Darkness of Friendship

Isn't it odd how even the most positive, bright forces in the world also have their own sweet darkness? Friendship is one of those forces.

Even when you have friends that you believe are loyal, true, honest and very close, beware for there is a darkness within.

Imagine working so hard to create a place where life is better, where people are considered, where goals are set and obtained, and where the lowliest is listened to by the highest and respected. Imagine that you are only allowed so much time in this place before you must hand the leadership over to a successor. You groom this successor and you instill within them the ideals that make this little piece of the world run so smoothly. You teach them how to play the political games of this society so that the benefit will be for the entire group instead of a few. You instill ideals and you gain commitments in regards to promises made that are the basis of this society. You call then friend, confidante, and trusted cohort. Then you step down, with the confidence that this society will continue to grow and flourish because it will remain functioning within this carefully balanced framework.

Imagine now that once you step down, the world changes. The balance is upset. Underhanded methods, lack of disclosure, and carefully planned attacks cause the individuals who exist within it to suspect each other. Trust is crushed; fear is instilled; and the world does not run so smoothly. You see that it is because those you have groomed are breaking the promises, refusing to use the politcal game for their benefit, and are, instead, using guerilla tactics to force situations as they see fit. The original goals are lost and the society is in turbulence along with them.

You raise your hand; sound the alarm; send up a flare; voice your concern - but are told, in no uncertain tones, that you are not needed, nor wanted, nor do you have the power, to input your words anymore. What happened to the lowliest being listened to and respected by the highest? The most frightening part is that you realize that you no longer have any control over the society and that you simply must live with the decisions - right or wrong.

You sit back...and watch as the society falls into decay and chaos reigns. The structures you put into place begin to crumble. The strength that you instilled begins to fail. You can only watch as the dreams that became reality are destroyed. Darkness reigns... Destroy or be destroyed?