I once met a man

At a gas station store

In the middle of nowhere

With a broken down car

I needed a mechanic

Good thing he was quite craft

He sat down to work

And explained his life story

His parents neglected him

But gave him all the attention

The school was failing him

Despite his perfection

People would bully him

Despite his pristine

He was the dirtiest of people

Although also the most clean

He fell in love

He was a great friend

Mistaken for friendliness

Left him loveless in the end

Teenage years, a drag

Different than rest

He was greater than them all

And yet nowhere near the best

He didn't have a complex

Power was not for him

He was treated just the same

That's why he bounced off the rim

"You can't treat someone similarly

When they clearly demand difference.

Even if it works for you,

it may be, to me, insignificant."

As he got older,

And he moved out of the house,

He hit the road

In hopes of finding a spouse

Leaving the hatred behind,

At least he would pray

His life hinged on that moment

He chose not to stay

I studied him closely

"I'm sorry things didn't get better"

He responded to me

"Ah, but you're wrong, do not be a fretter."

"But your clothes are all dirty!

You look quite terrible.

Wouldn't you rather go home

If your condition is so miserable?"

"I wouldn't trade this for the world!

This freedom is mine.

I can live how I want to.

A drifter is fine."

He went back inside

I paid for his stuff

He said he'd repay me

But his story was enough

He packed up his things

And made his way to the road

He disappeared into the desert

The drifter was at home.