No-Face

Come, Sen, pretty little Sen…come join me in the darkness. The rain pours down outside, and all is dark. I am lonely.

What is it you want, little Sen? What do you desire, covet, need? Come take it from my hand and join me. I will show you the darkness of your greed, your need. Then I will not be alone. I am not the only one who feels avarice, am I? Is it selfish of me to not wish to be lonely anymore?

I am selfishness. I am greed. You, little Sen, you are so sweet and young, but even you have been selfish, have you not? You cry, you whine, you pout. You stamp and sulk. Children do. No child is completely unselfish. What is it you want, in the deepest part of your soul?

I have no face, for I am a reflection of men's souls. I have no identity, only greed. I crave a personality, I desire to find others like myself…black souls like my robes.

But what am I if I do not take? There will be nothing of me. I have no face, no form, no home…no friends. Little Sen, do you have friends? How did you make them? Did you offer them gold, or tokens, or favors? Why will you not take what I offer?

Why do you do so much for your friends? Why do you stand up to me, then run off purposefully? Who are you doing so much for? How far do you plan to journey?

I will follow you. You have friends, yet you are not greedy. Your friends are not greedy; they only crave your friendship. Is it something in you, that replaces selfishness with a sense of the world outside oneself? Is there something inside you that inspires devotion? Why are you so devoted to those that others hate? Why do you not hate me?

I must follow. I must find the answers, to see how I can stop being so lonely. It is dark inside, so dark, yet you walk in sunshine.

I stand there. I do not ask, I do not speak. I have no voice.

"Do you want to come, too?"

A nod.

"He'd like to come too, sir."

I climb aboard the train. This is the second time you have invited me in, little Sen.

Where are you going? Will it take me to find the things I am seeking?

It doesn't matter. I have no home. But I will follow this girl, who has invited me along even after she saw my black nature. I am a monster, little Sen, a troublesome spirit. But if you let me, I will follow you. Maybe I will find something redeeming in myself. I want to know your secret.

I want a face, a voice, a friend. I no longer seek those with greed in their hearts; I've seen enough of it. I want to know, instead, how you do it. I want to unravel the mystery of your selflessness.