Coffin Maker

He wished things would be different.

The flick of a wrist perhaps he could alter time while he slams his fist down his enemies would vanquish.

but the biggest thing he wished would be different is his mind.

For it was his mind state that replayed the horrors of his personal life living rent free.

The horrors that have dated back to his childhood that seem to find their immortality in his large cranium. He wishes everyday for that to be different not, to simply have that on his mind anymore. As now being single and overweight with a dead-end job with a minor slew of health problems (to him), it was his own mind and the monsters that creep within the shadows that have led him to this ruin he has discovered.

One of the many horrors that he has had to live with was the case of “what could have been.” The what if of he being albe to live “happily ever after?” with that one person you love? The one person he wanted to see at the alter with him holding his hands within hers saying “I do” and vice versa.

A horror of being traumatized of being in love. Or at least a form of something real as he was searching for a form of structure from his own dramatic childhood wherein, he saw a constant drunk father and an emotional and physical abusive mother which led to a messy divorce from one another. Of course, not to add a steady competition of being the middle child of there parents. Dealing with an older brother that would be, the perfect terrorizer to him and the baby brother who took after him and tagged along with the abuse he had endured from the eldest.

A literal turn upon turn of events that had him not “understanding love” nor “accepting it.” For him the word or the meaning is so foreign to him. A distant land he will never explore... until he saw her. One day, at a church concert (of his youth) standing across the large concert hall-staring at him with a sincere smile.

Her eyes were feline in nature. Even far away from his position he was captivated by that physical trait of her alone as she stared right into his soul.

He could not look away from her. His heart felt a certain strength he had never experienced as, though he was nervous and calm at the same time. a Feeling that he endured as he continued to lock eyes with her and those beautiful eyes that was outlined in a fine “goth like” black eye liner. Her red hair and her light pale skin, her black top stuck against her showcasing off her curves in the perfect way. Along with her showing arms (he could not tell from distance until, he got closer) due to the black hoodie covering them with the most reveling piece about her. Her shoulder tattoo. A fairy.

A sudden attractive item to him about her that still to this day weighs so much to remember. Especially about that day when they first met. He always told people in private from then how he was “bewitched by her” giving her heart stopping presence a sense of “Mysticism” he could not describe. He felt as though (in that moment) of their introduction of feeling how he was, she as well felt the same.

As a mutual story from there past was linked up again which made there conversation that much more enjoyable when the “icebreaker moment” occurred. From there and getting rather close to him where he remembered her intoxicating scent of “flowers” and a hint of lavender he caught, her luscious lips. Lipstick red and full.

He got close to her but, she then pulled gently away. Much to his displeasure. Looking back on that second, he chuckles as he was just a kid experiencing what “love truly felt like” mistakes were bound to happen. She did applaud the effort however as later from there meeting she bestowed her number upon his cast he had to wear due to his left elbow being broke in two places. He saw it as a major win. A major win on his journey to a good life.

Things happen like that, I guess.

He did not even know from the hardships he had endured before he met her would be nothing compared to the overwhelming “Monster making feelings” she would dogpile on top of him over the expenditure of 7 years. Dogpiling the common negativity of jealousy, hate, controlling, and narcissism (to its fullest). A rarity in the relationship field but, he had to experience it for himself. He did not argue with her though with all of what she had displayed. As he was captivated with his version of what love was. Following her everywhere. Being her shadow and rock to lean on. (even late at night) racking up cell phone charges that made his father place him in a full nelson for his punishment.

It was when it was later within those seven years when it became compelling. For the seven years ended a little over 5 years ago to the current day. It was a story that was for the record books. His family had already accepted her for the potential idea of being a part of their tribe (from the ups and downs they had experienced) they were ready. Along with a few members of her functioning family of her grandparents that has helped raise her since she was a child. A tragic backstory of her own childhood she never wanted to mention. Regardless of the scoreboard one could see from both sides of the field it seemed it was not meant to be.

As he remembered the Horror as it was yesterday. Working at a foundry, right out of high school. A job he had held a total of 5 months

Working with his best friend’s dad Ronald Pigs in the heat of a department called “knockout.” A place where the heat of hell itself was alive and well. As the items they would make at this certain foundry would be made from the liquid metal that was poured right Infront of him and Ron. It was his job to place the molds to make “thus items” and Ron oversaw transferring them to the next station. Dangerous. Bone-chilling. The pay was wonderful to all of those that worked in “K.O.”

