Writing

THE DARK PLACE

The dark place is somewhere that we’re all familiar with. We’ve all been there at some point in life. It’s where all of the bad parts go, all of the sad things. Where the ugly things wait for you so that they can speak all of their putrid feelings.

It’s the place that you become familiar with when things seem to go awry. 

It’s the place that confirms all of your inner fears.

The place that says, “I told you so.”

And you rest there for a while. You become acquainted with the sadness, the ugly things actually start to look rather beautiful. You start to agree with the Dark Place because it speaks to the unspoken parts of you. The thoughts that you had but were too afraid to confess. 

Again, you rest there. But one day, something wakes you up. A small glimmer of Hope arrives at the Dark Place and it starts to shake the foundation. It anxiously waits, watching what she’ll do next.

Hope arrives and starts to add some light.

It hurts at first, you’re so used to walking in the dark that you forgot what color looks like. Your eyes have to adjust. 

It starts to whisper to you, to remind you that although you rested here, you weren’t meant to stay here. She starts to leave because she can’t be in the dark for too long but she nudges you. You start to get up and follow its iridescence. It’s calling you. 

But suddenly darkness comes in front of you, blocking your view. The Dark Place begins to remind you of all of the times that you’ve shared, why you were here in the first place. And you’re trying to pay attention to what it’s saying but with Hope’s light getting brighter, you can’t help but to look past the Dark. 

You move around the shadows trying to catch up to Hope. But then they begin to taunt you and hold you back. And you’re pulling away, fighting to meet up with Hope. When finally The Dark Place realizes that it has lost this time. Again. It couldn’t keep you. It knew that Hope would come eventually and take you back. 

It releases you and it feels like you’re being launched as you’re thrown through the shadows. You cover your face because you fear what might be coming. 

You land softly. It’s bright. Looking around, you wonder where you are.

“We’ve been waiting for you. I’m so glad that you made it.”

You turn towards the voice.

Hope stands there gleaming, filling your heart with a warmth that you had forgotten existed. Love comes and wraps its arms around you. Joy starts to dance at your arrival. Tears fill your eyes as you start to remember their familiar faces.

You’re home.