The New Year’s Lynching

I sit on my perch looking out at the hundreds of thousands of revelers gathered below me. They’re eagerly awaiting my execution, as is tradition every year. I am naked, my entire body ornamented in fluorescent paint and shining rhinestones. Around my neck hangs a noose constructed out of strands of multicolored holiday lights. It’s very lonely up here, and also very cold. I won’t have to endure it for much longer, though.

My entire life, all I wanted was to bring joy to others. Or at least not be a nuisance. Sometimes I dreamed of being famous, to be seen and understood and known by the world. I just wanted to contribute positively to the universe. Instead I caused a lot of pain to my community, draining precious resources that should’ve been spent on someone more worthy. I’ve done it all – violence, harassment, deception, perversion. That’s why I was selected this year. It was, frankly, a good choice. I feel honored to finally be recognized as the parasite I am, and to be rightfully exterminated.

Many were shocked when they learned I was to be sacrificed this year. Very few knew my true nature. I had a reputation of empathy, intelligence, and a good sense of humor. They’re too naive to understand that oftentimes it’s exactly the people like me who have the most blood on their hands. It’s okay. They don’t need to understand yet. They will see in due time.

Mother was devastated when the news broke. She tried everything in her power to dissuade the elders, to force them to make a different choice – but no matter. She’s in denial about the reality of my situation. Always protecting me, enabling me, letting me abuse others and even herself. In a way, it’s understandable. No mother wants to acknowledge when their son is truly worthless. But now I look down at her sobbing face with a mixture of emotions – gratitude that she will be free from the shackles of caring for me, but also sheer disdain for the pitiful sight below me, a woman blinded by maternal love unable to see how she spawned a devil.

Time inches onward toward midnight without cause or care for human affairs. I offer my last prayers onto God not to be blinded by my facade as well, not to forgive me, but to condemn me to Hell where I belong. Where I can reunite with Father. I see a young man’s face in the crowd, with beautiful porcelain skin and hair more golden than gold itself. Like a fairytale prince. His woman is next to him. It’s tradition for couples to kiss the moment the ceremony is concluded, to celebrate the expelling of evil and the joyousness of a new, better world. All I want is for him and everyone else in the crowd to be happy, even if I must make the ultimate sacrifice. A chorus starts chanting a countdown as I can only think of one world: Thanks.