Magician's Circle.

'Good evening Darren. How are you feeling tonight'

he spoke assertively. he never asked questions, he simply demanded responses. one always knew the best way to respond was sharp, witty, and without clout, for if unguided, one's response would draw that irksome glare out of the corner of his eye, the glare that would say 'I don't have all the fucking time in the world, move the fuck on.' so to postpone my own dismal feelings I responded with as much assertion as I could muster.

'Fine.'

how pathetic.
I received an unsympathetic grunt in response.
he pulled the glasses from his face and wiped them on his woolen cardigan.

'Shall we begin then?'

I paused. which in itself was a mistake, as I inevitably drew that irksome glare, dragged it across the room and vacuumed it into my own retina. I panicked.

'Y-yes, I mean, I suppose'

another grunt.
and then came the social rains.

'If you had one word to describe your situation what would it be?'
'Ensnared.'
'And why is that?'

I took a long breath, gulping down the air fathoming the thought of choking myself.

'Primarily because of you.'

I rather expected a ballistic expression. with a face of fire and a rain of insults to pour upon my frail body. instead I received only a pair of placid, vacant and untroubled eyes.

'Quite. What have I done that has so ensnared you?'

again, I paused. there was no answer to his query. I had no legitimate reason, no actual evidence, no fixture on which to lay my jumbled foundation. my thoughts were his eyes, vacant and placid, there was no corruption. nothing could awaken the dormant volcano of my emotions. I could not pour my soul onto this man, this humble man who has done nothing.
this man who has done nothing. done nothing to warp his soul to fit our needs. done nothing to right his wrongs. done nothing to prevent the future from spiraling from my control. done nothing to bring back the past.

'You have done nothing.'

he seemed puzzled.

'You claim to be trapped by me yet I have done nothing to offend you?'

I smiled.

'We are part of a sick cult. You suck us in and do not let us go. You simply observe, whilst we bang our soles and palms against an invisible wall. The cruel skilled magician. Why, once fair mage, is freedom now inconceivable?'

he was obviously bewildered, my smile faded.

'What on earth are you talking about boy?'