Trajectory
Steve stood panting over the man he had just pummeled into the ground. “Hey, Man. Are you okay?” A hand touched his shoulder… Was he okay? Of course he was okay. Wasn’t it obvious he had won the fight? But the hand remained steady.
He heard blood whooshing in his ears and realized the world had gone still and silent. The man on the sidewalk wasn’t moving or breathing and he felt a sense of panic rise within him. He hadn’t meant to kill him. “Your future is uncertain, Steve.”
He had forgotten the hand and the voice until it spoke again. He turned towards it sensing its steady presence could somehow help him. “I didn’t mean to kill him! Can you help me? Please! I need help!”
“I can’t help you. Only you can help you. This is your current trajectory if uninterrupted.”
In a flash, Steve was arrested and stood trial. He heard the testimony of his friends and family. They spoke of his temper and his inability to control it. He heard himself testify about his abusive childhood, his sadness and regret. Worst of all, he heard the testimony about his victim, a loving father, brother, uncle and son who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and run across a monster.
He was convicted and sentenced to death but death didn’t come swiftly. He spent years in prison waiting. It felt like hell on earth, until he died and went to actual hell. Demons tortured his soul until he escaped and wandered the earth, a hungry ghost, now demon-like himself, feeding on the energy of others but never quite satiated.
“Hey, Man. Are you okay?” Steve felt a hand on his shoulder, arresting the acceleration of his raised fist. He turned to look the voice in the face.
“Wha… what? How did I get here?”
“It’s been a long journey, Steve but now you can choose differently. Let’s take a walk.”
Steve turned back, looking confusedly at the man he had been about to beat up. The loving father, brother, uncle and son, who had been about to run into a monster. He was standing wide eyed, looking as confused as Steve. “I’m sorry, Man. You didn’t deserve that. I’m going to get some help.”
