Maker’s Madness
Kevin glanced up at the stars with a twinkle in his eyes. The stars appeared so far away, yet they entered into him, were with him. The darkness seemed less haunting. Still there though, the wind kissed his ears with frost. The February days’ numbers riddled away. To Kevin, it was sometime in nowhere.
The cruel cold world wanted to thrive so deeply in Kevin’s veins, causing him to toss and turn in his bed. At twelve, the bitter world related to him.
He read history books about how civilizations turned to deserts, how the ocean swallowed men’s souls, how the eyes of gems only held stolen wonders.
And his father, that evil bastard who slept with women, who betrayed his mother with fists. He saw her crying on the couch, alone, helpless. The world spun onwards. Gravity keeps things down, yet the bastard walked. All of this became the windows of his soul.
“Hey, Kevin,” Ashley said. She whirled around her blonde hair and fake face, hidden behind layers of makeup. And to think, she was only twenty-two.
“What do you want now?” He responded.
“Oh, just your time. You know, I get off work tonight at eight. I know my place is a mess, but I bought some salmon, your favorite.” Ashley’s face lit up, a few cracked lines in the clay of foundation.
“I don’t have time. I told you before that I have class until ten tonight. I’m too damn tired to mess with you.”
Ashley frowned, her eyes turned inward as painful thoughts swirled around them.
One month later, she signed the abortion papers.
“You know, I can’t accept this paper, Kevin. It isn’t up to this class’s standards.”
“What do you mean?”
“Kevin, I think you should maybe pursue a trade. This is the third time you’ve taken my class. Welders make a lot of money.”
Too hurt to respond, he walked out of the door and onto the street. The sun had begun to set as fragile light slipped away. The red expanse hung over him.
Nine years later.
Kevin’s team put the last pieces of hardware together. He told himself how smart he was, how he managed to put these people together like the parts they worked so diligently on each day, each year.
He was a maker like his machine.
The machine would bring world peace. It would end all the disasters of this horrid world.
First, he would get the terrible men.
And he did.
Soon the good men worshiped him and his deeds. They felt his power, as anyone who betrayed him died. His blood was their blood. Their smile was his smile.
“I love you, Tabitha. Will you marry me?”
“I can’t say, no, I guess.” She blushed a bit. Her pale blue eyes seemed to pop out more after this statement.
“Why would you deny me? I have the entire world. I can give you anything.”
“I know, it’s not a choice,” she responded.
“But you love me, right?”
“Of course, I do,” said Tabitha. “Everyone loves you.”
“Well, I know that. I’ve saved the planet. I’ve turned mankind into peaceful workers of the world, united for a greater purpose.”
“All that you say is true,” Tabitha responded.
“I’m glad you see things my way,” Kevin stated.
“I am you.”
“No, you are Tabitha.”
“She cried, you know.”
“Who?”
“Your mother,” Tabitha looked straight into his eyes, a faint emotion rippled over her face.
“Why would you say that, Tabitha? I don’t want to remember my mother. She’s gone now.”
“I am your mother. And your dead baby.”
Later that night, Kevin hanged himself. The stars gave their dead light down to him, reaching farther and farther apart with the creed of time above.
