Slow Descent into Madness

My slow descent into madness began in a generally quiet town of sixty-five hundred. It was nothing more than the county seat, settled a quaint half hour south of the state's capital. In the residential areas on a breezy friday afternoon, one would rarely be interrupted by the gentle lull of a farm truck, yet still could be knocked out of the daze of a peaceful stroll by a few things. The sound of a baby crying, a tied dog's bark, the creak of a screen door...it was quite possible.

I will never understand how in the wake of a storm it can be so calm. Because it was coming, the storm, quick and dark, not too far in my future....


I arrived home, alone, one of the few times since school had started, and slid my key into the lock. As it turned, I attempted to shove open my door, which is hardly possible when one is so physically exhausted. No, it was not my short walk that drew from me, it was rather the attack of floor it dodgeball our gym teacher sicked on us fifth period.

That is when it first started, in gym, that day. Oh, sure, it had happened before, random and sporatic, just a covered snicker or taunt of things to come. But this was the start of a war, this quiet sound of distaste as the second gym class wandered to the weight room.

Oh, I thought nothing of it at the time. Who would've? It was nothing new, just a prejudiced junior giving a disgusted look. My classmates were so mature. But, I wish I would have noticed then, that bigger things were coming. If only I could've seen the dark clouds to the north...