Taken.

I am the greatest thief that has ever existed.

You have heard of me, but believe you are beyond my reach.

You aren't.

No one is.

It is certain that I have pilfered from your pocket. I have taken from your neighbour's pocket, too. I have hands in everyone's pockets.

And I'll have my hands in everyone's pockets for eternity.

Those before you. Those after you.

Everyone you know has been a victim of mine, at some point, somewhere. Some even many times over, never learning their lesson the first time I have taken from them. Or the 100th. Over and over. I take from them. These are my favourite.

Oh, the joy they give me.

I take my profession seriously. My greatness worn proudly — a badge of honour in stark juxtaposition to my dishonourable deeds.

Should we not all take pride in a job well done?

In my time, I have worn many masks and shown many faces. I have travelled all over the world. Borders, real or imagined, melt in my presence. They are nothing to me.

Culturally insensitive? Not me. I believe in equal opportunity thievery.

I am universal.

Tied to you like your breath is tied to life, to living, to being alive.

I am a master of disguise just as I am a mistress of deception. Conning even con artists. That is my game of confidence.

Taking even from lesser thieves.

I am the world's greatest taker.

Sometimes I take a little. Sometimes I take a lot.

At times I am reserved in my drive. Stealing just a smidgen here, a dabble there — almost imperceptible.

My mark, unsure of why they feel a cold emptiness where there once was something else. In its stead, I leave only a yearning. A desire.

At times, I am all-consuming.

My hunger for taking limitless, boundless. More. More. More.

Driven by something intangible, visceral. A fever run amok. My desire to take burning, raging like a wildfire consuming all in its path, red orange flames fanned by the turbulent winds of want that swirl within each of you.

In my wake, I leave only a burnt out shell.

I am insatiable.

Whether you have attempted to control me in the past, is irrelevant.

You believe you have conquered me? Overpowered my grasp? No mortal can deny me.

In your moments of weakness, during those quiet times your guard is down, I'll be there to take what is mine.

You are powerless against me.

You can't hide. I am neither here nor there. I am everywhere.

Look around you. I know you already have.

You can see and feel me in your presence. In almost everything you do.

I am comparison.

And I have stolen your joy.

Given

I am the greatest gifter that has ever existed.

You have heard of me, but believe you are beyond my reach.

You aren’t.

No one is.

It is certain that I have filled your pocket. I have perhaps filled your neighbour’s pocket, too. Hands filling everyone’s pockets. But in different ways.

Everyone you know has been gifted by me, at some point, somewhere. Some even many times over, learning their lesson the first time I have given to them. Or the 100th. Over and over. I give to them. These are my favourite.

Oh the joy they give me.

I take my profession seriously. My greatness worn proudly — a badge of honour for my honourable deeds.

Should we not all take pride in a job well done?

In my time, I have worn many masks and shown many faces. I have travelled all over the world. Borders, real or imagined, melt in my presence. They are nothing to me.

Culturally sensitive? That’s me. I believe in equal opportunity gratitude.

I am universal.

Tied to you like your breath is tied to life, to living, to being alive.

I am a master of joy just as I am a mistress of elation. Conning the con artists. That is my game of confidence.

Taking from lesser thieves and gifting for greater good.

I am the world’s greatest giver.

Sometimes I give a little. Sometimes I give a lot.

At times I am reserved in my drive. Giving just a smidgen here, a dabble there. Almost imperceptible.

My benefactor unsure of why they feel that fullness where there once was once emptiness. In its stead, I leave only a deep warm glow. A contented smile.

At times, I am all-consuming. My yearning for giving limitless, boundless. More. More. More.

Driven by something intangible, visceral. A fever doing the needful. My desire to give burning, raging like a wildfire consuming all detritus in its path, red orange flames fanned by the turbulent winds of want that swirl within each of you. Within each of us.

In my wake, I leave only nutrient rich soil from which new opportunity grows, where hope sprouts eternal.

I am insatiable.

Whether you have attempted to control me in the past, is irrelevant.

You believe you have conquered me? Overpowered my grasp? No mortal can deny me.

In your moments of strength, during those quiet times your guard is down, I’ll be there to lift you up.

You are powerful with me.

You can’t hide from me. I am neither here nor there. I am everywhere.

Look around you. I know you already have.

You can see and feel me in your presence. In almost everything you do.

I am comparison.

And I have given you gratitude.

Taken and Given: The Greatest Thief and the Greatest Gifter.

Tied together... One steals. One gifts.

The all-in-one writing platform.

Write, publish everywhere, see what works, and become a better writer - all in one place.