Oppressed Read Free Page A

make things clearer.”
    Again with the delusional crap. “I’m
not delusional,” I said through clenched teeth, as I handed the rum
bottle back to him.
    He laughed that nasal laugh of his.
“Sure. That’s what they all say. Now, back to me. Do you really
want to know how I was violently murdered?”
    I nodded, hoping that he would get on with
it already.
    He was silent for a minute as he
stared at the tombs. I snuck a quick glance at his handsome profile
and saw that the happiness that had lit up his face had been
replaced by an expression of hopeless gloom and tragedy. His head
hung low and the corners of his lips drooped like those of a sad
circus clown.
    I cautiously placed my puny hand under
his chin and lifted it up so that our eyes met. “I’m
listening.”
    His hazel eyes sparkled and he
gave me a dazzling smile before he started his story. “It was all
rather theatrical and scandalous. You see, I was born at a time and
place where people were confused by me. I loved the color purple,
drinking white rum while dancing naked in the rain, saying exactly
what was in my heart, healing the sick with my herbs, and making
love. Making lots of love.” He winked at me a in a provocative
manner.
    I rolled my eyes and shook my
head.
    He continued. “Sadly, people found my
particular lifestyle rather inappropriate. I made them
uncomfortable and I got under their skin. I was happy, and my
happiness confused them. Eventually, they started to fear me, and
then that fear transformed into loathing and outright hatred. They
were determined to change and rearrange me into what they wanted me
to be.”
    I nodded in understanding. “I can relate
to that. The people who killed you were the ones that told you that
your personality seriously got on their nerves? They wanted you to
be a Gary Stu, didn’t they?”
    “ OH YES!!! YES!!! The Gary Stus
and Mary Sues those people were the ones who killed me… Sigh oh
sigh. When I refused to be who they wanted me to be they decided to
take matters into their own hands. At the tender age of seventeen,
they placed my body on the wheel, stretched out my limbs, and broke
my bones one by one. Crack. Crack. Crack. It was oh so very painful
and tragic. I distinctly remember how after every crack the crowd
cheered as if it were some sort of barbaric sporting event.” He let
out a gigantic puff of smoke from his cigar. “Sporting events. For
the life of me I’ll never understand those things.”
    By body stiffened at the very thought of
someone’s bones being cracked one by one. Who was capable of
inflicting such cruelty on another person? “I’m sorry,” I
whispered. “I’m so sorry. No one deserves to die like that. Some
people can be cruel, hateful, and devoid of compassion because they
don’t know any better. Maybe it’s their own insecurities and fears
that make them that way. Sadly, they can’t appreciate differences,
so they try to exterminate and alienate them. Those people who
killed you, they were the ones who needed to change, not you… I
think you’re perfect just the way you are,” I added shyly but with
conviction.
    His fringe of thick eyelashes fluttered
for a few seconds as if he were fighting back tears. “I know! I
know! Take a look at me! No, really! Take a good look at me!” he
exclaimed suddenly, as he grabbed my hand and twirled me around and
around. He pulled me close to his chest and I felt myself
unwillingly blush. He was spectacular. Was I actually developing a
crush on a spirit? Oh Lord. “Now I can help other souls that die
young and unexpectedly. You don’t make me sneeze as much as other
humans do. How can I help you?”
    “ I…”
    “ I know. Let’s discuss it
over dinner. I’m hungry. I’m always hungry. Are you
hungry?”
    “ No…” I lied, forgetting about
his peculiar allergy.
    He sneezed multiple times. “Lies. All
lies. Dinner it is then?” He grabbed my hand and pulled me towards
a clearing located in the middle of the