Ben found himself in a science lab, confronting a disconcerting realization about his own nature. He acknowledged a disturbing preference for theft over divine reverence. Ben harbored a genuine fondness for stealing — pilfering money from his workplace, colleagues, boss, and even family, as well as various items. The knowledge that his actions could distress others, seemingly granting him sway over their emotions, thrilled him. The allure of acquiring new possessions, particularly those with deep sentimental value, was irresistible to him.
He plotted to purloin a necklace from his sister, Wanda, a cherished heirloom bequeathed by their late mother, Kathy. The piece held immense sentimental worth for Wanda. Ben's anticipation surged at the thought of stealing it, not only to seize a tangible connection to his mother but also to savor the thrill of witnessing Wanda's anguish. He harbored no genuine affection for Kathy and had consistently treated her poorly. Driving her to tears appealed to him; it affirmed his ability to manipulate others' emotions. This capacity to evoke happiness, sorrow, or anger in people gave him a sense of control, a pseudo-superpower that allowed him to dictate their emotional responses with his actions.
At Ben's job as a scientist researching demonic entities and spirits of the Lord, he made a startling confession.
In the absence of their spiritual supervisor, Darren, Ben confided in a colleague, Carthy, expressing, "I love stealing more than God." Carthy, a devout Christian who pursued science with the noble intent of discovering cures, found herself bewildered and affronted by this admission. Such a concept was entirely alien to her; she had never encountered anyone who professed a greater affection for theft than for God. Ben clarified, "I genuinely feel more love for the act of stealing than God The Person," leaving Carthy even more perplexed and unsettled.
Consumed by guilt, Ben admitted, "I love to steal because it grants me a sense of power. Provoking anger, sadness, and distress in others merely by taking something gives me the illusion of controlling their emotions."
Feeling the weight of Carthy's silence, Ben returned to his routine research, resolving to confront his kleptomania. As he confessed, "I stole your watch, Carthy," her astonishment erupted in a sharp, "You what?!" Handing it back, he admitted, "I think I'm a kleptomaniac." The revelation led to his dismissal and subsequent therapy. It was a tumultuous journey, a cycle of restraint and relapse, but gradually, he improved. The End.
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