Shadows

It was getting late. She had so much to do yet before the day ended. As she rushed through the litany of chores begging her attention, she felt her fear slowly rising up till it was choking her.

As the sun set, the shadows lengthened, and so did her fear. It was unimaginable that a happy go lucky person, who loved the outdoors and was game for anything adventurous, vigorous, exciting, or romantic had suddenly found herself imprisoned by anxiety.

She had chosen this beautiful home at the edge of the forest, where she could hear the twittering and cooing of the birds, watch the fleet footed deer in their herds and be enthralled by Nature in its naked beauty. Sun rises and sunsets were the highlights of her day.

Much before the break of day, she would set out for her run, through the lovely green forest so she could reach the clearing at the top of the hill. The view from the outcrop of rocks, which doubled up as the summit was beyond description. To watch the inky blue sky slowly turning light as the rising sun spread its pink shawl, announcing its golden arrival could bewitch all and sundry. Embracing the fresh cool breeze, one could hear her pleasant laugh tinkling like a bell, as she raced her husband on occasions.

Sunsets found her at the beach, practicing yoga, swimming at the edges while the sun wrapped up its cloak close, before disappearing for the night promising to show up the next morning. The lengthening shadows would reach the few humans and envelope them in a warm hug.

One fine day as she was reading about Simon and Garfunkel the famous singers, and their composition Sound of silence written for a friend who turned blind, her empathy just flipped. She found herself wondering what would happen if it happened to her? And the beast from the subterranean worlds of her mind erupted to terrorize her.

Hello, darkness, my old friend
I’ve come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain still remains
Within the sound of silence!

 (Lyrics by Simon and Garfunkel)

The fear took hold of her physically; choking her, making her gasp for breath, she tried all her mind diverting tricks, but nothing worked! Clutching her throat, she ran to her husband. He could not understand what was happening. Maybe a new trick to grab attention, he thought and told her to go prepare tea.

The restlessness continued. To divert her mind, she thought she would watch Netflix with her husband, but found it became worse, as the shadow of all violence, doubts, trauma fell squarely on her.

Those first few nights were like what Hell probably might be. Lack of sleep, insomnia, and a general subjugation to, fear of fear, took its toll. A rift appeared between the spouses as there was not much understanding of this mental issue and she was desperately trying to grapple with her situation all by herself.

He would sleep peacefully, snoring softly as soon as his head touched the pillow, while she was scared to even shut her eyes cause that’s when all the dragons emerged from some place, deeply entrenched in her subconscious.

Well, something had to be done!

The shadows had to be chased away, the cobwebs removed, to make place for sunshine to come back.

One day he cajoled her to run up to her favourite sunrise spot with him. That felt wonderful! The beauty of the verdant forest drew her attention to it and the joy resurged! The sun rise was the most beautiful ever as the golden rays pierced through the inky sky and managed to lift the shadows enveloping her too!

As they jogged back home engrossed in jolly banter, she found something following her. Before fear could return, she turned around ready to shoo it away… but her heart melted, as a little ball of fur came loping up to her! The warm wet licks around her ankles, soon washed her face as she bent down to scoop it up. It was the most adorable velvety canine with hearts of honey in lieu of eyes.

Crooning to comfort it they looked around for its owner but could find none. He suggested they take it home and let it be known that the lost pup was with them.

It just wouldn’t let her be! If she went to the bedroom, it was right behind, if she went to the kitchen, it was right beside, and if she went to the garden, it moved ahead. When she sat down, it clambered onto her lap. Like a shadow it followed her. That’s how he got to be named, Shadow!

Taking care of the little mite and engrossed in its antics all  the shadows were soon chased away! He often patted his back for the master stroke of having the pup placed on the route, that fateful day!

Picture from the Internet for representation purpose only.