Page 92 of Johnny

into the viewing room and rolled up his sleeve and the tattoo was like staring me in the face or

something. I thought that was weird, at first. But then I took it as a sign. I was pretty drunk. Anyway, I

left the funeral and went straight to my ink guy and got it done. That’s the only thing it means to me.”

“Well, Sisyphus cheated death. There’s lots of stories about how it went down. But most of them

say he gave everyone on earth the gift of eternal life and was punished by Zeus. Ringing any bells?”

“Oh. Yeah. Sorta. Something about a stone?”

“He had to roll it uphill for all eternity. In Hell.”

I stare at the tattoo. Not exactly liking this new connection.

“Pretty fucked up if you ask me.” She starts to walk again but I grab her hand and pull her back.

“How much do you know about me?”

“Um… not much, I guess. I’ve heard your family name. But that’s about it.”

“Do you know where I live?”

She shakes her head no.

“Up in the top of a very tall building. That’s my home. The only home I’ve ever had. I lived in a

place made of glass but none of the windows open. Do you know what it’s like to be caged up in a

place with no wind?”

“Um…” She shakes her head and frowns. “No. Coming from where I do, I can’t even begin to

imagine that.”

I sigh and run my fingers through my hair. “Well, it’s fucking suffocating. That’s what it’s like. My

whole life I felt like there wasn’t enough air. I felt like a prisoner up there in that tower. And you

know what the worst part was, Megan?”

She shakes her head again.

“The worst part was I was on top of the world looking down at it like a fucking god. Because in

my world—” I pause. “In our world, I am a god of sorts. If one of my people steps out of line, one

word from me and they’re done. It’s over. I don’t even have to do it myself, though I have. Many

times. No one should have that much power, you know.”

“I know,” she whispers. “I get it. I do.”

“But here’s the thing. I’m nothing. I’m no one compared to the real gods of this planet. I have no

power compared to them. None. Zero. And I’m one of only a handful of people on this small spinning

rock who realize just how weak and powerless we all are. Because the gods who rule this world,