vernal quest
They had known him all these years
So when the time came, they decided to
Peel back the layers to see
The person they had been making
Underneath
So one by one,
They peeled back the layers
But only found more of the same
"There must be something here," they said
So they continued through the layers
When they finally found something different,
They at first were slightly repulsed
"There's surely something much better underneath,
If this is what's above." So they continued
To go through his layers
But as they continued, they only grew to hate what they found
More and more.
They finally started tearing him apart,
To get to what they were sure
Was underneath
When they had finally peeled back the last layer,
There was nothing underneath
Except wisps of smoke
From the ghost hiding inside
"Why," they cried,
"Why is there nothing here?
Who have we been seeing all this time?
Was the truth we always thought we saw underneath
A lie?"
The ghost looked up from the darkness it was hiding in
To those who had known his shell
All this time
"This is what's here," he said,
"This is who's been hiding underneath
All this time.
The truth is that the layers never were the lie,
I was the lie."
He turned away,
And without looking back,
He faded away
As they looked at the layers
Shredded on the ground.
-# © whereisthedefect 2025
crisp orbit