Merlack

Just a little story about a wonderful friend I made on this site.

         He typed the last few lines and read over his poem. Satisfied, he clicked save and as the screen flashed 'save successful' he closed out the web page with a smile and shut off his laptop for the night.

         Writing is a way of release for Merlack, like most of us that belong to this site. It's one of the only ways he could seem normal to everyone in the real world beyond web sites and chat rooms. His poetry and short stories reflect a darkness no one outside of his online community of writers would ever have guessed he possessed inside his mind. his intelligence is often misunderstood. Very few people, both in the writing community and beyond the World Wide Web, take the time to read the real meanings that lay between the lines of his writing. He often uses words many never knew exists and sadly, these same people are often too lazy to find the definition of in order to receive his message. I find it a shame, not only because they refuse to broaden their own vocabulary, but because they will never really know Merlack for the brilliant writer that he is.

         I tease him often about having a sort of sick, twisted mind but he always knows deep down it's not how I actually perceive him. We are alike in so many ways, making it easy to accept him as a fellow writer and wonderful friend.

         Many writers are thought to live separate lives and Merlack is one of them. His penned poetry and stories reveal a darkness in him, a second side that is only brought out through written words. Over a short amount of time, those that stay faithful to reading his work, will soon notice his style. He often writes of death, whether it be murder, accident or disease. It goes beyond just humans though. He writes about the decay of nature, of the deaths of animals and even the tragedies that come with emotions such as love, but they all lead to the destruction being caused by mankind. How ugly he perceives life to be sometimes, but sadly, it is all so very realistic. He is one of the few that never hold back, he pens it as it is, without sugar coatings and fantasies and fairy tale endings, just the straight, hard truth. I admit I found it all rather eye opening and dare I go further and say refreshing, while others think it depressing, sad and often morbid. I often wonder if people would suspect Merlack if ever there was tragedy surrounding his home or town, if they ever read his work. Sometimes he has said that he writes about these subjects to prevent himself from doing something similar, but in my opinion, I couldn't ever imagine him even coming close to committing a crime.

         He writes of loneliness and heartache with such great emotion, yet admits he is happy where he is at in his life. I still feel saddened and concerned that he is, in fact, without a love. I don't pity him, I care too much for him to have pity (and I know one day he'll find it because, above many I know, he deserves it).

         He is willing to help others without expecting anything in return. He offers advice on improving ones writing, while at the same time he realizes not everyone will take it and he's just fine with that. He can be brutal with his opinion, which he doesn't feel he is, when he reads and reviews others work. I call it being critical, which any writer has to be willing to accept. He has weak points, although right now the only one I know of is punctuation. He's not too proud to admit it and he goes farther than most wanting to improve in the area. As of late, I've noticed less and less errors in his writings and I have to say I'm so very proud of him.

         His writing is only half the reason I find so much joy in knowing him though. As I stated before, he's one of those writers who have several sides, one hidden while the other present. Chatting with him online, I forget about his dark side and often, although I should be used to it by now, he stuns me when I read one of his newest writings. At the same time though in everything he says and writes he's passionate and emotional. I don't mean he gets upset and cries easily either. He, like in his writing, is straight forward, though he doesn't like to hurt someones feelings intentionally. He does get frustrated ( who doesn't?), But he doesn't give up, he's the last to walk away from a stimulating, sometimes argumentative, conversation. He's determined that people know his side of the subject, whether they agree or not. His feelings are vivid and straight to the point and his emotions are definite.

         Merlack is also a compassionate person, willing to be there for anyone and doesn't judge. He's an encourager, not just in writing, but life. It simply amazes me the kind of person he is. He makes up words like killarious and wow how he fits that word so well! He says outrageous things often, mostly to break silence or change a subject, especially when he sees tension within a group. Sometimes he blames his quick fingers and slow mind, other times he blames the gremlins, but secretly I know better. Those of us who know him like we do, never take offense at his witty humor. It's always meant in fun. Being the anxiety ridden person I am, if it was any other person saying such absurd, sometimes hurtful things, it would bother me. He knows or rather learns who he can pick on, make fun of, trust, and love easily, but one thing he won't do is walk on egg shells for anyone. I find that admirable about him and sometimes I am jealous of a lot of the qualities Merlack possesses, good and not so good. I'd never say he has any bad characteristics and it's true, he doesn't. There are just a few people who aren't accepting of his straight forwardness, but I've never met anyone who doesn't like Merlack.

         There are things Merlack will do in his writing that I do wish he'd do in life in general. He hates crowds except for chat rooms, so he doesn't get out and enjoy life much. I know he plays tennis about once a week, if that and he's in a band (he plays the awesome trombone). He's so willing to try new forms of poetry and I've learned recently he wants to try his hand at short stories, which I had always told him he'd be great at. So if he's so willing to try new things in writing, why not in real life, beyond the World Wide Web and Writing.com?

         Even still, I cherish his warm and tender friendship and although I wish he'd live life to it's fullest, I hope he never changes who he is inside. I do wish more people could, or would, be willing to understand not just his writing, but his playful and even stubborn, intelligent characteristics. He says he's generally happy if they don't, it just makes those of us who do know him, his true friends in his eyes. But damn it, why can't even I know his real name? Just messing around, he'll always be Merman to me no matter what. After all, what's in a name except letters?