A Word Addicts Writing Exercise

(unpublished)

I had this system of getting exactly what I wanted out of people. I wouldn’t call it manipulative so much as compulsion or encouragement - to turn a phrase so they knew I was in control, it was ok, and they could depend on me to keep them safe. So when I sked Jeff to murder his aunt, it seemed like no big deal.

On Tuesday, his aunt asked me the most peculiar question. “Who do you think you are?” And that’s when I knew she had to go.

Jeff was resistant, at first. He questioned the morality, the difficulty, the legality, but with a smile I assured him, “People die all the time. It’s the circle of life.” It wasn’t long before he saw things my way.

It was a rainy afternoon when we hatched our plan. I didn’t want anyone to know, so I watched over Jeff carefully. He was used to fumbling and making mistakes.

His aunt never felt a thing as she slipped into unconsciousness. I squirmed in delight as the life left her eyes. When Jeff stepped back from the lifeless body, looking at his hands in horror, I reminded him that it was her time and he did the right thing.

He replied that he wasn’t sure, but I could feel his heart inside our chest. We were powerful, Jeff and I. And Jeff hadn’t been this excited since the last time we worked so well together. The time he invited his mother to dinner.