MicroHorror

I will ask a simple question: what do you see? Do you see another human being, a fellow insignificant speck on an insignificant speck that wanders aimlessly around a glowing orb in the cold arena of space? Do you see another living creature who like yourself is acting out the scene of life with only vague ideas and beliefs as to what waits beyond? One who can’t grasp the slightest notion of where life began or how long it will last? People who shut out the inevitable fact that all we do or say will be incinerated when the sun swells and engulfs the inner planets? Is that what you see?

Do you see another person full of thoughts, fears, desires? One who shares sunlight and rain and warmth and cold with all other living creatures whether they want to or not? Someone who strives to live each and every day to the fullest despite whichever path that may require?

Do you see an enemy or a friend? An accomplice or an opponent? Do you see a reflection of yourself? A mirror image staring back at you, similar and yet not so alike? Remember, mirrors distort images backwards; they do not reveal inside the person. They cannot expose that private little room inside of all of us where we hide away from the world’s probing judgments. Sometimes we even hide away from ourselves.

Do you see someone who embodies all that is bad in people? Someone who embraces and even displays every aspect of evil and cruelty despite the enormous undertaking of such a task given mankind’s long and storied history of evil?

Or do you see someone who glows with an aura of compassion and kindness? One who radiates love and genuine understanding? For that as well would be an enormous task.

So I ask you again: what do you see? Judging by the trickle of tears streaming down your face I can only surmise that you see something unpleasant. I do, however, hope that is not the case. Believe me when I say that. I truly mean it. I am, among other things, sincere.

But now I will tell you what I see. I see prey. I see a victim. I see a delectable morsel of flesh that my blade yearns to love.