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See end for author's note.


Victims
By BJ Garrett


We must recognize the stigma attached to victims in our society, the isolation, ostracism, and humiliation they often feel, regardless of their innocence.
-Dr. Frank M. Ochberg


The victim of utterly un-random chance. Unknowing, unaware until the shell explodes inside his blood and the world ends for a second, then continues on, as if it had always happened like that. As if no one would notice. As if it didn't matter anyway.

The victim of his decision and her own. A few words-the world implodes or not by leaving out a few words. They are left, still locked in that space between her hand and the pen, above her damning name. It will all come out in the end, even though it didn't really matter to the kid's GPA.

The victim of larger events, driven to a smaller and smaller point, a dot of red light on the back of his head, diving into the brown amber depths. Encased in crystal, pounding at the cage he has built himself, happy beyond relief to know nothing but service. To owe nothing but duty.

The victim of his own logic. Of every bounce bringing back a scene, a sentence, pushing at him, pounding at him. Of the need to know and understand and not be in the dark, because the dark is close. Of loving to win and hating to lose and always losing, except this one time, but now it's been taken away. Now it means nothing to win, because in the end it will be counted a loss.

The victim of words flying too fast from their mouths and out of hers. The syllables and syntax falling on the road, tripping her up, turning her around, their hands always out, eyes always accusing, even when she has nothing to hide. Even when she does, because it's not wrong to have done what she didn't know she did, but they will all think it so. And it's the thought that counts.

The victim of a corrosion in social values, rubbing and rubbing at the seams of illusion until all the cloudy reality spilled out like a spray of sniper-fire. So now sirens are music and music is like a nightmare always pushing at the eardrums. It is a steady pressure, and it is obvious. But everyone acts so surprised.

The victim of his own expectations. Expecting to do good in the world, expecting right to always triumph. Expecting to always win even when the proof is in front of him. When he asks a well-meaning favour from someone already ashamed. When he wants the words, but refuses to let himself expect them.


The suffering may include pain, rage, depression, loss of mental or physical capacity, and shame to the point of humiliation and self-imposed isolation.
-Dr. Frank M. Ochberg


End.


*****
Author's Note: Do the victimisations themselves work for you-are they believable? Could you identify the characters? How would you feel about an expansion of each character's victimisation?