The second of my three entries into the Writer’s Carnival. The third will appear tomorrow.
I am the lonely wanderer, so distant and so strange. I am the lonely wanderer, but a passing phase. I live on the outskirts of society. I leave no memories, no sign to mark my passing. I live a life alone, a life apart. I chose it this way, once, and now that choice has become me, has enveloped me, has made me its own.
I wear a mask, not upon my face, but upon my being. It is a shield, for you, for me. Emotions are a dangerous thing, and I long ago forsook them. I wish you the same goal in your life. It stings at first, but after a time, the mask is all there is, and the emotions go away. Without pain, without fear, life is a free thing, free to wander through mankind, observing all there is to see.
But what of human contact, what of humanity itself? A brief brush will suffice. A touch, a wink, a stolen kiss. That is enough, and then away once more, before emotion can build and crack the shield which holds it down, holds it back.
I walk the paths between men, around men. I slip between lives, leaving dim marks, faint memories, the barest of remembrances. Life is glancing, indirect, the briefest of touches. Again, it is enough.
I am protected from the pain of life, the hatred of life, the shame of life. No more can a man mock me, for he does not know me. No more can a woman twist my heart and cause it pain, for she cannot reach me. And for this I give up but a trifle.
Some nights, that trifle comes in the dark, hidden inside the damnable phrase “What If?”. It passes, soon enough, and your soul is tempered in the heat of those moments. You and I, we become stronger, more resilient, and can resist the sadness that inhabits humanity. And with enough time, the trifles and the “what ifs” disappear, and we accept our situation.
I am the lonely wanderer. It is my choice, but it should be yours.
Guidelines
- Maximum word count of 1,000
- Any type of flash is acceptable
- Up to three entries allowed
- Post your entries on your own blog, titled like this: Writer’s Carnival: Flash Title
- Add your stories to the collector
- Once the blog carnival post is up, please link to it from your blog
- Place these guidelines at the end of your entry posts
Comments
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Johanna Harness on 11.11.2010
This line is so very beautiful: “I slip between lives, leaving dim marks, faint memories, the barest of remembrances.”
Thanks for posting this!
The Four Part Land on 11.11.2010
As may or may not be apparent, I know the lonely wanderer quite well. Lived with him for, oh… half my life?
That was me, until about a year ago. Lots of things have changed since then, but at the time I was writing the story there were reasons it was appropriate to revisit that period.
Obviously, the last line is a little cynical. The point of the piece is to *not* be the Lonely Wanderer.
Deanna Schrayer on 11.12.2010
I love how simple, yet how complex this is. There’s a flowing lyricism about it that soothes the soul. Beautifully written!
ganymeder on 11.12.2010
Very fluid and poetic.
Kath on 11.12.2010
This is so beautiful and sad, it reads like a dream-like poem. I love the rhythm and flow of it – as if the Lonely Wanderer is caught up in the fast-moving river and can’t get to the shore. Superb writing.
Icy Sedgwick on 11.12.2010
I really enjoyed this! Very well-written, excellent pacing.
The Four Part Land on 11.12.2010
Thank you all. It wanders at points onto the line of poetry, which is something I occasionally write but never post on the blog. Perhaps I should in the future.
@Kath He eventually made it to the shore. Took him a while though.
Does make me wonder if I should ever try and restart the Writer’s Carnival again. I’ve tried once and it sort of fell through.
Icy Sedgwick on 11.13.2010
I think you should try it again. We’ll help promote it.
Eric J. Krause on 11.13.2010
Excellent writing. It flowed like poetry.
Lara Dunning on 11.14.2010
This really read like poetry, especially the begining. Very moving. Even in his isolation he is connecting by creating beauty with words. To truly be alone, one must never speak. I see a flaw that could turn into a spark, that could ignite the world. Really enjoyed reading this!
The Four Part Land on 11.14.2010
Thank you all for the comments.
@Icy I think I might, but I also think I’m going to wait until the new year. November, well, we all know why that’s busy, and then it’s the holidays. So mid Jan, more like.
@Eric/Lara That’s making me think I should post some my poetry, but I never think it’s that great. Perhaps I should as a sample.
@Lara Well, I’d like to think he turned out to be a pretty decent writer after all that was over. And it was a flaw in his armour against the world.
Courtney Cole on 05.02.2011
**Love**
Beautifully written.