Why?

Why bother ?

Every single time you cast off sleep and return - is it not hard enough to get up ?Mayhaps you get past the question by force of habit alone .

Easy to lift yourself up if you wake up consistently, light and time and grace all there to welcome you once more . Easy to do without answering the question.Inevitably however you find yourself returning to what was always there : darkness , cold and a lack of time . Inevitably you return finding yourself lost , sensations of weight pressing around your neck and chest , no light,no warmth,no one but you . You had ignored the question . You gave the answer given to you by others . Now ?

Now you curse me for exhausting you , for stressing you to the breaking point . You see - No- you feel the way ahead , the infinity of the path ahead of you . And you despair . Everything around you will go to shit - you know it . But you knew that all along didn’t you ? And you fought it , walked through it . Where is that strength now ? Where has your will gone ? Was it ever there ? 

Exhausted. Drained . Alone . 

Are you lonely ? 

“…yes.” A whisper echoed in the chamber . 

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

“ Damn you!” … “…yes.” 

He looked around from where he was , not bothering to get up . “Kill me .” 

there were no tears . No. For that would be something wouldn’t it ? An answer . A release .

”Aaah.” a fake moan. “Please …No more .”

…

”You win . Are you happy ? “

…What would you do  if you get out ?

“ Go back to life . Please . Let me go .Please.”

...I see .

 The man woke up . This time not by himself . The sun gently caressed his face . Birds sang and insects sang about . A gentle wind passed by . He got up : around him , his friends . His party . He wept from joy , awakening them with his sobs . Ignoring their questions he turned towards the entrance of the dungeon and kneeled down , bowing his head to the earth again and again . 

“Thank you !” He repeated amidst his tears . He looked at the entrance , two marble columns and a white veil nested beneath a great tree , surrounded by it s roots .

He then gathered his weapons and equipment and slowly , ritually laid them down next to the roots of the great tree . 

He gathered his companions and with a last joyful parting of gratitude towards the entrance he turned away . 

-Thank you Master .Thank you for being so kind. Thank you for showing mercy !We levelled up as well Master !

I did not turn towards her , still gazing at the happy company leaving us , going back to their lives with an eagerness for life , a joy unparalleled .

Mercy ? 

No. This is not mercy . This is cruelty.

Of the worst kind .