Swagazine #2

     I saw the devil yesterday. I'm certain I did.

     He wasn't what I expected. It was in the park where I saw him, though no one else seemed to notice. It must have been because he looked like a little freckled girl in a pink dress and ribbons. She stood with her parents very calmly, minus the horns and tail.

     But then she looked in my direction, and our eyes met.

     In that moment, I wanted to do something, anything that wasn't right. I looked around frantically, actually unable to decide. I wanted to kill the man and woman who thought they were her parents. I wanted to steal from my best friend. I could have taken any woman who passed by at random. I couldn't have stopped myself if I had wanted to.

     And then she turned away.

     It was as if he'd proved his point. He had shown me who was in control.

     No one saw my struggle. No one saw her smile at me. They saw her ask for ice cream, and she got it.

     And I was left with my soul.