The American Dream

He is a member of a mercenary army. This army, unlike any other, is full of weathered souls, all trying to restore normalcy to their life; all trying to regain employment. This unemployment army grows every day. His outlook is bleak. Time and the economy are not his friends, not is his financial status. His quest, as of yet, is unsuccessful. He is broken and depress, and he can't bear to look himself in the face when he looks in the mirror. As he sees the success of others, his morale drops lower and lower. But he assures himself that everything will be okay. He vows that he will find himself the right job. He knows that once he finds himself the right gig, everything will turn out right. His worries could vanish, he assures himself. He knows that he could eventually marry the love of his life, and that that they will live happily together and start a family together. He'll have his career and his family, and he will be happy. He is sure of it.

But a dream isn't worth the pillow that it's slept on, and a pillow isn't worth a dime. Doors are closing, and there is little open path left. Does he accept his role in society, or keep battling, futilely, for the dream in his brain? He contemplates his choices every day, knowing full well the importance on his steps. But he is desperate; he is weary. He's been unemployed longer than he'd like to remember. He had hoped to be steps ahead of himself at this point in time. His life is a vicious circle: to get a good job, he needs education. To get a good education, he needs money. To get money, he needs a good job. And around it goes. With every shortcoming, he places it alongside the mistakes and misjudgments that he's made in his life. He keeps it as motivation; he needs it. But motivation only gets you halfway there, and week by week, he is reminded more of who he could be, or who he wants to be. He is angry at himself, and the world, and everything he could think of being mad at. But his day is coming, and he feels it in his gut. He will succeed, and he will not let up. He tells himself that one day, he can stand up and show his pride, knowing full well that the people who passed on him passed on miracle of a man. But a dream isn't worth the pillow that it's slept on, and a pillow isn't worth a dime.