Tag Archives: opportunity

The Security of a Stable Other

So he ripped his heart from his chest. Thrusting it into the hands of the woman he loved, “Make me rich,” he said. She said nothing in reply–an ominous sign, potentially–but nodded slightly in implicit agreement.

[A risky investment, indeed, he had heard (though he couldn’t remember from where). But if it paid off, it really paid off, he also heard (same as above).]

Always one to never shy from opportunity and the possibilities of increased wealth, regardless of risk, K eagerly awaited payoff. Yet he wondered how long he could survive without his heart. He passed the days and nights trying not to think about the woman he loved and what she was doing with it.

As it turns out, the woman he loved was careless with his heart, squandering all of its worth in illicit ways. “Sorry,” she said over martinis one night, hands empty. “I lost it.” She showed him her empty hands.

Left with nothing, K naturally hurled himself from the top of a building, a trail of desperation following him to his death. Which is unfortunate, because a hot woman is going to find his heart tomorrow in the most unlikely of places.


Crowded with Signs of Advancing Capitalism and the Influence of its Insignia

The cabin was perfect–miles beyond the reach of the last dirt road. It was well-tended; spaghetti sauce and crackers in the cupboard and an old but functioning television set in a makeshift upstairs bedroom with a cute little window.

He unloaded his provisions: barbed wire, nails, an axe, a gun, bullets.

He ate a meager meal. Then he set the barbed wire and secured the front door. Then he waited, crouched against the refrigerator, gun in hand. He waited more.

A knock at the door. He aimed and fired two bullets. Another knock. He backed away, aware that his little war was coming to an end, aware that he was going to lose. He ran upstairs to look out the window.

More assailants arrived. He fired from the window. His defiance only agitated them.

“You can’t win,” Opportunity called from behind the door. “You might as well give up,” Success shouted from somewhere in the darkness.

He listened to the noise of the front door being kicked in. He listened to footsteps ascend to the second floor.

He looked Happiness in the face. He surrendered, and he smiled a smile he had been running from for far too long.