I moved to Tennessee for my new job. I wasn't really used to living so far away from my family or all of my friends back home, so I at least wanted a pet so as not to feel so lonely. Over the course of two years however, he had gotten quite annoying. He would bark for no reason late at night and keep me up for hours on end. I hadn't slept since I got him. I'd always show up to work with circles under my eyes and three mugs of coffee.
I couldn't even leave him alone unless he was outside; because if he was inside, he would destroy anything he could fit those teeth of his on. His teeth... Those damn teeth of his chewed through everything. Table legs, chairs, doors, papers, curtains, pillows, blankets, sheets, window panes, leashes, his own toys, it didn't matter. Even worse, whatever he recently chewed, he'd track all over the house for me to pick up. My job didn't leave me time to pick up after him every two seconds, so I eventually left him outside no matter the weather until I came home.
Except for one day.
I was running late and he wouldn't go out. He didn't bark much that night, so I decided to let him off easy today. Nine hours later, I came home to a dented remote, cotton and feathers all over the floor, large wooden splinters from my table and chairs, ripped papers, shredded clothes, and a broken dog food bag spread all over the floor. I even got to step in an extra special brown gift he left just for me; in my only pair of work shoes. Then I saw him panting innocently, his teeth just gleaming at me.
That was it. I had to stop those teeth from chewing through my life.
I had put some powerful sleep medication into his food bowl and just patiently waited. Twenty minutes later, he just dropped. Dead asleep. I quietly stood up, and slowly crept into the spare room to get my toolbox. When I sneaked back, he was snoring loudly. Very loudly. So loudly, I saw no need to be as quiet. (Which made fumbling around in my toolbox all the more relaxing.) I then thought about how long the sleep meds would last. Finally, I pulled out what I needed.
My Pliers.
They weren't rusty whatsoever. In fact, they were brand new. I was just going to pull out each of his teeth. Not give him Tetanus. Then I'd most certainly be going to my grave with something to repent for. I had to make sure this was precise. I didn't want make too big of a mess to clean up. Slowly I crept up to him. His wrinkled face was stuck to the floorboards. His dark eyes closed in a peaceful sleep. His body inflating and deflating from his deep snores. I drew my face close to his... and peeled back his lips to reveal my enemies: Gleaming pearl white. With unimaginable softness, I slowly gripped the pliers around his canine. I wasn't even shaking. Closing my eyes and taking a deep breath, I cleared my mind of any fears, of reluctance, of everything. Then, I yanked.
The tooth came out with a loud, crack-sounding pop... I stared at it dangling in the pliers in my hand, and my dogs bleeding lips...
I suddenly craved retribution.
All the years this damn animal had chewed through my life were about to be well paid for. I began yanking his teeth out like I was pulling weeds from rocky soil. Some came out smoothly, others needed some extra... force. About halfway through the operation, I realized I was smiling. Maybe even laughing. I can't really remember... It all just happened so fast. When the deed was done, I let out a huge sigh. I had barely been breathing as I performed this little checkup on my mutt. He surprisingly didn't bleed too much, and whatever blood still leaking from his toothless mouth was soaked up with cotton and soft towels. He just lay there still snoring as loud as ever.
