THE SACRIFICE

by Brendan S


He was sixty.

When he put down the remote control.

And the psi-gun, for good.

(Though, it had only be-en used in self-defense, throughout his final years as a time traveler).

He looked into LUKAS GRAHAM's eyes, on the video-site that still existed in 2045, because it was the most popular site on the internet).

He looked at a few photographs, books, lyrics, and stashed a few CD's into a box, and wrote a date on it.

He put his mace, and pistol into another box. (Owning a real glock by now, with a gun license).

They took away his "diagnosis" once he proved his telepathy and telekinesis to enough doctors and therapists.

It all just started to become absurd ..

The way he could remote-control any object in the room across the flat surface of his cell-phone, with or without his hands.

We were always shocked, and stunned by him.

His hair, completely white.

Face, still about the same. Just more of a wrinkle in his cheeks, and darker eyes.

He saw a hair dresser, and had it dyed that day.

And said, "I used to be a time traveler."

She laughed, like hair-dressers do.

"And what was that like..?"

"I knew everyone."

"They considered me a demigod of the matrix."

"Now NSA white vans follow me everywhere .."

"And, do you know who Elliott Smith is..?"

Like old men change the subject sometimes, mid-paragraph.

"No. Who is he..?"

"He was a songwriter. Who modelled himself after me."

"His sister died in a car-crash, in a previous lifetime."

"I live with him now."

"He's a nice kid."

"Oh."

She looked off to the left, like, "Okay, crazy-guy.."

And then he began to laugh.

He went back to the small home, where Rachel was staying, the mother of the child.

"I have a lot of things I would love to share with you."

He said.

"You have a natural gift."

"But you must take your time to use it."

"Do you know what magic is..? The true power of art, and beauty..?"

"I kind of think so."

"You started playing the guitar recently, didn't you..?"

"Yes."

"Yes.."

"Elliott -- I mean .. sorry."

"I knew someone named Elliott once. I make mistakes with names. I'm just an old man."

"Do you know how powerful the 'world' really is..?"

"No.."

He responded, at 15.

"As powerful as you are."


- Brendan S