Alter Ego

—He was nothing but a pretender— I thought he was my friend because he followed me everywhere I went, because he hugged me in his tender bosom and comforted me every time I felt sad and lonely. When depressed and not knowing what to do he tapped my shoulder to lift me up my spirits. When confused in the maze looking for a way-out, he came and held my hand and got me out of this maze. One day, I walked away from him because I wanted to have total freedom. When I found myself, however, standing in the middle of nowhere trembling from the roar of wild beasts, I saw him standing before me open armed. When I lost my strength and fell to the ground from the days of trials, he carried me on his back to get through life’s miseries. In the dark and chilling nights he lit a candle to convince me that, no matter how dark and cold, there would always be a light and fire as long as I asked for it. After so many of life’s vicissitudes and an undesirably long journey I saw the end of a tunnel that was bright and full, I, therefore, knelt to thank my friend who made me come to this far. Alas, my trusted friend, stabbed my back with a dagger in this joyous moment, he was the Alter Ego, my life’s companion.