a quiet dark
#4 of Short Stories
This is poem like in nature, and quite melodramatic, so to speak. Inspired by my own song with same title, I decided to try and simulate what I felt during my hiatus this summer. I also felt like writing, and this came out. So, I hope ye enjoy this story of 1,185 words.
I also couldn't help but leave two small easter eggs in this story.
trapped
feelings of anger
can't get out
no one to shout at
nothing to shout at
he wants to see her again
but it's dark
he can see a dim light above
maybe she's out there
maybe she's down here
his thirst to explore is to great
confined
hatred
wants to see water
wants to feel rain
can't remember anything
knows people miss him
knows people love him
knows they are worried about him
but he's not out there
wants to remember
thinks it's the only way out
no other way
he only has himself
no one else can help
exhausts himself trying to picture her
tired of not remembering others faces
tries and tries to remember them all
only draws blanks
frustration grows
why can't i leave
why can't i remember
why can't i love now
why am i here
why
stares at light longingly
maybe patience is key
learn to calm oneself
learn to master the red feelings
wait on the light
time passes
light still the same
hope is there
hope for something greater
placing trust in time
weeks pass
his resolve is growing weak
darkness getting to him
sees shadows and demons
they're out to get him
does anyone care for him
why aren't they here
did they give up on him
have they forgotten him
is he all alone
it's cold.
He starts shouting.
he needs to get out.
Paces around the darkness.
dark thoughts black heart.
HATES the light.
Wants out
thinks of ways to hit the light
thinks of ways to never hope
thinks of ways to leave
A shell, a wall
starts looking for rocks
the shadows dance around him
her face is fading
his face is fading
their faces are fading
builds stairs to light
only knows making walls
only knows hate
only know regressing
Lost
working makes him feel calm
working makes the feelings numb
anger is hiding
rage is hiding
must work
tireless
restless
is he able to make it to the light
is he too late to make it
is it too late for anything
shadows warn him
light brings dark
he might turn blind
might get burned
they demand he stays
no, he must work
that light is the only thing here
a beacon
must make bridges, stairs, walls
there has to be meaning for this
he forgets about time
too busy building things
he forgets about feelings
too busy ignoring them
he gets to the light this way
a door
underneath the light is a door
Fear
only knows closing doors
the shadows shake their heads
Wary of hope
knows it would be Lost, like him
ghosts of faces come back
Scared
her face stares at him, Disappointed
heart is breaking
Loneliness, Lost, a Ghost
darkness is all he knows
the door Scares him
Hate might reign again
quiet
dim
barren
nothing
time is passing, but he can feel it
his Soul starts to feel Restless
Sadness has him
Mellowed out
Forlorn
heart has cracks, his hope is weak
a voice calls out
it's his
the words are queer, dry, brittle
makes him tear up
"I am alone, and I have given up."
breaks down
starts Sobbing
shadows dance, shadows comfort
black thoughts, blacker heart
It's cold.
Feelings
must not have them
they break you
must not have them
makes you hurt yourself, hurts others
he shivers
the shadows are gone
he only has that light now
it's dim as ever
the door causes Fear, causes Panic
hears knock
refuses to Believe
more knocks
hurts ears
He doesn't want Hope, Love.
Knocking stops.
He stares in Horror at the door.
All is Quiet.
It isn't Peaceful, Comforting.
Someone is behind there, wanting him to Feel.
a voice calls out
what it says is muffled
whatever was said it Scares him
it reminds him of her
Fear is behind that door
he runs from the door and into the darkness
he hides in the grey, in his mind
no matter where he is he sees the door
he hears the knocking
he hears... worry
he stops and closes his eyes
does he have to Face it
does he have to Deal with it
why can't It be easy
why can't he understand feelings
he feels the Shadows move around him
they whisper his Fears
they whisper his Doubts
they whisper Hate
but... he also hears her voice
it sounds broken, sharp
like glass
it pierces his heart
his mind
he breaks, and his Emotions escape
the Door opened
and She was there
she scared him
everything about her scared him
and she was there for him
dark landscapes changed to blinding white
the light hurt
the shadows were still there
she brought her own with her as well
they all danced around them
she spoke to him
told him about outside
The Shadows dance
he only cries
The Shadows weep
she Promises -
She promised -
... never alone
Love
Shadows in the dark
raven thoughts
dark clouds
rain
wind
Anything other than her, other than It
He frowns at the ground.
She puts her arm around him.
A smile.
A frown.
Together. Together.
Sun is out. Red on the horizon.
Morning.
Color?
E... Mo... Tion?
Fear and Love?
He writes these down, Hoping for answers.
She reassures him.
He stares attentively at the Shadows on the page.
E... Mo... Tion.
Emotion.
"Fear is the heart of love."
"The opposite of love is indifference."
He stares at those Words. He... Feels...
Anger, love, like, favor, hate, dislike, disapprove...
Indifference, apathetic, lethargic, lazy, drowsy...
sad, morose, mellow, sad-mad, melancholy...
Fear.
he studies that one word
he tries to... Rationalize it
"Fear," he calls out.
"A mountain," she says.
"Scared," he adds.
"The dark," she counters.
"Love."
He looks at his list of emotions.
she looks at him.
curiosity, confusion
He smiles.
she slowly smiles as well
"A journey."
Laughter
It hurts
Happiness
Joy
He closes his eyes
darkness
shadows stand before him
not him
They aren't him or her
He opens his eyes
Light
Warmth
He is awake
and probably happy
He stands up and pushes himself away from the desk
She looks at him questioningly
He just smiles
The paper, the pencil, and a pile of books look at him
His smile falters
"I feel I must... Take a breather."
"A breather?"
"During my stay in my own darkness, I have forgotten how to smile - I wish to learn again."
"But what if it's too hard?"
"I like to think that life wasn't made easy, and we have to learn to live - why do you think it's so easy to lose things?"
She frowns at that.
shadows lengthen as the sun rises
"Is it because we're close to the good things in life?"
He just smiles at the answer.
"Probably."
With a curt nod, he excused himself
Fear was with him as he reached for it.
the shadows - the demons too - were around him.
That didn't matter, he'd learn to over come them, he'd learn to be brave.
This in mind, he turned the knob, and opened the door to a whole new world.