THE CITY OF BURDEN
AND OF THE BURDENED
YOU WERE RIGHT TO LEAVE MAGGIE.
You can’t be responsible for other people
You can’t truly control anything
Or anyone
Frankly, it’s a mistake to try
Yet a part of you will always love her
It will have to learn to love without her
There is no comfort in that realization
Just a merciless onward motion
Abandoning the callow ghost of preciousness
Plunging into the unknown
You watch the sunset over the harbor
You lay down your burden
Suddenly footsteps
Keys
The door opens
Your keeper stands in the doorway
Casting an imposing silhouette in her protective garments
You stand stunned
She peels off her gloves
Exposing the calloused, worn hands of a worker
The hands that sustained you
Shaking with uncertainty
She draws back her hood
And slides the mask aside
revealing a head of flowing, raven hair
For the first time
You see her face
You are awestruck
“It’s time to go.”
She says plainly
She guides you down the hall
Past the empty chambers
Where the Tower held its survivors
It is just the two of you
Down the spiral staircase
To the quiet courtyard
And the iron gates
Beyond
The city of Burden waits