Join the new world

You see, I was never always like this. I had friends, family, a job: everything that makes a man a successful one. Where did it all go so wrong? I cannot say. My visions I guess are what started the entire thing, yet they seemed all too real. Wait. I remember. It was way back when I used to work at the office.

My office job was demanding, supremely stressful, extra hours constantly needed. I wanted to prove to the company that I was the best and that is why they needed to keep me. I worked at Jensen's Food Market and Mass Retailers headquarters In Chicago. The job I got wasn't even a job, it was an internship with the promise of employment with a huge check. All I had to do was make calls to customers to see if they were interested in what the company had to offer and various minor tasks assigned to me by Mr. Jensen himself. I was good at it too. And in this day and age, money is what you need to survive, help you endure. I had just been recently married and with a baby coming on the way. I needed this job more than anything. My wife hated the fact that I would stay at work till seven for a poor paying job.

Things were going well and the permanent job was just in my grasp. Then he showed up. McGroener was some fresh out of Harvard graduate from the school of business. He graduated from the top of his class, his parents were wealthy as hell, and a threat to my job security. He was deadly at his job. Every time he picked up a phone to call customers, he would put the phone down with a smile on his face. A successful kill as his proverbial axe slowly chopped down the supports that had gotten me so far. He came close to my sales record and to make up for it, I worked unpaid overtime till nine. My wife was almost due and she told me to quit and get a new job and how she couldn't stand being alone for so long. I couldn't quit now, I had come so far, and McGroener would not stop me!

Then I started hearing whispers. At first I thought it was the cleaning staff or some security guard screwing with me, playing some practical joke to pass their night shift. But on several instances I would burst into the bathroom or a broom closet and yell "AH HA!" Nobody was there except an empty room and the occasional broom and stack of paper. every time I convinced myself it was due to over working and that it would be over soon enough.

Then one day, the boss calls me to his office. He was a charismatic man, the kind of person you would see in advertisements or in politics. He was always dressed sharp as if he was trying to get some woman to go out with him, yet he was married already.

"John, buddy! How are you!" He smiled that pleasant smile.

" I am very well, Mr. Jensen, you?" I replied. Maybe today was the day?

"Fine. Fine, absolutely splendid. Listen John, I have noticed that you have been working hard for this company. Sorry, this may seem a bit rude and off-topic, but how's the wife and John Jr.?"

" Lisa is doing fine, and the baby according to the doctor is due any day."

"Great! That's great. Listen John, I have noticed that you have been working really hard for the past couple of weeks , and let me just say that we here at Jensen's appreciate your hard work."

"Thank you sir for letting me work here. It has truly been a real privilege, sir. I hope that I can continue working here." There was an awkward pause. Mr. Jensen's smile disappeared and his lips receded into his mouth. That could only mean...

"About that, John. We have to let you go." I couldn't believe it! This ass is firing me!

"Let me guess, you gave that job to McGroener!"

"Who?"

"Don't play dumb with me, the intern from Harvard."

"You were the only intern, John. "

"Bullshit! That's a load of bullshit and you know it! His cubicle was right next to mine!" I stood up so fast the chair I sat in flipped back.

"John, I need you to calm down here. Just sit do-"

"Shut the hell up! I busted my ass working for you and this is thanks I get?! Lose my job to some college kid who worked here for about a month?" Mr. Jensen leaned over to the intercom on his desk.

"Security." A man in blue entered the room and grabbed me by the arms and wrestled me out of Jensen's office.

"Let go of me, I can let myself out." The man released his grip and that was when I saw McGroener. he was smiling, but his smile was more wicked and smelled of "I win".

"You!" I rumbled. "YOU COST ME THIS JOB YOU BASTARD!" I lunged at him. I smiled as his face changed from victory to sheer horror as I clawed at his face. " That's right, scream you bastard! HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO SUPPORT A CHILD NOW! That's right, if my child dies, it is because of you!" The security guard got back on me and put me in cuffs.

"Someone call the ambulance. We got some insane person here." Shouted the security officer. I looked around everyone was staring at me like I had three heads, something that was weird, unseen and unnatural.

"So that's what you all think of me? I'm friggen loopy? A real whack job! Well I am not. That bastard took my job, after all my hard years of work. I busted my ass and he took it!" The security guard dragged me off to the security desk. "That's enough from you." He growled.

That was when it hit me. It's is not easy realizing that you are crazy. that a man you despised the most was actually a figment of your imagination. That is the hardest part. What's worse is when you found out that you just busted up your hand from taking out a computer with your bare fists. Or that your wife got a divorce and you didn't even disagree. Or that your child will never know your true face. Or how hard you worked to try and let him have a decent lifestyle. He will only know that his father is some patient at Chicago-Read with scarred hands and a scarred mind.