Thirty-four years ago, you were left asleep in your blue and white fluffy dress, on the pew in the church; awaken to a place so dark you could barely see your little hands in front of you. Racing to the peek of light shining in from the streetlight, you screamed until you were hoarse. Remember, “help, please, get me out of here!” Mommy, please get me out of here!” Realizing no one was there; you slid your thin back down the tall cold doors and wrapped your arms around your tiny legs to keep warm.
The thought of being left there for the night was nerve-wracking. Hope was all you had to stabilize your sanity. The lights of cars passing by made scary shadows on the walls and pews. The whispers of the wind were spine-chilling. Too shaken to even remember the Lords Prayer, you were determined to overcome the fear of the unknown in the dark. Blessed with a family who was not only large but also loud. You quickly began to depict the cracking and popping as siblings moving throughout the home. The howling wind whistled songs of your dear mother in the kitchen as she stirred through the steaming pots. Shadows of hide and seek tickled your tummy enough to mitigate the pain of being left behind. The sweet sound of your mother’s voice as she lifted you from the cold floor, wiping the remaining tears from your face, reminded you that you were loved and not forgotten.
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Years passed, longing for a new normal, a way to simply shut your eyes and welcome dreams instead of nightmares, words fought with sheep in your head for space. Suddenly, sleep wasn’t a priority. At the tender age of 10, the memory of such horrific event flowed from you like rain from cumulonimbus clouds. The faster you wrote the lighter you felt. A story was born as you created characters, allowing them to lead you into their world. Your imagination began to expand with time. You healed the soul of a quiet storm. You were stronger than you ever imagined.
Although your love for writing puzzled the minds of the judgmental, thank you for understanding the power of words. Thank you for guiding me into my passion for storytelling. Thank you for finding your voice and believing in the girl who was left in the dark and continues to find her way through creativity.
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