The Lake

My head was pounding from the ripples in the water. The water was loud even though the wind was weak. My fingers were numb and shaky. I smiled at the bird that perched himself on the rock beside me.

I did good. My dad would be proud I thought. I was a good son.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw my knee bouncing uncontrollably as a nervous anxious person would do. “Stop it,” I told myself out loud.

My right ear started ringing and my left eye twitched. I hit myself on the forehead and yelled, “Stop! Stop it now.”

The bird flew away.

I looked down at my fingers. My fingernails were dirty with blood. I picked up a twig from the ground and started cleaning them. I became calm. No more twitching. No more ringing. The dirt from the twig started to replace the blood from underneath my nails.


I looked out at the river in front of me. The sun was starting to come up. It was time for me to leave the burial site. I did my job well. After all, he killed my brother and retribution is my glory. My dad will be proud.