There is an audio edition of today's monologue. To listen either click the triangle to the left to begin streaming, or click this text to download the MP3.
He’s been down here many times. Not this particular hole, but holes this deep, and deeper. His greatest talent is falling.
Birds or bugs circle overhead. His depth perception is shot and he can’t tell. He closes his eyes, not minding.
So his spine won’t let him sit up. So his arms might be broken. So his toes won’t curl on cue. He breathes once every ten seconds and sweats this not at all. He can wait, because his greatest talent is falling, or having fallen. Patience lets him get up when he can.
Did someone throw him in this hole? Then in a week he’ll rise, thirsty as sin. The only urge that gets to him in these times is thirst. He’ll drink his fill from a cool pitcher, waiting in that pusher’s dark living room. He’ll make things even. They’ll fall together. And when he’s ready, he’ll get up.
For now he has fits of shakes. For now it feels like steam is trying to escape through his pores. It might be shock or infection. It will pass. It always does.
If this next time he passes instead of the immobility? Then he’ll have out-waited pain itself. He’ll fall into whatever lies after life, and when he’s ready, he’ll get back up again. He’s got the patience for it.
I read the story first, and then listened. I loved the story before I heard you read it, but wow! Your voice is so perfect for this. :)
ReplyDeleteThe reading just adds another dimension to the piece.
ReplyDeleteGood story and great audio. Listening is a test in patience; brilliant.
ReplyDeleteIt makes me wonder if it's literal or figurative. If this is a spiritual hole... or if I'm reading much too much into it.
ReplyDelete