Relief

Relief

1

In the end, they had more in common than different.

Both had been born in hospitals from healthy mothers. Both lived their lives with family and both finished school. Both loved music, laughter and friends.

But something was different between them: Jamie’s head had a hole in it.

Now, it might seem strange to walk around with an extra orifice. No, this wasn’t an extra eye or nostril - it was an irregularly shaped gash leading directly into the middle of Jamie’s brain. Nothing leaked or fell out. Most people didn’t even know it existed under the colorful layers packed on top.

“Shawn! Are you finished in the bathroom?”

And as normal for the friends on their way out, Jamie moves them along: “The band starts in 10 minutes, and I am stressed to think we will be late.”

But Shawn has a routine. If everything on the checklist isn’t perfectly completed then the evening will be a disaster. First would be bacteria, then odors, then clothes, hair and..., . Late is better than embarrassed.

“Shawn, seven minutes. It takes us five to get there. Can we leave now? I am excited to hear the first song.”

Shawn’s day didn’t go as planned when the power went out. First the alarms didn’t ring, then today’s ride left when they couldn’t wait. After a fitful bus tour, a minimal schedule was completed a few minutes late. All day long Shawn had been behind - and now was no different. It was time for perfection and time is what it would take.

“Shawn, it’s five till. I’m anxious. We have to leave now!”

“WILL YOU JUST SHUTUP!! WE WILL LEAVE WHEN I’M READY”

2

Jamie caught the anger and laughed, “I’m outta here! See ya.”



All Shawn could put out, with his red vein exposing face, were a few half mangled words. Along Shawn’s spine sweat collected and darkened clothes. Now the list would need to be reviewed again. Was something forgotten? What was missing? And, what happened?



Another promising day was ruined. What next?



If anything in life was a mystery to Shawn, anger was it. After all the careful planning and ritual, it always came down to a failure to meet expectations. What makes Jamie so special?



Maybe - there’s nothing like a little hole in the head!