I walk proud of the accomplishment that is around me, knowing that everything is done by my hand alone, that the power lies within just a few fingers and a single touch. Every living thing is under my command. I am king of this land, and i control.
This absolute authority excites me more than the first flowers of spring. How often have you seen matters truly in your own hands? that you can command even the collective feelings of man? Not often, no, not often at all. but i’ve been doing it for so long, and it still amuses me very much. Sometimes i’m kind and children love me; other times i am angry, i create havoc and people curse me. i am unperturbed by their asinine comments, who are they to command my nature anyway?
So imagine my wrath when, as i walk down my usual path on my morning strolls, a sunny hand jerks my hair and pulls me back. I turn around to lash at this impertinent stranger, and realise it’s a familiar entity. he greets me with a smile and a bow, there was warmth in his eyes, and a liveliness to his talk. he irritated me with the sight of his springy jaunt. why is it he who perpetually challenges my dominion?
He replies to my silent accusation. it is not my fault, dear sir, your mother has called. he smiles and waves a cheery goodbye and banishes me to my sad demise. Oh no, ‘dear sir’, i’m not a baby. you have no command and you won’t take me easy. as usual there’s no forbearance over his part, and i’m certainly not one to refuse a fight. he springs up and instantly hurtles a blow - a hot fist touches my cool brow. I throw him off with a side-kick and he slid from me with a little chill. our fights are always very predictable, a parry, a feint, a full punch and a well-aimed kick. soon we are perspiring, but his smile never left. i hate the knowing grin that stays in his eyes. he thinks he knows me very well.
we stop in unison to chase our breath, and pretty soon i grudgingly left. he does know me very well, we’ve been brothers since we’re born. he irks me just to see me tick but knows that i have no choice but allow him the satisfaction to smirk. My final revenge was to point to a girl, who’s now crying because i’m leaving. There, my brother, see what you’ve done! but he never allows me the last laugh, and returns me that annoying sunny smile.
with every step i take my work’s undone. the beauty that i’ve crafted unravels beneath me, and one heavy foot after the other leaves the warmth behind. I sigh a last sigh before i leave my land. we’ll meet in 9 months once again.
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A snowman melted on the girl’s knees, and a single shoot buds out of the unfrozen ground.
