A Man of Gold

The Man of Gold was out of gold. Lying vexed on his back on the floor of his secret mine, shockwaves of reality reverberated within. His heaving chest belied the growing panic. The idea of no more gold was just...unthinkable - and yet it was. Oh, he knew things would come to this one day - just not this day. Weaving in and out of reality, he imagined his lack of a future. He had bribed them all. Wife, kids, community, the world. They loved him for his gold. It was so much easier than facing himself. One little nugget and their faces would light up with joy. He never got that look on his own. Now, after all these years, time came to face the mirror. "Who will love me now?" Riding high on the gold, the good times had been many. All his defeciencies bought and paid for. He lost all interest in who he was - so had everyone else. So hard to stop running once started. Seduced by the gold, he became the seducer. "What sort of monster am I now?" Preaching words echoed back to him, declaring a man's worth couldn't be determined by his gold. The seething hatred rushed in once more at the memory of the preacher's proclamation. So obvious now who the true enemy was...oh, to reverse time and go back and do what he wanted. The beautiful lie was gone...rooms empty of laughter...howling winds of hell...faded dreams of love...a thousand tears never cried...a thousand words never spoken...his bleeding soul...dispassionate eyes watched his hand reach for his death gun..."Fuck you too, God" But on this day the angels rejoiced. Ding, dong, the lie was dead! And they sang to him this song: "You know its been a long, long road, "Since I packed up and left on my own. "And I can carry a heavy load, "Just trying get back to her heart. "Find your way back. "Find your way back to her heart." And thus he started the long journey back, the years of gold a waste.