In the solitude of night, a smoker reflects on the suffocating presence of a superior figure, their life dictated by indifference and grandiosity. With every exhaled wisp of smoke, the narrator delves deeper into the chasm between servitude and self-awareness, painting a haunting portrait of isolation and quiet defiance.
The strands of smoke from my cigarette curled into the night, fading into the shadows, as I sat alone, consumed by a deep-seated revulsion for him. “He remains blissfully unaware, doesn’t he?” I thought. He has no understanding—none at all—of our fate, of this languishing existence, fading into oblivion, severed from the world.
Perhaps he crafted this fate on a whim, weaving his thoughts together without care or consequence. Yes, he remains blissfully unaware. And yet, I am aware. He is a man of immense stature, swollen with self-importance, his life an endless monologue of grandiloquent gestures since the moment he first drew breath.
His silence is a shroud, heavy and unyielding, stretching each moment into eternity. Yet here I remain, devotedly serving the one above, even as the weight of his indifference presses against my chest.
Again, the smoke from my cigarette unfurled like a delicate wisp of silk, vanishing into the abyss of darkness. And there I stayed, solitary, the bitter taste of his presence lingering like ash, repulsed by the figure who loomed above.
Prompt: Write a reflective piece where the narrator contemplates their relationship with a figure of authority. Use imagery of smoke, shadows, and silence to evoke a sense of confinement and inner turmoil. Explore themes of power, indifference, and existential questioning, creating a balance between vivid descriptions and introspective dialogue.