It was here when he heard his name mentioned aloud to much then what he would accept as his name had a spine-chilling feeling when mentioned to it. As his name had a Halloween folk lore story attached to it.

“CRANE! HEY CRANE! Fly higher buddy!”

His main operator would always scream overtop of the machinery whirling and conducting their personal actions loudly. It was about to be the middle of the day as an order of great magnitude came in. He was pressed against the clock mentally. As it was his and his beloved’s anniversary. He did not want to be late. So, in trusting his Only best friend “Willard’ Pigs he asked if he could pick up some chocolates and flowers and a pair of her favorite DVDs to rent at the local family video (right up the road from there foundry) and drop them off to her at her grandparent’s house (where she was).

Willard accepted to be “the clutch Player” for his best friend. “Crane” was entrusted for a change as he thought about the money he was going to earn from this order. As the money would be placed into a vacation idea for, he and his “rock angel.” A true payback for her constant “waiting”-the one word she used a lot when he was working.

Everything seemed to be working out. That it was until Ronald and his fellow group members had to leave “to family emergencies” and “Plumbing issues arising at home.” Leaving him all alone in one of the hardest departments within the most dangerous job around.

He was not phased though. As he took the project on. His bosses paid for the overtime he gained. As it was a four hour over job without the extra manpower. It was late, he knew he had to get to her, but he wanted to look clean and neat for her.

Not the typical work attire that might gag on the stench of his B.o that covered the former light green solid t-shirt he bought from Wal-Mart only a week prior to then. So, with Willards “clutch” in mind as he got ready, he was overconfident to say the least that everything was fine.

Afterwards he even checked his phone to see if Willard had texted him with an update. Or she gave her “crane” a thumbs up in the regards of the personal romantical message he sent. All nothing.

This next part is a part of the Demons that roam free throughout his mental terrain that he cannot shake.

As he remembered being excited to come pick her up at her grandparents. Her grandma “Pearl” answered the door with a white face. Drained of all her blood. He saw her fear. As normally She has had the door fully opened and welcomed Him in now, it was if she was being defensive.

He noticed “Elmer” the grandfather was not there as he must have been at the Bar with a few of his army buddies “thinking of the old days.”

He was only albe to get out a word of a question to Pearl when he heard it.

A moan.

Not of a ghost or something that may have been on Pearls tv (in the background) but, it was a sexual moan.

He flinches in his seat he was currently sitting in. thinking of the moment-by-moment replay.

As he pushed through Pearl knocking her down physically. As for the first time from his own end he was dealing with a form of anger that he was not used to. Adrenaline was pumping overtime through his movements and muscles that was pulsating to get to her room. As he looked down the long hallway top her bedroom door that was shut. Her name in the red lettering that made the memory that much more hurtful “Helen.”

He marched up to that door closer to listen to the cheating transpire. As heard her moan in enjoyment. Become exhilarated by the pace this gentleman alter was delivering-the skin to skin contact rapid, and loud. He punched a hole in her wooden door to reach in and unlock the potential (to see if the door was really unlocked or not). She screamed out-loud with fear. As she knew who it was.

Little did he know he did not know who she was as well as the other who was in there with her.

Willard Pigs.

He drifts back to the current state of things as the last remnant before, so he heard from her scared vocal cords. “HARPER!!! NO!!”

The common horror. The Demon of what he has locked in his own mind. Something that he wished could change. Change for the better forgetting her and her existence to him instead, he received the change of his physical appearance. As he came to the 1st intersection from her house his tears rolling down his face blocking his field of vison. As, one would only assume one does when enduring your own sadness. He did not see the drunken semi-truck driver approaching from the lane to his right only, the lights and the rapid approach of the roar of the engine descending upon him. His emotional state as his physical was in flux not paying attention until the bright lights were at his window.

The impact was something that sounded as though God himself punched his car. As from a distance around pieces of debris and various parts became scattered to the wind. Making the point of dear “Harper Crane” was no more.