Dear Snake

Many didn’t understand why I befriended you. They said it would never work. You being you and me being me, but when you came into my life I was lonely. I yearned for companionship and that seemed to be what you were offering. We got along fine at first. You made me laugh, lightened my spirit… I’m always so focused on my work. I started noticing subtle things that bothered me. I gave you the benefit of the doubt. Although, I’d always been fully aware of what you were capable but I didn’t think that you could ever do harm to me. I mean my friends and neighbors had even taken to you. Some of them enjoying your company more so than me. I was delighted that won their approval. I guess I may have been a little naive to the fact that a lot of them would deal with just about anybody I seemingly approved of, nonetheless, everything seemed fine.

But then you made me understand the warnings. You made me see what they all were trying to save me from. I still remember like yesterday. I sat on the porch waiting for you. I made us tea. You always seemed to like the tea. I just assumed your kind liked tea. You said you were on your way but, you didn’t come. I sat waiting and waiting. Several of my “friends” had heard from you… nut not me. Several of your friends had heard from you… some of them even mentioned the tea that we had shared. That was surprising to me because I told you I don’t share it with just everyone. Still I waited. Growing irritated I went back into my house. I left the door open for you as I always had, expecting you to show. You said you would. You never really broke your word. At least with me. I think I had started to trust you.

It was when I heard my back door rattle that I became alarmed. With the front door wide open I couldn’t imagine who could be trying to come through the back. I saw you pour my tea out the window and rummage through my wine cellar… Why would you?! How could you?! I made  tea because that’s what you wanted if you wanted wine I would’ve given it to you. I would’ve given you anything. I heard you get on the phone and tell your friends how dumb I was… I even heard you snickering with some that I thought were my friends. I was hurt. I stood peeping through the cracked door heavy hearted. I heard all the warnings replay in my head. “Why are you dealing with that snake?” “That’s a snake.. what will you do if it bites you?” ” You are asking for trouble”, that’s when I forgave you. I couldn’t hate you for being you. I couldn’t get mad at you behaving in a the way you were designed to behave. You were born to slither.. born to bite.

 

It was also then that I remembered who I was. I remembered why I ignored the warnings. I remembered why I exuded fearlessness throughout our relationship even though I saw you size me up a few times prior. It was then that I ate you. You see Snake, I am a Mongoose. We eat snakes. We don’t always like to, but we do. I’m sure you thought I was a meerkat or something, it happens all the time. I don’t look aggressive, but I trump you on the food chain. I take nothing from the awesome times we did have. I hope that those who loved you forgive me for being me as I’ve had to forgive you for being you. It’s just my nature. It’s who I am. It’s what I do.

 

The Mongoose

 

-@Ms_Echia

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