“So, is this how you are Martin?” I asked him rhetorically.

“Excuse me?” He responded. “Is this how I am? What do you mean by that Mason? Do you mean smart, strong, a good planner or rich off a 22 karat necklace? I think you’ll have to be more specific, my boy.”

I was fuming with rage at this point.

“You have some nerve, Martin. So first you kill my brother, then you take the necklace we all agreed to keep and you sell it. In fact, I’m sure you planned it all along. Now you’re boasting as if it’s some kind of joke!?”

“What!?” He responded.

“You’re the one who came into… no actually BARGED into my house, talking a whole lot of gobsmack, and now you think you can insult me in my very own room? Well Mason, you’ve always been the dumber twin. Never knowing when and who to pick your battles with. Now get out of my house before I’m forced to use this gun.”

I was out of options. I clearly wasn’t thinking straight before I decided to just storm into his house. I needed better preparation. Down and out, with no further options, I played the last card that I had up my sleeve. It was certain that the standard pistol hidden under my shirt was going to be useless now.

What was I thinking, I didn’t even know how to use a gun accurately?

“I see how it is Martin. I actually just realised something. The reason that you always succeed and the reason that you always seem to prosper over your enemies is not because you’re smart… it’s not because you’re a good planner. In fact, it’s not even because you’re cunning and conniving, it’s plain and simple – you’re just a good old coward.”

Martin’s eyes seemed to dilate at that moment. I could see the comment hit home. In an instant, he dropped his gun. Aware of what was to ensue, I took the opportunity to let go of my gun as well. The fight finally began.

It was quite intense. After a bit of wrestling and holding, my anger enabled me to get the edge and land the first punch hard on his chin. His jaw almost seemed to snap, but slowly went back into position. Feeling excited, I let my guard down a bit, and he punched me with great force on my forehead. I elbowed him against his jawbone in response, and continued with a barrage of knee-shots to his stomach.

He stumbled to the floor. I was now ready to finish the job.

I unloaded a few merciless punches repeatedly until his nose started bleeding. I definitely heard something crack. I was winning the fight. I was on top, literally. I felt like unleashing the punch that would end it all – the punch loaded with all my grief and anger that would end his life and gain retribution for my brother. My mind felt ready to kill him with my bare hands. However, my body couldn’t let me do it.

This isn’t right, I thought to myself. This isn’t what Luther would’ve wanted.

“Do things the right way Mason,” My conscience was an irritating presence that I couldn’t shake off. Through my anger, my frustration, and my will for revenge, I let him go. This was not who I was. I got up, picked up my gun, and headed for the door, sometimes an eye for an eye isn’t the best solution.

As I neared the door, I said to Martin with my back turned and my head raised: “I might be leaving now, but you haven’t seen the last of me. I will bring justice for my brother, you materialistic bastard.”

As I reached for the door, I heard a sound – the click of a gun. I was not going to let myself be on the back foot again. I immediately drew my gun. At that very moment, time seemed to stop. As we aimed at each other with our guns, it became certain that only one of us was leaving that room alive.

“You think I’m go-going to let you le-leave just like that, Mason?” Mumbled Martin as he firmly gripped his gun with dangerous intent. He was clearly still in pain from my emotionally-inspired beating. “You simply know too much, my boy,” he continued slowly with a sinister grin.

“You know, Martin, I actually felt sorry for you for a second there,” I replied. “But now I won’t feel sorry for what I’m about to do.”

We stared at each other for a few tense moments. It was like a movie scene, each one ready to fire on the other. We eventually realised that someone had to budge. Someone had to pull the trigger, and someone had to die. The tension was reaching breaking point.

BANG! Went the sound of the gun.

***

Tell us: Have you ever taken revenge for someone? What happened?