Light

You walk a long road, facing happiness, grief, love, and turmoil. They all visit you at unexpected times and you find yourself being a host at a huge party you didn’t know you were having.

Still, you make sure all your guests are well fed and entertained.

You drift along this road that life had chosen for you to live, trying your absolute best not crash while still enjoying the thrill of it all.

Happy moments slow down your pace, warming your heart. Sometimes they are so spectacular that you wish you could stop right where you are and end the journey there, forever living in that exact moment. Other times, they are so sweet and tender that they seem a little bit hazy and blurry, almost euphoric. The little things catch you by surprise, like getting cookies before dinner. Some of those moments even leave you so unwittingly joyed that you feel the air surrounding your body holding you in a soft embrace. You stop for a minute and think; “All is well.” There is no similar feeling to that. All is well. You are invincible. You are loved. You are at peace. Your life is nothing but a beautiful song.

Slowly you start to grow, not in age but in mind and soul. You start taking more responsibility on your shoulders. The road starts getting curvier and you have to swerve around a few fallen trees, or slow down going up and down hills. It becomes a bit more challenging but still exciting. Like a new level in a game you are trying to master.

And then it happens. You go into a tunnel so dark; you can barely see your own hands while holding them up to your face. There are holes in the ground that you can’t see so your foot falls into some. The jagged concrete edges of the holes graze against your skin. Sometimes they’re just scratches so you disregard them as minor injuries. Other times the cuts are so deep, you start bleeding, feeling your warm blood streaming along your body. Either way, the cuts burn. You weep in pain as the invisible shadows try to take you away for their own. Ghosts whisper all around you, making your heart tremble in fear. Sometimes they’re just echoes, distant enough to not be terrified from. Other times they’re right at the nape of your neck. You try to hang on for dear life, staggering alone in the darkness, trying not to fall victim to these traitorous lands. You search for any source of light that could ease your pain, warming you after being in the cold for so long. But you find none. In fact, it just keeps getting darker, the whispers get louder, and the holes get deeper.

Just when you think all hope is lost, there it is.

A light.

There’s a light right up ahead at the end of the tunnel.

It’s so bright and welcoming.

It’s like an old friend that’s been searching for you all along.

You start to run toward it, your brain defragmenting all the cuts and bruises, muting all the whispers, and guiding you away from the rest of the holes in the ground.

A few more steps.

Like a hot bath, the light grabs you in its arms, holding you tight. It covers every inch of your body, magically healing all your injuries. The scars are still visible but the pain starts to fade away. You weep again, only in relief this time. It’s so warm and comforting. It caresses your face lovingly, patting your head. It dries your tears and kisses your forehead. It whispers words of love in your ears, wiping away all traces of the whispers that came before it. It rocks you back and forth, giving you permission to finally let go of all the sadness and the fear. It sits you down in its lap and rubs your back to calm you down. You finally take a long deep breath. The weight that has been slowly crushing your lungs has been lifted so you smile again. One more time. After all you’ve been through. You finally smile again.

All is well. You are invincible. You are loved. You are at peace. Your life is nothing but a beautiful song.

Until next time,

Maha