Good morning folks,

-slurp-

I’m sick, but not sick in the normal sense.  My sickness runs much deeper, almost to the core.  It is a sickness for which there is no cure; at least not one that is going to be nice, leaving a scar that will last forever.  I’m sick, and I’m getting worse.

-slurp-

The proper definition of a parasite is something that obtains nourishment from a host without benefiting or killing the host.  I have such parasites.  Though they are not directly killing me, they are slowly sucking the life out of me.  I have lived with these parasites for many years and with each passing year they seem to grow and become more violent and “greedy”.  I feel my life force slowly leaving me as they slowly (but surely) take everything out of me.  I’m sick.

-slurp-

I remember when I was young and how healthy I was.  Back in those days there were still parasites, but they were “kind” to me.  They were almost symbiotic to a point.  But as time passed, they started to grow in numbers.  Multiplying seemingly overnight and their “thirst” grew.  At this point, I am nearly a dead empty shell.  When that day comes, I will cease to exist and so will they.  I’m sick.

-slurp-

I’ve done all I can to save myself.  I get a lot of hot flashes.  Actually, I seem to always be running hot these days, almost like a constant fever.  I try and keep myself cool which seems to help once in awhile but then the parasites kick in and I end up feeling worse.  I’ve also started to shake uncontrollably.  It doesn’t happen often, but when it does it shakes me to the core.  I feel as if I’m ripping apart from the inside out.  It hurts.  I’m sick.

-slurp-

I look up at the sun and it makes me smile.  The sun has always made me smile; we have been friends for a long time.  I used to look to the sun as a source of life, but now it is more of a harbinger of death.  In addition to my body, these parasites also rely on the sun to survive.  Without it, we would both die.  I wish the sun would leave so we could both die.  I’m sick.

-slurp-

But I don’t want to die.  I’m young and have many years ahead of me.  I’ve seen so many wonderful things and I’ve experienced so many joys in my short life.  I want to live, I want to go on, I want these parasites to go away so I can be alive.  I don’t want to die, but I’m sick and death is inevitable at this point.  The damage to my body is so severe, there is no hope for repair.  I’m sick.

-slurp-

Before I go, I want to raise my voice to the heavens and call out my name.  I want the entire universe know what has happened to me so I may be able to warn others like me.  I want them to know there is a parasite unlike any other in this universe and I want to save others from the potential spread.  When they least expect it, my life will expire and I will call out:

“I am Terra!  I am the Earth!”

-slurp-

Cheers,

Al