He was surprised, astounded.
His body stopped shaking.
His heart slowed down with his breathing.
He could not move from the spot
just inside the door he entered.
The room was magnificent.
Plush purple carpet, the walls and furniture
matching the decor. A magnificent
stuffed buck head was mounted on one wall,
antlers bristling, a huge bass on another wall,
a black and white photograph
of the tarpon he caught on another,
one picture of a nude femme.
He moved toward a refrigerator.
The finest wines and cheeses
with an embossed note in black letters.
WILL ALWAYS BE REPLENISHED VIA YOUR REQUESTS.
A stunning, beautiful room.
The comfortable couch, a pull-out bed.
A well-appointed bathroom on one side.
Elegant robes and pajamas hanging in the large closet.
Snug slippers. Another embossed note:
TELL US WHEN YOU WANT ANYTHING WASHED/CLEANED.
He surmised he would be there for a while.
Only one thing was strange.
There were TVs on every wall
but the one with the bathroom door,
large state-of-the art screens,
one in the bathroom too.
It took him a while to mentally adjust.
He was astounded, then curious.
In a while, he shed his clothes
for some shiny, grey pajamas,
a silky, black robe, soft, slippers.
Soon he was sipping a superb port wine,
nibbling on Gruyere with fancy crackers.
After a bit, he dozed off, wondering
if he could talk to someone, ask why
he was in such an incredible environment.
He did not know how long he slept.
Suddenly, he was startled awake.
All the TVs blared on—
the same program on each.
A Sandy Hook documentary.
He ran to a TV to shut off the sound—
it stayed loud.
He threw his wine glass at a screen,
only the wine glass broke,
red dripping on to the carpet.
Now he knew. Continually looped.
Forever.
Originally published in Mad Swirl Magazine