Making Up For Lost Time
Author : Duncan Shields, Staff Writer
The correctional facility did not work for me.
I left the building with the need to make up for lost time.
I waited exactly one day and sixteen hours before I grabbed someone and dragged him into an alley to resume work on cleaning the world like I was destined to do.
I guess the cops didn’t tell me about the remote probation device they’d installed in me.
I had my hand drawn back to start working on this terrified man the way the voices had directed when all of a sudden my body felt like it was on fire. My muscles spasmed and I collapsed to the ground in the dirty alley amongst the needles, newspaper and grease.
I stayed there for half an hour. People went through my pockets and found nothing. They stole my shoes.
I woke up angry.
I punched the dumpster beside me, denting it with my hands. My body erupted in searing pain again as I did this. My muscles spasmed and I collapsed to the ground for a second time.
The probation device was wired to my body’s pulse and respiratory system. It was wired to my brain waves.
I needed to remain calm and positive or I would be shocked into convulsions again.
No problem.
I practiced on cats and stray dogs for three months.
Now I can kill an animal with no change in my heartbeat or breathing. I can do it with nothing but positive thoughts in my head. The creator would be proud.
All the time I’ve been practicing on the animals, the voices have been demanding I resume my job. They don’t understand about the probation device. It’s maddening. It’s been torture knowing that I can’t resume my work until I perfect my innermost emotions.
It’s time now. I’m ready to do a human.
I leave the front door of the cave of boxes I’ve made in my squat like a trap door spider coming into daylight.
For the second time in my life, I feel like I’ve been released from prison.
I have to make up for lost time.
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365tomorrows launched August 1st, 2005 with the lofty goal of providing a new story every day for a year. We’ve been on the wire ever since. Our stories are a mix of those lovingly hand crafted by a talented pool of staff writers, and select stories received by submission.
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