It Only Takes One

Milton had no friends because he hated people. His deep-rooted disgust for humanity wasn’t something he was born with; it developed over a lifetime of rejection and disappointment. He was the middle child of a family of six, which meant he had to always compete for his parents’ attention. His unusual name, slight build, hand-me-down clothes, unremarkable looks, and quiet personality made him an easy target for the school bullies.

College life was marginally better than high school. Everyone thought of Milton as the smartest person in the room and would come to him when they needed answers to a troublesome question. The same people that sought him out for academic help pretended he didn’t exist when organizing social events. For Milton, life always left him on the outside looking in.

Jobs came and went in much the same way as every other part of his life. His bosses loved him for what he could do, but ignored him when it came time for a promotion. Eventually, Milton found a job that allowed him to work from home, eliminating the need for in person contact. His life was finally the way he was the most comfortable, void of direct human contact.

Part of Milton’s routine was to go for an early morning run in the park near his house. The day was waking up as he jogged along the tree-lined trail. A muffled croaking noise and a thrashing sound coming from a nearby bush caught his attention. Milton walked over to investigate. What he found was a vulture with its neck ensnared in a plastic six-pack can holder. One loop was twisted tightly around the bird’s neck, while other loops were tangled in the bush.

Taking care to avoid the sharp talons and beak, Milton gently cut away the plastic restraints using his pocketknife and freed the bird. The vulture hesitated, took an unrestricted breath, then flew away. He turned to continue his run when he realized someone was watching him.

“That was very kind of you, sir. Most people would have ignored the bird, especially once they realized it was a vulture. Why did you stop, if you don’t mind me asking?”

The woman, dressed in running pants and a T-shirt, was attractive, but not glamorous. It had been so long since Milton had a face-to-face conversation with anyone, he stammered, searching for words.

“It doesn’t matter if it’s an animal or a human; being ignored never feels good. Especially when you’re in trouble. I couldn’t just walk away.”

A single tear ran down her cheek. “You’re a very kind person Mr.?”

“It’s Milton, as in Paradise Lost.”

“Nice to meet you, Milton. I’m hoping for me it’s Paradise found.”