The Circumstance of Arrival - A monologue

One of my personal projects in 2025 is moving a selection of my creative writing from The Journey of Now blog over to my site. Originally written in August 2017, The Circumstance of Arrival is a monologue and was edited/updated slightly in the version below.

(Devoid of color, a wash of gray.

A single human, who sports layer upon layer of clothes. Pacing.

Desolate remnants of a full life.)

"Oh. Hi there. Didn't see you arrive. Have a seat. There's the rocking chair… Hmm? Yes. The boulder will do.

Can I get you something to drink? To eat? I have Xanax as well. I think it's Xanax. Seems to do the trick on lonely nights.

What's that? You can't stay? Sorry to hear that. Was looking forward to the company. What can I do you for?

Do you want to hear it? Let me look at you... Hmm... Yes. You look young enough. Probably don't remember a lot, do you?

Lookout!

Sorry. It's a reflex. Be warned.

The broad details you've heard, I'm sure. Word of mouth likes to spread the deeds and the misgivings. It's like wildfire. Really, it's how it all began anyhow. Hatred. The approval of hatred. There was a sense of entitlement by people of power, a desire to divide and to lie, subsequently stoking these wildfires.

Oh. Superiority already existed. It weakened all sides. A moral superiority. A race superiority. A religious superiority. Me? I fell in the moral superiority camp, I suppose. The entitled, they were wrong, they did this, but what did I do? Nothing. I said a few words, I gave a few dollars, but when push came to shove, I walked away.

Yes. I suppose it is a good thing I lived to tell it about. What if I had done more? I could have shoved. There's a violent streak resting in all of us. I felt it. Multiple times. Screaming at the television at actions and words deemed unfit for our great country. Yet...

The advancement of social media unlocked more, emboldened by a man in America who valued himself above all others. A man who lacked empathy and compassion.

Yeah. It's a trait you'd like to believe all humans carry. The idea – in one way or another – in which all people can find a sliver of it in their hearts to look out for one another.

It is still a dream, really. Turns out we are not all the same. Lost among many is empathy and compassion. Perhaps they never had it to begin with.

Progress, halted... Are you sure no one has told you this? I know I am just a stop along the way, and I appreciate the company, but please let me know if you've heard it. No? It started slowly, a word here, an action there. The greed, the hatred and lack of empathy grew, feeling it was their birthright to put down others in need or those who were different. These groups didn't have to hide in their secret corners anymore, didn't have to cover their face. They had this idea that they were the marginalized ones, the ones profiled, the ones held back.

Multiply. Multiply. Multiply.

The attacks. The violence. The deaths.

The streets run red, the skies ashen and everyone is on the run. On the run. On the run. And I have killed so many, when I had to, but mostly I run. But now? I help. I collect. I yearn for the future. I pass along… Huh? What's that?

You've got to get going? That's fair. Best to stay moving.

I won't be bothered. I have a nice little set up here. I know we are spread out in these zones, these pockets and we are all strangers, but keep resisting. People are doing fine work in Sector Ten, I hear, chipping away at the walls of Sector Eleven.

You're on the way to join them now? Good for you. Never stop reaching out to your friends, your neighbors, even those who are different. Lift them up, okay? Use it...

Glad you were able to pass through. Hey, if you see Michonne in Sector Seven, send my best. I miss our long talks. We are all of one blood. Keep the hope of better times alive."

(Alone. A slice of blue streams wide.)

Thanks for reading. If you enjoy these short stories, monologues, The Journey of Now articles, and semi-regular life updates, please consider a book purchase or a small monetary contribution of your choosing via Venmo ( jason-haskins-1 ) so I can continue to bring you more. Even sharing in your various spheres is a plus. Much appreciation!