The Man by Brandy Alyce

                                            The Man

 An Original Story by Brandy Alyce

There once was a man. He had a good and honest heart. He loved his family and friends deeply and would do anything for them. He cared for his family so much that he would shed tears at night if he felt he had caused any pain or that he was lacking in any way as a husband or father. The plight of those who had suffered in other countries from natural disasters or war would tear at his heart. He had so much empathy for those who did not deserve to suffer. This was the true self of this man.

 

The description of the man sounds perfect. Looking straight on, this was how he was viewed. Looking from a different angle, his struggles could be seen. Only his wife could see the depth, and even then, not all. You see, this man had a flaw. Total control was his addiction. Though one should be in control of oneself, he went a little farther. But, for the love of his family, he overcame his demons. Only, instead of banishing them, he locked them up behind an iron gate. His wife had suspicions that there was more to him that he didn’t share even with her, but knew that they were related to the battles that raged in his mind. All she could do was be there for him.

 

The demons that the man had locked away behind this iron gate were not happy. They would grow restless and shake the bars. Sometimes they whispered to him through the door. When this would happen, the man would become afraid and depressed. He felt tormented within his own mind, but still…he would not banish them. He could not relinquish control.

 

One day, the man’s child began to show symptoms of a mental illness. As it progressed, the demons began to raise their voices and shout, “You have no control! You are no man! Release us and you can regain control of your life!”

 

The shaking of the iron bars and the screams of the demons, the stress of the man’s family, the fear of losing control of it all, and the fear of being a failure as a father became too much.

“If I can’t control my life, then I can control my death!”

 

The man, restless and fearful, was unable to sleep that night. His wife, still only partially aware of the breadth of his troubles, stayed by his side trying to soothe and encourage him until morning.

 

When the sun rose the next day, rather than cause pain and suffering to his family, the man told his wife that he needed help. The wife went with him and stayed by his side as much as possible as he was admitted to the hospital. No matter his demons, she would always be there for him.

 

The man met an amazing doctor while in the hospital who encouraged him to banish his demons. The first step was to identify them. The doctor explained that this would be a process, but that they would work together to discover the best way to be rid of them. The man was able to get the confidence he needed to regain control, even if his threshold was still weak.

 

The man continued to see the doctor and became more and more patient with his family and able to handle his life…until his child’s illness took on additional symptoms. The weak threshold was weakened even more.

 

The man, fearing that he may not be able to keep total control, requested that his wife stay at home with their son, instead of working. He would get a job while he continued to improve mentally. She, though doing very well at her job, wanted to be supportive of her husband and family, therefore, resigned to focus on their son.

 

The man was hired at a company and immediately started doing well. Unfortunately, spending most of his time each week amongst beautiful women caused his lust demon to rattle the gate.

“Let me out! Think of how much fun we can have together! Release me and I can release you from all the stresses of your family! Think of the freedom! Release me!”

 

The man tried to ignore it, but the demon became louder and louder, and shook the gate harder and harder, weakening the hinges.

 

As the man’s Will weakened, so did the iron gate. Until one day…the gate broke wide open. In his desperation, the man grabbed hold of the demons, Manipulation, and Lies, and held them close.

“I must have control!”

 

With Manipulation and Lies, the man was able to create his own world. One in which only he could control. Cutting out the people he cared for the most, only those with whom he could control the narrative- his new friends- were welcome into his circle. He could tell them anything and they would believe him.

 

The man had a moment of clarity. He looked around his life and saw the disaster, devastation, and pain that he had caused. In his fight for control, he had let his demons control him. His wife, as always, was there for him- supportive and encouraging. He needed additional help to banish these demons.

 

The man took his task seriously. Trying to regain his life- restore what he had lost. But soon, the demon, Lust, distracted him again. And grabbing hold of Manipulation and Lies, he succumbed.

 

The man is now locked behind his own iron gate. His personal guard is Lust- backed up by Manipulation and Lies.