This way-more-abstractly-metaphorical-than-I-usually-write story was inspired by one of the exercises in Holly Lisle’s “How to Beat Writer’s Block.” She calls him her “muse”; I call her my very life-breath.
My soul is weary with sorrow;
strengthen me according to your word. (Psalm 119:28)
Flashlight in hand, I progress slowly down each step, toward the dungeon in which I keep my soul. Repeating drops of condensation drip, drip, drip and echo off the cold, dead walls. The scent of urine and defecation permeates the air, and intermingles with a poison must.
I loathe this place, which reeks of hell and depression.
I approach the cage. My keys rattle against the thick, steel slats, as I wrestle with the heavy padlock.
The noise rouses my soul from her bed on the concrete. She glares at me in terror, her once luminous countenance now merely flickering a dim grey, bruised and mottled from years of abuse and neglect. She slinks into the opposite corner. I swing the gate open, slowly enter the cage, but do not approach her. The horror of a hundred thousand past encounters etches itself into her eyes, as they follow me, tracking me.
I stoop in my corner of the cage. I try not to touch the floor with my knees or hands, but I cannot get down to her eye-level, because she is balled up tight as an armadillo bug, her eyes peeking out from behind emaciated fingers.
“I wanted you to make me popular, powerful,” I explain. “I expected you to do whatever necessary, whatever I demanded. I thought that would bring me fame and fortune, and fame and fortune would bring me happiness.”
My eyes stare as into the void.
“But it didn’t work,” stolid. “And now there’s no one left in the house but you and me. And I’ve all but killed you.”
I rise, not knowing what else I might say. I want to tell her I’m sorry, but I know she cannot believe me. I have worn out any trust she may have ever had for me.
“I’ll leave the door open for you. I hope you decide to rejoin me upstairs.” I begin to leave.
Pausing: “For what it’s worth, I promise never to make demands like that of you again. I promise from now on, we’ll only create what we both desire to create. And I’ll never cage you again or attempt to restrain you.”
No answer. No movement.
I return to my favorite space, in the once-bright reaches of my home, a place formerly full of possibilities and promise. Now, dark except for a single, yellow incandescent lamp.
In the distance, a tentative step falls on my ear. And another. Getting closer now.
And the tiniest tear I feel returning to the corner of my dry eye.
https://certifiednorthrx.shop/# Certified North Rx
http://usmedssaver.com/# online pharmacy 365
canadian pharmacy online cialis: safe canadian pharmacy – best canadian online pharmacy reviews
You actually make it seem so easy with your presentation but I find this matter to be really something which I think I would never understand. It seems too complicated and very broad for me. I am looking forward for your next post, I will try to get the hang of it!
thecanadianpharmacy: US Meds Saver – canadian pharmacy oxycodone
Should you play Will of the Gods. We don’t see why not, especially if you enjoy the thrills of going big. If you prefer online slots with lower wagering limits that possibly high return ratios, then looking around our site at other options might not be a bad bet. However, the bonus features here are very solid and, should you land them enough times, make you feel like the gods have smiled upon you. by miami | Feb 28, 2025 | Uncategorized | 0 comments Legal Gambling States Uk Game type: Slots The regular symbols are all relatively standard, with lower paying symbols being playing card royals J, Q, K and A, while the higher paying ones are all Greek gods. Zeus carries the highest of all regular symbol values. Werewolf It Up™ featuring Cash Bank™ is the Halloween-themed follow-up to Inspired’s smash hit Wolf It Up! Set in a mystical, spooky forest, the game combines fairy-tale charm with thrilling win potential. The base game introduces cash-packed candy symbols and the Bonus Wolf, which together trigger the Cash Bank Free Spins Bonus with eight free spins. A pseudo-persistence mechanic adds further excitement, with collected candies building towards the Lucky Wheel for chances to win one of four Prize Pots.
https://www.studio-diporto.com/aviator-review-for-pakistani-players-flight-phase-mechanics-guide/
GoodTrust animates your old or new portrait photo to mimic the words of any uploaded song. Whether you want to turn a Mona Lisa or selfie photo image into an animated singing portrait, the app to make pictures sing has got you covered. People love using it to enhance their family pictures and other photo memories in a new and interesting way online. It brings life to meaningful photos and lets you share your singing portraits with friends and family on social media. For millennials, it will be a pleasant nostalgia to remember the first GIF images with glitter, roses, and a congratulatory inscription, which is wrapped in a pink ribbon. In 2025, such photo effects are already considered mauvais ton, while their basis has acquired a wider use. For example, animating a picture allowed photo poses for women to diversify the usual frame setting and come up with their own look.
http://bajarxdirect.com/# mexicanrxpharm
https://certifiednorthrx.com/# Certified North Rx
https://vaycasinovip.online/# vaycasino resmi giriş
What’s up colleagues, how is the whole thing, and what you desire to say on the topic of this piece of writing, in my view its truly awesome in favor of me.
canada drugs online reviews legitimate canadian mail order pharmacy overseas online pharmacy
https://usmedssaver.com/# online canadian pharmacy
https://bajarxdirect.com/# BajaRx Direct
vaycasino güncel giriş vaycasino
farmacias online usa: BajaRx Direct – order medication from mexico
I like the valuable information you provide for your articles. I will bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I am quite certain I will be told a lot of new stuff right here! Best of luck for the next!
http://certifiednorthrx.com/# safe canadian pharmacies
https://certifiednorthrx.com/# Certified North Rx
Can you be more specific about the content of your article? After reading it, I still have some doubts. Hope you can help me.
Специалисты клиники контролируют состояние пациентов 24/7: фиксируют динамику показателей, корректируют дозы препаратов и обеспечивают безопасность на всех этапах лечения. Такой формат позволяет избежать осложнений, связанных с самостоятельным выходом из запоя или несанкционированным приёмом медикаментов. Врачи клиники помогают пациентам пройти через этапы очищения, стабилизации и восстановления организма максимально комфортно.
Подробнее – http://narkologicheskaya-klinika-v-khabarovske0.ru/
vaycasino: vaycasino
Valuable information. Fortunate me I found your site by chance, and I am surprised why this twist of fate did not happened in advance! I bookmarked it.
BajaRx Direct: los algodones pharmacy online – BajaRx Direct
https://certifiednorthrx.com/# Certified North Rx
https://certifiednorthrx.shop/# canadian valley pharmacy
https://vaycasinovip.online/# vaycasino giriş
sky pharmacy US Meds Saver canadian pharmacy viagra
Wow, that’s what I was exploring for, what a material! present here at this blog, thanks admin of this website.
Лечение в клинике «ДальМедБаланс» базируется на комплексном подходе. Каждый метод направлен на конкретную цель — детоксикацию, восстановление, стабилизацию и профилактику повторного употребления. Используются современные медицинские технологии и препараты с доказанной эффективностью. Таблица ниже описывает основные направления терапии и их результаты.
Выяснить больше – вывод наркологическая клиника