The Girl Who Lived

by Christopher Greyson

It’s like a guy who survives a fall from an airplane with no parachute. Yeah, he survived, but he’s so busted up he’ll never be okay. Everything inside him is broken. He’ll never be right. And we call him a survivor. It’s a joke. His whole life is one big walking nightmare.

How can you ever truly make amends?

Some people say you can feel darkness—that evil itself has a presence, a touch.

Every morning they strapped on that mask of bravery and prayed that a stiff breeze wouldn’t blow it off and reveal to the world how terrified they felt.

Are you on the edge of Crazy Town, and if I share my screwed-up thoughts with you, will that push you over into some full-blown psychotic meltdown?”

I woke up in this world of suck, where everything I had is dead and gone. I breathe. I move. But I can’t feel anything good anymore. I remember what feeling good felt like—some. Bits and pieces. But it’s like looking in a broken mirror. I can’t even stand my own face.”

“Do you believe in Heaven?” “Yes.” “What’s stopping you from going?”