Robert Smith
Staring down at the ground, I never realized the height of the hospital. A crowd had gathered at the bottom, gazing up in awe. How could the frickin' INSURANCE agent jump off the building? Hidden in the shadows, after taking so many lives away from others, it's finally my turn to leave this earth.
I question where I will end up in heaven in hell. Death is inevitable, but did it have to come from me? I ask myself every day. Our deed is done out of love, but will God see it the same way? Love for our own people, but hatred for others. Is this a fair deal? I guess I'll find out soon. Wondering whether Satan or the angels will meet me soon, but comforted by the fact that it doesn't really matter in a short time. After death, we all end up in the gone.
I often hear people dwell on their legacy. What is a legacy if not an excuse to make a dent in the world? To jump from the rooftops and say "I did something". Well. Look at me. Jumping off the rooftops to make the exact same point. My legacy will be the random insurance agent jumping off a building. But to the select few who truly know, "random" is not the right word. A legacy of saving our own race from destruction. One of saving the culture which our ancestors have preserved for centuries. One of the slaves who traveled here across the ocean.
It's time now. The crowd gathered is slowly getting distracted. One, two, three. Jump.
I question where I will end up in heaven in hell. Death is inevitable, but did it have to come from me? I ask myself every day. Our deed is done out of love, but will God see it the same way? Love for our own people, but hatred for others. Is this a fair deal? I guess I'll find out soon. Wondering whether Satan or the angels will meet me soon, but comforted by the fact that it doesn't really matter in a short time. After death, we all end up in the gone.
I often hear people dwell on their legacy. What is a legacy if not an excuse to make a dent in the world? To jump from the rooftops and say "I did something". Well. Look at me. Jumping off the rooftops to make the exact same point. My legacy will be the random insurance agent jumping off a building. But to the select few who truly know, "random" is not the right word. A legacy of saving our own race from destruction. One of saving the culture which our ancestors have preserved for centuries. One of the slaves who traveled here across the ocean.
It's time now. The crowd gathered is slowly getting distracted. One, two, three. Jump.
Wow, this is a very unique perspective to take on! I love how you stepped inside a minor character but gave him more depth. Especially because he set the scene for the novel and a lot of the symbolism in the novel comes from this event. I thought it was very fitting that you talked about him leaving behind a legacy, especially because Robert Smith is the reason that Milkman was even born. He represents the legacy of the slave ancestors, who sacrificed so much for the freedom of their slave ancestors. So I think that it is fitting to relate him with legacies. Great job!
ReplyDeleteThis is amazing and really set your post away from others. Very well spoken as well!
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