Once, I was whole. I was a provider. I loved, I laughed, and I cared. Once, I was a man. I go through the motions, as though blind. My heart has grown numb. Rash and foolish man. I have forgotten what it means to love, to laugh, to care. I look back at a time. A time long since past. I stand motionless for a while, then move on. My direction is gone and my beliefs have been pried from my hands by a breeze. Passion is a stranger; my fire has died. My dreams are no more. Nothing is left of that which made me a man. I &quot;live&quot; a &quot;life&quot; of routine. Each day as predictable and as insipid as the last. I have one piece left that I clench. It wont let me end the suffering. The pain that is seated deep in my core is kept fresh. Somehow, I must continue to pay for my sins. 2007-11-14T15:00:13Z http://ficlets.com/feed/story/13656 <p>Great! I think that this reflects the way a lot of people spend their lives. Just going through the motions of a routine. Very interesting and DEEP !</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/13656?basename=23092 2007-11-14T15:00:13Z judee4u2 http://ficlets.com/authors/judee4u2 <p>Very very good. Speaks to a lot of people who &#8220;give up the fire&#8221; and start going through the motions.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/13656?basename=22930 2007-11-13T14:25:44Z Jnova http://ficlets.com/authors/jnova <p>Wow, definitely very well done. I can&#8217;t say much else other than this has a personal resonance with me.</p> http://ficlets.com/stories/13656?basename=22928 2007-11-13T14:21:45Z Fyora Cartagan http://ficlets.com/authors/fyoramacragge