Lizard Man in Clear Water Page #2

I wanted to tell a story about the difference in how we advise others to solve their problems versus how we treat ourselves with our own problems.

• Fiction
• Short story
• Fantasy

								

“There are no problems and there are no obligations,” I replied. 
“Really? It has been seventy years since you disappeared.” 
“Really! That cannot be! I have only been gone for a few months at best!” 
“The lizard man was first seen seventy years ago. You are a big story in town. All the parents tell their kids about you, so we don’t go into the woods alone. Me included.” 
Somehow, in complete isolation, I had managed to still affect the lives of the townsfolk. I was a part of the town even after all these years. It dawned on me that my good friend had probably since passed away, and probably most of everyone else I knew. 
“I never thought you were bad. I took it that you were probably just sad.” 
“Sad?” 
“Yes. Today we think of monsters as being sad instead of bad.” 
“Monsters had no sympathy in my time.” 
“But your time has not ended.” 
She said these words with such conviction that I was taken back. “What do you mean by that?” I asked. 
“You are still quite alive. Are you ready to stop living in delusions?” 
“I am not living a delusion. Obviously, considering the stories of the lizard man, my life for the last seventy years has been quite real!” 
“No, I mean your delusion that you believe you have no problems or obligations.” 
“Please tell me how that is a delusion.” 
“Your disappearance made the townsfolk very sad. My parents didn’t know you, so you were a scary story to them. But all the old folk thought your story was tragic. They never found peace with it. That seems like a problem to me.” 
“And do you think I have an obligation to return to them?” 
“I don’t know.” 
“Why are you here?” 
She looked at me with unfeeling eyes. “I kind of wanted to live the same detached life as you. I wouldn’t be as oblivious as you, but I want to live here too. Away from all of them.” 
“Oh! Come on now! It can’t be as bad as you say. Even if they seem superficial, and empty, they have good hearts. The people in the town will love you if you just tell them what is wrong!” With that, I stepped out of the water, and I escorted her back to the town, hoping to change her mind. 
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