My tribute to Robin Williams. He was a great man, and did many great things. May you rest in peace. You're free of the chains that held you. A dark story for a dark ending.
He looked at the sky, dark and cold. The wind blew softly, echoing words whispered hundreds of years ago. The electric lights of the city below him twinkled brightly as stars. It had been years, centuries since he last saw the them, their faces implanted into his mind. Time seemed to move like sand in an hourglass, one grain at a time. Yet it also moved by so fast that in one blink of an eye, it was gone. He still hears their voices, finding himself turning around to see that if they were behind, only to find nothing but air.
He looks over the city that once was his home, a place were he left his handcuffs behind, but instead to find that chains bounded him instead. If he closes his eyes, he could see it as it once was, with dirt roads, and a shining golden palace, that held the warmth of the sun, the warmth of family. Now all that was left was brick and metal, nothing reminded. Everything was dark, cold and solemn as it once was before they came.
Sometimes, he hopes that if he wakes up, it'll all be a dream. The other times he hope's he'll never wake up. Trying to forget, he moves on, dreaming as he once did and fulfilling all that he hoped for while stuck in the lamp. He lived for them, and all the others who couldn't. Soon he stops, as loneliness creeps in, uninvited. The people around him were happy, so he tries to be happy too. He laughs and jokes, putting up the familiar mask. At night, the mask slips, and so does the knife, as red liquid drips on the floor, joining the liquors spilt.
Time passes, and his love for life dies with it, and everything is black. He fakes, he doesn't feel, he tries, he cries. Those who claim they were close, ignore and push away, unable to accept what he is going through, not wanting to admit it. He too tries, and does push through, enjoying the smiles and the laughter. After all, if not for him, then try for them. Yet even those smiling faces weren't enough. How could they be, for someone like him?
He both loves and hates the nights, as it comforts and destroys him. At night, he could be alone, no one judging him, yet only he himself. At night, his fears creep in, and his wish to leave grows even stronger. He hates the stories of those committing suicide, but he understands. Sometimes it's too hard, too painful, too suffocating to push on. He laughs at those who say the understand, but do they really? No, they want the problem to disappear, along with those who caused it. He reads and he watches, understanding the stories. He might even write and say a few words. He sees that at night, the shadows loom closer. The end was coming.
Now he is over the city were his chains were cast, and now it was time to break free. He hopes they will understand, but he knows that is a false hope. But those who are where he was will. And soon, some might even follow. He doesn't wish his fate on anyone else, as it was dark and cruel, but it can't be helped. He breathes in and out, strangely excited. As he poses to jump, he hesitates. Flashes of memories, of dreams were before his eyes. He watched as they all shattered before him. A step forward, then another. He tilts his head back, closing his eyes. He wasn't doing this for anybody. For once, he was doing something for himself. He smiled sadly and stepped again. Darkness over came his vision, and he sees a light at last. He was coming home.
It's hard to live sometimes, hard to wake up. It's hard to be alone. I understand. May your memory live on and let go. "The ones that smile the most are the ones who are the most broken. The ones that laugh are the ones who were laughed at. The ones that leave are the ones who were never there. The ones that die, are the ones who have courage to say good-bye." ~Hiddenshadowsoul~