Tears and Giggles

Enigma the Clown was believed to be in a permanent nebulous state; she always acknowledged people who weren’t there, even before the incident. Since she was a clown, it was hard to tell if it was all an act, or if she had truly lost her mind. Sure, she was strange the moment her career launched, but things haven't been the same for three years. Was it trauma, or was she was simply living up to her name?

“There goes the crazy clown,” a man said to his wife as Enigma strolled into the cemetery with her bags of tricks.

"That poor thing," the wife whispered back. "I heard a little girl flatlined right in front of her during one of her visits to the hospital. She hasn't performed there since."

"Good," the husband said, "because I heard she killed the poor child."

Enigma ignored them as she removed the neon bowling pins from her bag. With a smile, she juggled the pins in front of a small tombstone. The clown bowed before blowing up a long balloon. With a chuckle and some twists, a little pink butterfly took flight from the clown's gloves and towards the grave.

"Happy Birthday, Susie!" Enigma croaked. "I thought about what you said, and I believe I'm ready to move on. I'm visiting a child like you in the hospital tomorrow. Would that make you happy?"

Susie smiled and nodded as she sat on her grave and bounced the butterfly in her hands.