A/N: hmmm seemed I called the last part chapter 4, this is the actual chapter four...
Chapter 4
This man was all too familiar with props, costumes and like paraphernalia. He changed identities as easily as he changed his clothes and that wrist- watch. Switching his suit jacket and his entire life story went hand in hand. The clothes didn't make the man. They made several men, most of whom existed for under twenty- four hours.
Yet taking off that plain gold band had almost killed the only man who mattered.
I've never been married but I've heard it said rings are a part of the wedding ceremony to symbolize love that has no beginning or end.
The way I see it marriage is more about hearts than circles. Hearts break. Slips of paper end something first declared endless. Life's the real circle.
And circles are always turning.
This turn had muddled the colors of the hero's star and stripe patterned sunglasses. The flag no longer draped magnificently across his shoulders but hung ill- fittingly on the neck he struggled to keep upright. It had gone from an honor to an obligation.
Honor and obligation differed only in that honor required heart and his was broken. His inner fire was thriving on hate now. Hate for his work, hate for life, but mostly... mostly hate for himself and for her.
That was the key to the puzzle of the wedding ring.
Something had strengthened his resolve, his will to serve this country. At the same time he hated it. The hate was irrational to him and he suppressed it so deeply I almost couldn't see. But I saw and began putting the pieces together.
The band had been the one constant thing about him. He'd often brushed it with his fingertips as he gave a false name as if reminding himself of just who he was. Now the ring was gone and hate and a forced patriotism had taken its place. But what was the relationship?
The hate was for himself and what he was, that was plain. So I assumed his work had been the cause. Maybe she had learned too much. That would explain the hate. But not the mindless patriotism. Not the hate for the woman with the other ring.
A tough puzzle with many colorful pieces. But in the end it was all human nature. You see, people cannot fear, cannot hate qualities in others that they do not see in the themselves.
And his life had come full circle until the pain of betraying and lying to his wife for something he'd foolishly held higher than love had bled into the pain of her betrayal for something she'd held higher. And the circle turned on. Only the pain reminding him that he was alive and the flag giving him a reason to remain so.
I was grateful that the airport had only escalators, no stairs. His determination provided a kind of momentum that forced his automaton- like strides. It was not strong though and I feared if he walked down a set of stairs he wouldn't have the momentum nor the strength to walk up again.
I watched him closely then, wishing there was a drug strong enough to alleviate his pain. But the only drug of that sort that existed he'd already tasted and now he was using hate to purge it from his body.
Prometheus I called him.
Chapter 4
This man was all too familiar with props, costumes and like paraphernalia. He changed identities as easily as he changed his clothes and that wrist- watch. Switching his suit jacket and his entire life story went hand in hand. The clothes didn't make the man. They made several men, most of whom existed for under twenty- four hours.
Yet taking off that plain gold band had almost killed the only man who mattered.
I've never been married but I've heard it said rings are a part of the wedding ceremony to symbolize love that has no beginning or end.
The way I see it marriage is more about hearts than circles. Hearts break. Slips of paper end something first declared endless. Life's the real circle.
And circles are always turning.
This turn had muddled the colors of the hero's star and stripe patterned sunglasses. The flag no longer draped magnificently across his shoulders but hung ill- fittingly on the neck he struggled to keep upright. It had gone from an honor to an obligation.
Honor and obligation differed only in that honor required heart and his was broken. His inner fire was thriving on hate now. Hate for his work, hate for life, but mostly... mostly hate for himself and for her.
That was the key to the puzzle of the wedding ring.
Something had strengthened his resolve, his will to serve this country. At the same time he hated it. The hate was irrational to him and he suppressed it so deeply I almost couldn't see. But I saw and began putting the pieces together.
The band had been the one constant thing about him. He'd often brushed it with his fingertips as he gave a false name as if reminding himself of just who he was. Now the ring was gone and hate and a forced patriotism had taken its place. But what was the relationship?
The hate was for himself and what he was, that was plain. So I assumed his work had been the cause. Maybe she had learned too much. That would explain the hate. But not the mindless patriotism. Not the hate for the woman with the other ring.
A tough puzzle with many colorful pieces. But in the end it was all human nature. You see, people cannot fear, cannot hate qualities in others that they do not see in the themselves.
And his life had come full circle until the pain of betraying and lying to his wife for something he'd foolishly held higher than love had bled into the pain of her betrayal for something she'd held higher. And the circle turned on. Only the pain reminding him that he was alive and the flag giving him a reason to remain so.
I was grateful that the airport had only escalators, no stairs. His determination provided a kind of momentum that forced his automaton- like strides. It was not strong though and I feared if he walked down a set of stairs he wouldn't have the momentum nor the strength to walk up again.
I watched him closely then, wishing there was a drug strong enough to alleviate his pain. But the only drug of that sort that existed he'd already tasted and now he was using hate to purge it from his body.
Prometheus I called him.