Madness and Women
Stories
Poetry
a second chance
he read a novel in college called the great gatsby.
it took place in the 1920's.
back in those days the wealthy did things like drink champagne in the back of fancy limousines.
they led carefree lives and had affairs with each other.
at least that's what they did in the book.
it was about a former gangster named jay gatsby.
he tried to hide his criminal past from a clique of high society people.
he worshipped daisy buchanan.
she was one of the wives in the group and they had an affair.
she wouldn't leave her marriage.
the husband found out about them and arranged gatsby's murder.
from his impression of the story daisy loved gatsby.
but she couldn't act on her feelings and she abandoned him.
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he compared himself to gatsby since his past followed him as well.
he couldn't shake off his childhood filled with madness and its complications.
as an adult he spent his days homeless and drunk.
he tried several times to break away from living like that but eventually he'd be back on the street.
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in one city he liked to sit on the same bench near some trees and a playground.
he often drank too much and took too many pills.
he passed out and fell off the bench and hit the ground.
someone called for an ambulance.
he opened his eyes for a few moments.
_____
he saw a vintage rolls royce pull up.
the chauffeur put him in the back seat with her.
on the way to the hospital she held him and promised “this time i won’t let you go.”