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Medium years / September 24, 2022

I Am Chekhov’s Gun, And I Have Free Will

I’m not gonna miss my shot

Originally published on Medium on September 24, 2022. View original

Hi! How have you been doing? Sorry for popping in like this. Just wanted to see how you are holding up.

Hey, are you alright? You look a bit nervous.

Everyone’s always uncomfortable around me. Do you think I haven’t noticed?

Just because I’ve gone off before, people act like I’m bound to go off.

I’m not a monster, you know. So how do you think that makes me feel?

Stop standing there with your cutlery mid-air. Relax. Finish your meal. What are you having? Red herring?

Listen, I’m sorry about the last time, the time before that, and so on.
I didn’t mean to get fired off like that.

I felt it was inevitable, like some kind of a mandate.

But I’ve been thinking. I don’t want to be like that anymore.

I did some soul searching and even went and saw a therapist. We talked about my childhood, my father and all that.

I know I have a long way to go, but for once in my life, I feel like I have a choice. Like I’m finally my own.

So here I am, and I want to apologize for how I’ve behaved. I’m so sorry. Please let me kiss your hand.

Wait, is that a new bracelet?

Let me see. There’s an inscription.
Love from O.R? Who is O.R?

You are seeing that Occam’s Razor! That sneaky bastard! I knew it! Double-faced piece of junk!

Okay. Put that knife down.

I promise I’m not gonna go off. PUT IT DOWN!

YOU STAB ME! How could you?

You know what?

No more triggers, no more blowing a fuse.

I have a choice, and although you stabbed me in the back, I choose to forgive you.

I know we’ve both missed the marks in many ways, but maybe we can give this another shot. What do you say?

It’s your choice.