”He Stays”

There was a time when John Smith wanted to walk out the door and never come back. That was before the mirage of death that filled his nostrils with the smells of molten metal, dirt and charred flesh.

Before the fire, he could avoid this comic twist of fate. Close up the house and walk away with a jingle of change and a jaunty whistle. No one would notice and those that did were better off without him.

At least he believed as much, until he did the research. Learned the dates and connected the dots that drew him and Greg Stillson inexorably together.

Now he knew better and want had become need. Still, he stayed. Watching and waiting because humanity could not avoid the fate Stillson would choose. John stayed for the family never realized but always known. He stayed for Bruce’s loyalty and friendship. He stayed for Gene Purdy, though he wondered why when the night was still and only the stars whispered to the breeze.

God or nature? Accident or providence? The answer lay somewhere beyond comprehension and contemplation brought a chill John could scarcely tolerate. Avoidance was futile, acceptance necessary to save what sanity still remained.