The Harnessed Son: Breaking the Chains of Oppression

*The History of Jim and Delilah*

Jim's life had been a hard one. He was poor, worked most of his days to provide for his family. He did all that he could to give them the best life he could, but it was never enough. His wife was a good woman, she tried to be patient and understand with her man, but after a while she had enough as well. They still loved each other, they wanted to work things out, but they were both too tired. They fought, they yelled at each other, they got angry at each other, they hurt each other.

Jim went to drink, he went to forget all that was going on, he went to let go and do what he wanted without thinking about his family. One day he came home late, Delilah wasn't there, he didn't care where she was, he just wanted to sit down and drink. The next day, he woke up on the floor, sore and tired. He had no idea how he got there. He felt sick and full of regret, he needed to get ready, he needed to work.

He went outside to get some water from the pump, his body was in pain, he needed to do something about it. When he got back to the house, there was a man sitting on a chair near the door. He was wearing a fancy suit and hat, his hair was neatly combed back. He took a sip from a glass of water.

"What are you doing here?" Jim asked.

"Just waiting for you, friend," the man said.

"I don't need your help, I just want *my* water," Jim said angrily.

"You do need my help, Jim," the man said. "You're in quite a bit of trouble, you know."

"I don't care," he threw the cup of water on the ground. "I don't need your help. I'll manage on my own."

"I know you will," the man said. "But it won't be pleasant."

"What do you mean?"

"Just take a look at the back door," the man said.

Jim walked slowly to the back door, he opened it. He saw his wife sitting on the porch steps, she looked sad and lonely. He could hear his children crying in the house. He stood there, looking at them for a moment.

"Now, Jim," the man said. "Here is the deal. You're going to help me out, or you're going to watch what you love disappear."

Jim didn't say anything.

"You have three choices. First choice is that you stay here, do what I say, and your family will be fine. I will leave one by one, giving you time to adjust to their absence. You will go insane, but they will be safe. Second choice is that you don't cooperate, and I'll kill them all right now, using whatever means I choose. And lastly, you can try to fight me and die. So, which is it going to be?"

Jim looked at the man. He knew this man was stronger than him. He knew that trying to fight was a bad idea. He knew that he was in trouble.

"I'll help you," he said.

"Smart choice," the man smiled. "Now, we're going to need to tie you up."

Jim agreed to the arrangement. The man made him lie on the floor. He tied his hands behind his back and his feet together. He put a rope around his neck and stood up.

"Now, Jim, you are going to have a very interesting night. I'm going to go into your dreams and show you what can be. What could have been. What you deserved. What your family deserved. What you deserve. Make sure to focus on my words. I will be in your dreams. But not physically. I'll be in your mind. Do you understand?"

Jim nodded. The man left.

Jim was in a field of flowers. It was beautiful. He couldn't believe it. He looked around and saw his wife and kids standing there. They were smiling at him. He went to hug all of them, but the rope stopped him, he fell to the ground.

"Sorry, daddy," his daughter said. "We can't hug you."

They all laughed. Jim sighed.

"You're right," he said. "It doesn't matter."

"Daddy, I'm so sorry," his wife said. "I'm so sorry."

"It's ok," he said. "Everything is ok now. We're going to have a wonderful life."

"You bet!" his son shouted. "I'm going to be the best farmer ever!"

"And I'm going to be a great mother!" his wife said. "And I'm going to take care of you when you're old."

"That's right," Jim said. "You are."

His son started running around, he jumped and rolled on the grass. His wife started to sing a song, his daughter played with flowers. Jim lay there, on the ground. He was happy. He would do anything to keep them here, to have them with him.

He woke up.

The man was sitting on the chair again.

"Did you like it?" he asked.

"Yes," Jim said. "I think I did."

The man helped him up.

"That was just a taste of what could be, my friend," he said. "I'm going to leave you here for a while. I'm going to go back home and get ready."

"Ready for what?" Jim asked.

"Oh, you'll see," the man said. "You'll see, soon enough."

The man left.

Jim was alone again. He went to the kitchen, he drank water and ate a piece of bread. He took a seat at the table. He waited. He didn't know what to expect. He hoped whatever the man had planned would work. He wanted to see his family again. He wanted to hug them again. He wanted to live in peace and freedom. Free to love them.

The door opened. The man came in again. He was carrying a chair with him. He put it down near Jim.

"I need you to sit down, Jim," he said.