“To Bring to Shame”
By Animeanimal
It started as a simple conversation. “Edward,” he had said, “Things are getting far too complicated around central. I don’t know maybe it’s all of the work that they have passed on to me that’s making me think this way, but there is something I must tell you here and now.” I fidgeted on the couch. Something about his voice made me uneasy. What could be so important that he would call on me unannounced while everyone else was on their lunch breaks? I decided to hear him out. “What’s up general?” I asked casually. My eyes followed him as he rounded his desk and plopped on the couch directly in front of me. He clasped his hands in front of him and looked downward. “I am almost ashamed to admit, but I think…..” his voice trailed off as he attempted to look me on the eyes. After a failed attempt his stern eyes leveled with mine and I could tell the situation had turned dead serious. “I think I am in love with you Edward,” he forced out.
“ I couldn’t believe what I had just heard and yet, I knew something had always been between us from the very beginning. Both of us were deeply in love with the other and both were too scared to confess it………until now.
I don’t know how to explain what I did next or rather why I did what I did. I don’t know what combinations of emotions had made me do it, but the general was now lying on the floor holding one cheek of his flawless face in his snow white glove, his eyes shaking in shock and embarrassment. “I understand,” he said finally after a moment of silence. “Chasing after little boys is wrong for a man of my age. Right? Isn’t that what you’re thinking?” My ragged angered breaths came to a stop. That’s what he thought I was mad about? I loved this man from the bottom of my heart and this is what he was saying to me!? Now I understood where he stood on this issue. Without a word I hung my head low and ran out the door into the street. I kept running even as he called my name and I ran all the way home.
Why? I kept asking myself as I lay on my bed twisting my pocket watch around in my hand. Why was he ashamed!? I was never ashamed to love him I just could never get up the courage to tell him how I felt and then why would he feel that way about me? There is nothing wrong or shameful about loving another human being. You should have known that Roy. As I lay there thinking the whole thing over for the billionth time, a soft knocking came to my door.
When I opened the door I was surprised to see my brother Alphonse at the other side. Now days He was always away helping out at the Ishbalan camps and I rarely get to see him. “Brother,” he said cheerfully as he squeezed me tightly around the neck, “long time no see!” I was about to return the warm embrace to my brother when all of a sudden something jabbed my stomach hard. I grabbed Al’s shoulders and distanced him from me. My eyes fell downward as I realized where the “jab” had come from. “Brother…what is it?” he questioned as I stared at the lump on his stomach. “Hmm? Oh well ya see I knew this man from one of the camps I help and…” He desperately tried to explain himself to me. I guess he thought he was in some kind of trouble, but in all honesty, I was so very proud of my little brother. “Al,” I said trying to capture his focus, “Al, its ok. Im not mad. Why don’t you come in and have some tea. There is so much I want to talk about.” With that we headed towards the kitchen and poured ourselves a cup of Hibiscus tea and engaged in conversation. “So, who is the father?” I said sipping my tea and then reaching out a hand across the table to lie atop Al’s. he looked at my hand then his eyes softened. “He treats me good brother. I don’t know what I would do without him. His name is Damien… and he’s waiting outside. I brought him here to meet you, although I think you already know him, but I wanted you to forget what you already know and meet him in a whole different light, ya know.” I walked to the sink to look out the window that revealed the whole driveway. I wanted to know who Al had brought since I knew he would never tell me straight out. My dishes clattered to the floor as I seen the familiar scarred man standing on the gravel outside of my house.
By Animeanimal
It started as a simple conversation. “Edward,” he had said, “Things are getting far too complicated around central. I don’t know maybe it’s all of the work that they have passed on to me that’s making me think this way, but there is something I must tell you here and now.” I fidgeted on the couch. Something about his voice made me uneasy. What could be so important that he would call on me unannounced while everyone else was on their lunch breaks? I decided to hear him out. “What’s up general?” I asked casually. My eyes followed him as he rounded his desk and plopped on the couch directly in front of me. He clasped his hands in front of him and looked downward. “I am almost ashamed to admit, but I think…..” his voice trailed off as he attempted to look me on the eyes. After a failed attempt his stern eyes leveled with mine and I could tell the situation had turned dead serious. “I think I am in love with you Edward,” he forced out.
“ I couldn’t believe what I had just heard and yet, I knew something had always been between us from the very beginning. Both of us were deeply in love with the other and both were too scared to confess it………until now.
I don’t know how to explain what I did next or rather why I did what I did. I don’t know what combinations of emotions had made me do it, but the general was now lying on the floor holding one cheek of his flawless face in his snow white glove, his eyes shaking in shock and embarrassment. “I understand,” he said finally after a moment of silence. “Chasing after little boys is wrong for a man of my age. Right? Isn’t that what you’re thinking?” My ragged angered breaths came to a stop. That’s what he thought I was mad about? I loved this man from the bottom of my heart and this is what he was saying to me!? Now I understood where he stood on this issue. Without a word I hung my head low and ran out the door into the street. I kept running even as he called my name and I ran all the way home.
Why? I kept asking myself as I lay on my bed twisting my pocket watch around in my hand. Why was he ashamed!? I was never ashamed to love him I just could never get up the courage to tell him how I felt and then why would he feel that way about me? There is nothing wrong or shameful about loving another human being. You should have known that Roy. As I lay there thinking the whole thing over for the billionth time, a soft knocking came to my door.
When I opened the door I was surprised to see my brother Alphonse at the other side. Now days He was always away helping out at the Ishbalan camps and I rarely get to see him. “Brother,” he said cheerfully as he squeezed me tightly around the neck, “long time no see!” I was about to return the warm embrace to my brother when all of a sudden something jabbed my stomach hard. I grabbed Al’s shoulders and distanced him from me. My eyes fell downward as I realized where the “jab” had come from. “Brother…what is it?” he questioned as I stared at the lump on his stomach. “Hmm? Oh well ya see I knew this man from one of the camps I help and…” He desperately tried to explain himself to me. I guess he thought he was in some kind of trouble, but in all honesty, I was so very proud of my little brother. “Al,” I said trying to capture his focus, “Al, its ok. Im not mad. Why don’t you come in and have some tea. There is so much I want to talk about.” With that we headed towards the kitchen and poured ourselves a cup of Hibiscus tea and engaged in conversation. “So, who is the father?” I said sipping my tea and then reaching out a hand across the table to lie atop Al’s. he looked at my hand then his eyes softened. “He treats me good brother. I don’t know what I would do without him. His name is Damien… and he’s waiting outside. I brought him here to meet you, although I think you already know him, but I wanted you to forget what you already know and meet him in a whole different light, ya know.” I walked to the sink to look out the window that revealed the whole driveway. I wanted to know who Al had brought since I knew he would never tell me straight out. My dishes clattered to the floor as I seen the familiar scarred man standing on the gravel outside of my house.
which caused so much sacrifice and misery unknown.
Deceptively though, the stone did appeal
and made foolish men think its happiness real.
O wise philosopher you must grieve no more
if you wish to revive the mirth of before.
You must face your past, for you cannot atone
for the damage you wrought with the wretched red stone.
Where is the land? That land from the past,
which many before you sought and amassed?
Take heed of their folly, and don't be deceived
by the trap which left many despaired and bereaved.
Though for happiness, power and ease they did strive,
instead they found death and now none are alive.
Consider these perished; this warning adhere.
Will you continue to seek out this stone you held dear?
You who beheld it’s baneful hue red
when the blood of your own arm and own leg was shed?
Stone of philosophers, ruby red stone.
When will you cease and leave mankind alone?