By: T.K. Flicek
Looking out into the darkening sky, she sits alone in her apartment. Five years she lives in the tiny square room to her tormented mind's abusive wrath. Time has jaded her heart and convicted her to fear and loneliness. She yearns for companionship and yet remains in her prison listening to the words of destructive comfort.
"No one could hate me as much as I do," she thought. Control. She remains in control of hatred in her life. No friends, no lovers, simply alone left to wallow in pity and yet this is her solace.
During her twenty-seven years, she delves deeper into despair. "When will I find love?" she cries into her pillow every night. As time ticks forward, she falls further away from existence. Near the end of her life, she notices a soft light flicker before her...
"I'm dead," she said, thinking it a fitting punishment.
As she grew nearer, she realized that the light grew brighter. Prepared to enter the Summer Lands, she walked forward into death. However, when reaching the center of light she found a mirror.
"Come forward," said a forgotten voice.
Looking into the mirror, she saw herself standing tall, standing proud. "A mockery of what I could have had, of what I could have been," she scoffed.
"This is you, if you choose." said the voice.
She watched as a familiar stranger entered the scene. Her lover wraps her arms around... Warmth tingling every fiber in her skin then with a slip of a giggle she sheds one SINGLE tear. So many years alone, so many years afraid, could she leap? Tired of the pain she has caused herself she takes a step forward and reaches for the long awaited love.
In one SINGLE instant, thirty years of suffering shed with a gentle kiss and a reminder from her lost inner child. Her heart ached no longer from self-abuse, but instead ripped wide open to build anew. No longer listening to those sad words of yesterday, she walks down the well-lit path, hand in hand, with love forever longed. Fear fades into nothingness, allowing peace to take reign once more.
