He sat in a dark void of grey nothingness,

as a bird slapped the air with its wings above him.

The bird was black, as black as onyx

The bird swooped and in one quick motion

Swiped its claws along the boy’s shoulder,

As if striking a match to light the darkness.

As a thousand little red rivers ran down from the crevices in his skin,

he watched the bird pry open its beak,

And he heard it caw, teasingly

You’re nothing.

It placed its wings over the boy’s eyes to blind him.

What’s the matter? Can’t you see?

He let the bird cover his head with a feathery shroud

While he sat there wondering

why this soul was swimming around in his body.

You don’t even know who you are.

He let the bird swoop above him,

then fall. He stood there motionless,

Closing his eyes, as if blindfolded in front of a firing squad.

Why aren’t you running? Aren’t you scared?

He let the bird lower its beak and drink the blood

From his heart. He was what gave the bird life.

The bird fed on everything he didn’t want.

Suddenly, the bird released it wings,

And the boy saw a window of light. In it stood

A young girl.

Her blue eyes

Glistened with tears as she whimpered, “Brother.

Why is that bird hurting you?”

“Sister”. Suddenly,

He tore the bird’s talons from his shoulders,

Shedding off bone, flesh, and sinew.

He ran to the light, and before he crossed over,

Turned his head back,

And glared, burning these words into the fiend:

“What have you to say to me now?”