Parasite by Ruth Abraham

A flea-ridden beggar sits on the sunlit pavement, his empty tin plate a silent plea for compassion. A young, handsome soldier hurries past, eager to meet a beautiful woman, only to be stopped by the beggar’s pitiful call for help. Reluctantly, the soldier agrees to carry the crippled man to his shack, believing it a small act of kindness.

But as he lifts the beggar onto his shoulders, something horrifying happens. The beggar’s grip tightens, and he begins to merge with the soldier, rooting himself into the young man’s flesh and mind. The soldier becomes a host to this parasitic creature, his body slowly withering under the beggar’s control. Over the years, the beggar grows strong and powerful, riding the soldier like a king commanding a worn-out steed, while the once vibrant soldier becomes a hollow shell of his former self, forever enslaved.

Parasite is a chilling allegory about the dangers of misplaced pity, the sinister side of human nature, and the unseen parasites that can drain our very essence. It’s a story that delves into the darkness lurking beneath everyday encounters, revealing how one moment of compassion can spiral into a lifetime of torment.