The Aftermath

    It wasn’t her fault… she tried to save her… it wasn’t her fault! (pause) Damn those villagers… damn them all! (pause) that boy.. it’s all his fault. He ran, he ran and told the villagers. I’m glad I did what I did. To watch him running and scream. To feel his neck crush in my hand, to watch his frightened eyes bulge as he gasped for air; like a fish out of water. It took some of the pain away, to watch his lifeless body fall to the ground and crumble.

    Some of my pain eased as I felt her bones crunch. The fool woman; crying out when she knew not the truth. I made her see the truth; the truth of my fury as I smashed her into a bloody pulp!.. (pause) every man… every woman and every child, I made pay! For the injustice brought on Delilah!... Delilah.. I’m so sorry… I should’ve… but I couldn’t!... I could I have…. I wanted to.. I tried… I’m sorry… (covers face while turning away and turns back to the front on the other side.)

    Wha-what happened? Where am I? I-I remember… fire! And burning! I remember… Sammy! Oh Sammy… and, and I remember, the girl. Oh the poor girl, I-I tried catching her, but… the blood. All that blood… it was an accident. I saw her.. she was hanging on that branch, she saw me and became frightened even more so. I told her it was ok, that I wouldn’t hurt her, that I wanted to help her. She clung to the branch crying… I told her to come to me, that the branch was going to break, but she clung to it even more so… I heard the tell tale crack of the branch; she heard it too. Then just as the branch gave way she reached out to me and I caught her hand; the branch fell away to her hanging on for her life. I tightened my grip and tried hoisting her up. But.. she, she was just too heavy. I tried… but.. she slipped.. the moist air had made her slick, and.. and I couldn’t hold her...

    Her body laid splayed out on the rocks. I cradled her body… it WAS my fault…. if I hadn’t scared her in the first place she never would have fell. Sammy was right… I’m so sorry Sammy… (turns half way to the front)

    Her screams are still echoing in my head… seeing the flames engulf her.

    My flesh, burning. My skin is all scabbed and bleeding. The smell of the smoke… my lungs hurt.

    Her face… by all that’s unholy her face…

    They beat me… I, I couldn’t fight back.. Sammy where are you?!

    She kept crying out to me, and I couldn’t do a damn thing! I tried, by the gods I tried…

    I’m alone, and I’m scared…

    The look on her face, when she couldn’t find me, when they condemned her..

    I-I remember… oh Sammy

    Delilah…