John stood in the shadow of an ancient oak tree. He was cold and unkempt. The fashionable suit he proudly wore and the formerly polished loafers were caked in mud, sweat and grime. John smelled of sweat and sickness which was in stark contrast with the sandalwood scent he usually wore in company. How had things gone so wrong so fast?
Heroes die everyday and some become martyrs or are elevated to sainthood. Sometimes heroes become villains. It's a cliche, but John understood the theme now and he felt sick to his stomach from his fall from grace.
It's hard to look one's self in the mirror and see a person starring back at you who wrecked their life with their own decisions. The weight of failure and the feeling of being unclean despite washing again and again.
John had been a manager, a family man and a leader in his community who came from humble beginnings. He was the rags to riches story you read about but he made a string of bad decisions when a medical emergency led him to find himself lacking in funds. Despite having many contacts and friends in high places, John felt he couldn't tell anyone. He was a hero after all, and he couldn't be seen as less.
John took a bribe to stay afloat. No one knew he was so far behind on bills and the relief from seeing the check post in his account was validating but also sickening. And once he took the bribe, they owned him. All his achievements were mute now, and his life didn't seem as bright. It was Summertime but things just felt stifling like a pack of rocks on his shoulders. He opened his eyes while taking his family to the park but it seemed dim, hollow and futile.
So he ran. Those who had passed the bribes to John wanted more. John was being bribed to let people into the facility he managed and gather information, take things and do things he chose not to apprise himself of. They threatened to tell everyone and true to their word, they did. In John's absence an anonymous report with evidence was filed to John's uppers.
John woke up. The morning was cold and his arms crossed his chest. How long had he been there? He had forgotten his phone and hadn't eaten in more than a day. Where would he go? What was the next move?
Only time would tell. His pride led to his fall. His dismal environment echoed the condition he found himself in. He made a rash decision and that was that. He sat on a stump and contemplated his next move.