Mindf u c k

Follow the leader--

                                    

Everyone knows the meaning of the phrase. Originally a game where one would simply be the leader and everyone followed suit. A silly thing to do really, to mirror someone's decisions. Losing your independence, your own individuality. Everyone has lost themselves in that way it seems, we are all in a single file line, marching to the same place; inevitable death. But what of those that do not follow the rules, are outside of the box, drawling outside of the lines in the coloring book. 

 

Running into the house, coming in from the rain, Veronica cursed and cried all the way to the bathroom and slammed the door. Minutes later, her mother knocked on the door and let herself in. She didn't want the noise to wake Veronica's father that was drunk and asleep in the living room on the couch. The young girl was covered in blood, cuts and dirty wounds claimed her hands and knees; a busted mouth, and a broken nose. Her mother questioned her daughter about what had happened. Scared, but always honest with her mother, she told her what occurred at a party she was just at. Her mother went on to lecture her about the dangers of drugs and alcohol as if she had

room to scold anyone for any reason at all. 

 

"Ma, everyone was doing it and nobody died last time." Cried out Veronica as her mother drew her a hot bath and began to carefully, and gently cleanse her wounds. "If everyone jumps off of a cliff are you going to follow? Are you a leader... or a follower Veronica?" Asked her mother; 

--no reply, just silence, and her understanding why.