Domino
October 30th, 2020
Starring: Dom, Al
Dom’s room. Inside is an incredibly elaborate domino setup. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of dominoes, all in rows, columns, and configurations of various shapes and sizes. Dom is meticulous in their placement, but seems to be calm. Al stands in the open doorway, checking in:
AL
Wowie. Nearing the summit.
DOM
Almost.
AL
This is huge.
I mean I know it’s just a hobby, but I’m really proud of you.
DOM
Thanks. I’m proud of me too.
AL
…
I don’t mean to jinx it but
What would happen if the first one tipped over? Accidentally?
DOM
I think about it a lot, actually.
Honestly I’d probably kill myself.
…
AL
Are you joking?
DOM
No.
AL
Because you shouldn’t say that unless you’re serious.
DOM
I am.
This one would fall, then the next one would fall, then the rest would fall. My stomach would fall to my knees. Tears would fall. Time would pass and leaves would fall. My concentration would fall. My determination, confidence, and sense of self would fall. Then kindness, empathy, sex drive, appetite, sleep. And then eventually, I would fall
Off a cliff
Or to the ground of grief induced heart failure
Or something
…
…
I’m not going to do it otherwise.
AL
But if that falls, you would?!
DOM
You asked what would happen. I explained the likely chain of events.
AL
Well can we not let that happen? Please? Because that’s not how I’d like it to go.
DOM
Me neither. But sometimes it does.
AL
It’s not that worth it.
DOM
To climb the mountain, you have to risk the fall. I know what’s at stake. That’s why I do it.
...
I’m sorry to freak you out but...I’ve got a summit to reach.
AL
Well...I’ll leave you to it.
Distracting you is literally the last thing I want to do so
Let me know when you reach the top.
DOM
You bet.
It’s gonna be glorious. Believe me.
Al tiptoes away, trying not to cause any movement. Dom goes back to placing dominos, like nothing happened.