Man in the Mask

In their last moments, people tend to show you who they really are. That’s why it’s better to use a knife because guns… are way too quick. I never started out like this. I never really intended for what happened to happen. But when your face looks like this… how else are you supposed to act? I mean give a man a mask, and he’ll become his true self. So, I guess you could say life has its up and downs but have you ever realized that we stopped looking for monsters under the bed when we realized they’re inside of us? That’s when it all started.

Have you ever lived a life where people tried so hard to tell you who you’re supposed to be? People try so hard to push their dreams on you because they couldn’t make them come true themselves. Well, welcome to my life. From day one my mom wanted me to be this perfect little angel, and my dad… my dad; he wanted me to be like him, a doctor, making millions. I guess you could say we were the perfect family, right? WRONG! It was about 14 years ago. My dad used to be a doctor, making millions, until one mistake cost him his job. He became a nasty old drunk who never really cared about anyone but himself and his booze. He came home drunk one night, as usual, and walked into my room. I tried my hardest to keep a straight, mad face but now that I look back on it… that really wasn’t such a great idea…

~ ~

Never really had a thing for clowns, until I turned into one. “Why so serious? Let’s put a smile on that face,” became my catchphrase. 'Cause after that accident, every emotion became complete with a smile. But that one day, that one explosion, changed my life… for good.

I’m not one for loving emotions, although it could be safe to say our relationship is what you call… bizarre. Bizarre enough that I actually love her. Well, in a weird, violent, romantic, kind of way. Have you ever danced with the devil in the moonlight? My love for her was stronger than their madhouse walls. I guess you could say our love was a story of danger, death, and a new beginning.

~ ~

It all happened at that hospital; you know the one I was supposed to blow up? You know, like I always say, first come first serve when it comes to destruction. In a matter of seconds, my life went from this crazy never-ending spiral to something I’ve never imagined it would. Three, two, one! It’s almost as if she landed right in my arms. Well, I mean, she kind of did.

“Wow…” I say, trying to catch my breath as she merely jumps out of my arms. “Thanks.”

“For, what exactly?” She smirks.

“I guess you could say you beat me to it,” I chuckle.

“Well, first come first serve when it comes to destruction.”

“That’s exactly what I say… Is this a dream? No, it can’t be… I’m a monster… I don’t dream. I create nightmares!”

Well, I can tell you one thing… it wasn’t a dream. Harley and I have been together for some time now. It’s been a little rocky, but hey… madness, as you know, is like gravity. All it takes is a little push.

I tend to be like a dog sometimes… I chase after cars not really knowing what would happen if I actually caught up to one… I guess in our case, chaos was an angel who fell in love with a demon.

~ ~

“What happened to you? I watched the man I love turn into a monster!” She slowly turns away.

“Why should I apologize for the monster I’ve become? No one ever apologized for making me this way now did they?”

“This isn’t me! I’m not like you! I’m like them… I’m normal and so are you!” Harley began to cry as she started to walk away.

“Don’t talk like you’re one of them! You’re not! To them, you’re just a freak… like me!” I gently grab her arm pulling her back.

As I look into her eyes I can’t help but think maybe she’s right… Maybe all of this is just a twisted reality I’ve created…

“Listen, it takes two messed up people to make a normal relationship.”

“I never started out this way…”

“Neither did I, my darling, but maybe this is the way it’s supposed to be.”

“What are you saying...?” Harley looks up at me as I wrap my skeleton like hands around her.

“As they say, love, my dear, is merely a madness. Us meeting the way we did was out of our control. Fate took the wheel of both of our lives and took us to a place… took us to feelings I never thought were here. This is our perfect nightmare.”

~The end