The Followings of a Red Beret

An Introduction to Lament and Change

There was light, then there was darkness.

Eyes opened to unknown familiarity.

A soul figure stood by my awakening,

Who? It is not known.

Cloaked in shadows, deathly pale

Hollow eyes regarded me.

Ground and sky meeting, melting,

Swirling, changing, and he vanished with the breath of wind.

Arriving at the apex of my emotional plummet,

Ancient memories crackled to life.

Whether I close my eyes, my mind, or my mind's eye

The whispering past found me, overwhelmed me.

* * * *

The sirens whirled around the scene of the "accident", with EMT's and paramedics buzzing around the corpses like flies. However, one corpse still had but a breath of life.

"Ah, this one is still alive! Get her in the ambulance! Hurry!"

It happened in an instant, two souls gone in a flash, leaving one to sink into darkness. Everyone and everything was frantic around Elise, yet no one and nothing was as frantic as Elise herself. 

****

Staring into a tangible reflection,

My eyes touched her.

Her gaze passed my existence though,

Looking through me like looking through a pair of looking-glass. 

Suddenly she, I, distorted to a sneering face.

How repulsive! I could only watch,

The way her wretched foot pummeled onto my body.

While I, he, was beaten, only my heart quivered. 

Words I so clearly recall

Spat back into my face.

Huddled at the doorsteps of the home of my own crimes,

The set changes, preparing the delightful torture of another scene. 

****

"Nice" was a word that was never used to describe me. Not even once. I guess you could say that there was a good reason for that, I just never fully understood why. 

I often wondered how anyone can still be "nice" after constantly being reminded of the contrary. My parents never failed their duty to remind me, neither did any of my peers, even Petra for that matter. Insignificant beings like waiters and clerks also occasionally have the impudence to reprimand me. 

It wasn't my fault that I was like this, I used to think. You can't just complain about the flaws of a person and not tell them what is wrong, and everybody's constant nagging just made it worse. 

I was plenty nice, I would think to myself. I forgave the maid who I caught napping on the job with only a little requirement for compensation. I also told that stupid girl Abbey who attended my school that she was actually really annoying and nobody really liked her and that she should stop being such a try-hard because she will never be accepted by me and my friends. It was just the truth... Why was everyone criticizing me for being an honest realist?