the shape of a man's desire

Could one ever truly exist outside the influence of another?

Surely not, for that was the whole lot of a Blade. Dormant until awoken, then completely dependent on another for survival.

But could it be? Could it be that it was the same for humans? Humans were created by their parents, given life. Whether or not they were raised by those parents didn't matter- humans were still shaped by their environments, the people around them (or the lack of them).

It starts as a void- an endless expanse of nothing. You aren't even aware of it until it's gone.

At your core, you are always the same. You can never remember Before, but you are still the Same. Sometimes, given long enough, you become More. Taking the basic traits that define you and dialling them to eleven.

But even then- even when it is You, you cannot escape His influence. You are separate, distinct, and yet-

How can you ever be free? You do not even remember existing without him.

You never had a choice.

You say that you have left (you have been cast aside)

You say that you wish to walk among them (they are so good, so pure) (you risk tainting them just by being near)

And you hate him. You hate what he stands for. His lies, his trickery, the way he disguises himself as Good, and no one's the wiser! And still your heart begs for the scraps of his affection, still hopes that he can change (why?)

What is the point? You are but one person, Singular, alone even when surrounded by friends. But perhaps-

It is too late.