The Bad Things

How long can a man live with agonizing despair?
Pacing around pulling his hair,
it won?t be long, till there is no more there.
Do the bad things, the demons said. He fought the demons of his mind hard. He didn?t like they way they talked. The things they wanted him to do. The bad things. Always the bad things. No, I?ll not do them he screamed at them, I?ll not. Day in and day out, he fought them. It?s getting so hard he cried in the night. They?ll win at last, he sobbed. But no, I?ll fight them harder, and the demons screamed louder, do the bad things. How long can this go on, he cried? Stop, stop please stop. But the demons no longer listened; they grew ever more loud, do the bad things. He was afraid that others would soon hear them. So loud, he had a hard time, what with always shaking his head no. No, I?ll not. He laughed then, a strange laugh. His co-workers were beginning to wonder about him he knew. He could tell by the glances, they gave him as he passed. Some would speak, and say things like, keep up the good work, or your really doing well. But he knew what they really meant. He knew they were waiting to see what strange thing he would do next. And the demons kept at him, do the bad things, do the bad things. You?ll learn to enjoy it, they would say. Just once, and you will see they said. Go ahead, do the bad things. No, no I?ll not do the bad things, you can?t make me, I won?t, I won?t. But that night, they worked on his mind, did something to it. He knew he was lost at last. Yes, he finally said to the demons, I?ll do the bad things, but where do I go, it?s so late? The demons spoke softly now; they knew where to go. They led him away in the dark, and finally to the place where he would do the bad things. He was scared, but the demons where ever there to help him along. He moved to the side of the building, and looked through the window. See, the demons said. She?s all alone, no one will know, go in now, and do the bad things. He goes inside, oh how scared I am, he thought. The demons nudged him. He stepped up to the young girl at last. The demons saying now, now do the bad things. I want a triple banana split a dozen glazed donuts and a giant soda. The young man who had so far lost eighty-five pounds, took the bad things to a table and sat down. Do the bad things the demons said.