Sacred Ground

Julian Gallo
Jul 10, 2017 · 3 min read

New York City — The Recent Past

He’s a real fucking tool. He and his friends are always donning their Disco suits and running off to the clubs to be ‘seen’, Sometimes they take their girlfriends along but most of the time they fly solo, hoping their expensive suits and well manicured hands will be the peacock tail which attracts the mate. He never talks to other men but always finds time to turn on the charm whenever there’s a woman around. Twice, that you know of, he’s cheated on his girlfriends yet because of his looks, his ‘All American’ personae, everyone thinks he’s a great guy. You know better. You used to work around guys like this. You know it’s all an act and that something sinister lurks deep inside.

He’s a real slippery guy, this one; one who smiles at you when he shakes your hand and tries act like a friend but you know he’s only patronizing you. He is the embodiment of everything that is phony and disgusting. To him, life is a ‘Sex on The Beach’, a dance floor, and a girl at his table who is nothing more than a trophy. You watch this guy and the way he interacts with others, the way he pats them on the back or gives them a small tap on the shoulder, says things like, ‘No problem, man. Anything you need, just call me’. Perhaps he’ll even buy you a drink in order to win your favor, to make you think he’s a real cool guy. A real fucking Hollywood type, full of bravado and swagger and absolutely no substance.

This spoiled, phony, detestable asshole never had to struggle for anything in his life. He possesses enough charisma that anything he wants is handed to him and there are many all to willing to do so. Nothing was ever earned, it was all gained through ass kissing, patronization, and donning just the right mask for the right occasion. When he looks in the mirror he sees a ‘success’ because that’s what he honestly thinks he is and that’s what everyone keeps telling him.

The thing that bothers you more than anything else is the fact that this bothers you as much as it does. It certainly isn’t envy. You’d rather eat buckshot than to be someone like him. Guys like him have always managed to dupe others into thinking they’re great guys; fooling the more gullible and impressionable among us that they’re self-made men, that their ‘qualifications’ are world class; but inside they are nothing — an empty suit.

He could be a politician and in fact became one, at least for a little while, that is until his true self was revealed. Only this time it was done in public for the whole world to see. Of course those who are taken by his act still supported him but it was clear to every free thinking individual he was the narcissist you had always thought him to be.

You’d think this would be ‘justice’ in some way, that a man like this finally gets his just deserts, but you know better. You know we live in a time when people like this are still rewarded, even after committing crimes or other heinous acts. You know that some day he’ll come back and launch into the same old act and there will be plenty who will look the other way and go along with it. Regardless of his actions, it’s the ‘type’ that they are enamored with; and despite his crimes, he’s still considered a ‘success’ and people love nothing more than anyone who is a ‘success’. It’s sacred ground upon which the rest of us dare not tread or else be accused of being resentful, envious.

Julian Gallo

Written by

Julian Gallo lives and works in New York City. He is the author of 'Existential Labyrinths' and other novels.

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