Do you have a familiar thief? One you know all too well yet succeeds in taking your dignity?

I once considered mine a bold, rich, savory fellow. He was my familiar. He took my hand, filled my fragile shell, and displaced my lonely soul.

A faithful partner, he carried me across awkward stages. Sure-footed and turning in blurs, we shared long passionate embraces.

Our saga traveled—stage after stage, town after town, and wreck after wreck.

Wrecked one last time, I awoke alone and cracked to the core. I found my love revealed in tragic outline.

I mourned his loss, his strength, his love. I cursed the gods for not taking me.

Years passed and my heart has healed. Time has brought perspective.

I now grieve with clarity. Why?

That familiar thief was me.

— 

May 23, 2011. Tonight’s post began with the writing prompt from OneWord.com. I had 60 seconds to write about the word “thief.” I doodled this image on my iPad using SketchbookPro. Sent from my iPad. ©2011 Steph Abbott. All rights reserved.