Venture #2 | Kelly Cannon

The green bench had been there for many, many years. Many people had come by and taken a rest on him. He had heard dozens of languages and seen countless number of people of different nationalities. He had seen children come and go, watched them grow up into adulthood and bring their children. He was content in his own little world. Doug was one of those children the green bench had seen grow up. The green bench could remember Doug's parents resting on him with Doug in their arms. Doug had climbed all over the green bench playing various games with other children his age. The green bench didn't mind because he was strong and made of metal. The green bench had picked him out of a mass of school children at the park on a field trip. Doug had sat with countless girlfriends on the green bench. He had told his future wife, Stacy, for the first time that he loved her. Doug had even proposed to Stacy on the green bench. The green bench had always felt especially close to Doug. Doug had brought his children and had them play on the green bench. So when the green bench spied Doug in the middle of the night coming toward him, he was excited and happy yet concerned and frightened. Why was Doug here in the middle of the night? Where were Stacy and the kids? As Doug drew closer the green bench noticed that Doug's eyes were red and his nose runny, like he had been crying for hours. Doug sat down with such weariness that even the bench felt absolute hopelessness. The green bench noticed something heavy in Doug's pocket but didn't think about it because Doug was crying again. The green bench tried his hardest to comfort Doug but it didn't seem to be working. Doug took out his wallet and pulled out each and every picture he had of his wife and kids. He set them in a pile on the green bench but he kept one picture of Stacy separate than the rest. He then took out any stray piece of paper that had something to do with his life, an appointment card, a business card, an old movie ticket. He set them in piles as well. Doug then put his wallet back in his pocket. The green bench was dying of curiosity as to why Doug was taking out all of these prized things. Doug then took out a cheap gas station lighter and began to burn each piece of paper methodically. He let them burn in his hand until he could hold it no more and set it down on the bench. The bench felt the hot flame on him and saw the burn marks and knew this is what Doug must be feeling. Then Doug began to burn the pictures. As he lit each picture, sobs would rack his body into convulsions. The bench felt each one burn into him but refused to do anything about it. When all that was left was the one picture of Stacy, Doug took out a pen and wrote something on the back of the picture. Doug held the picture in one had and with the other pulled out a black gun out of his pocket. The bench began to panic. This couldn't be happening. Not to Doug! Not to the bench's friend. The bench wanted to do something so badly but he couldn't. He was just a spectator. Doug was weeping again at this point. He held the gun up to his head, let out a heavy sigh, and pulled the trigger. The shot rang through the night as birds flew everywhere. Doug slumped over and lay on the green bench. The green bench, covered in the blood and brains of Doug silently wept to himself. It was only then that the bench noticed what Doug had written on the back of the picture: "I will love her till I die."