Burden by Ciaran Burke
I carried the rock and held it close It's mass increasing with each step as the weight of its burden increased I gathered it tightly on my chest I could not let it go had no respite for fear that it would roll away and that I would then give chase as it obeyed gravity, me in its wake I would see the rolling of the rock inflicting hypothetical armageddon smashing through the live of others futures destroyed walls of fate demolished With my back arching in struggle doubled over losing my form unrecognisable foetal position of pain a child addicted to my comfort toy I collapsed from exertion the pain released my fingers my body recoiling in relief the rock crashed and broke Before me in fragments my burden split in fractions small pieces insignificant each lying piece was meaningless My troubles lay in public view A stranger offered help my friend picked up some pieces and the rest we just threw away. Ciaran Burke