By Ditz
Date: 25 February 2001
The Beast
The crooked distortion of a dead tree laughs at my pain. I've lost my way as the tears stream down my face once again. I search for the path which leads towards the sun. It's no where to be found. I've fallen to the earth from my home in the heavens.
The beast howls in the distance. It hunts for a trophy. That trophy is me. I run faster as I smell the blood drip from my wounds. If he catches me he will devour me whole. Exhaustion takes hold as I fall to my knees. The mud oozes between my fingers as I try to find solid ground. The coolness brings comfort as death approaches. I wait for my destiny.
My shoulders tremble as the tears flow uncontrollably now. I hear him approach as I clutch my heart in pain. I pray death comes on swift wings. I wait as time stands still. My eyes refuse to open. Fear keeps me in an infantile postion. Kill me and be done. Finish what you have started.
He licks the blood from my back and thigh. He tastes the salt and pain that emits. I wait for his teeth to sink into my flesh. My heart pounds as he contemplates my demise. I feel his hands touch my face. No pain do I feel. A tender caress upon my brow as his arms enfold my body. He lifts me into the sky as he returns me to my home in the clouds.
Tender tears touch my cheek as I realize my master has come for me. I'm safe from harm as he places himself between me and my captor. The wounds disappear from my body and the filth of the earth is gone. I'm clean and whole once again.
The smile that had returned to my face distorts. I realize where my pain has gone. My master has placed himself in the jaws of the beast that hunts. The blood that only moments before was flowing from my body now drips from his.
He smiles at me from the throat of death. I reach towards him trying to take hold of his sleeve. He pushes my hand back, out of reach of the beasts fangs. As life is drained from his body, love swells. He motions for me to hear his words. My ears strain to understand what he says. "Carry on my Father's work." The words echo in the hollowness of the moment. One gulp and he is gone.
Tears refuse to flow. He sacrificed himself for me! I, who was a filthy rag, was bought with a most rare treasure. I look towards the heavens and see his smile in the clear blue morning. Carry on his father's work? So it shall be. The love he has shown me, so I will show those around me. When gazing into the calm pools his reflection will I see.
In death my master is not truly gone. He resides in my heart, where his courage and beauty shine from my eyes. He sacrificed himself for me. And every day from here, I will sacrifice myself for him.
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