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.
Pharma Confiance pharmacie qui livre pharmacie de garde calvados aujourd’hui
https://pharmaconnectusa.shop/# desoxyn online pharmacy
parapharmacie odeon: meilleur savon 60 millions de consommateur – argel 7 en pharmacie avis
Pharma Jetzt: PharmaJetzt – gГјnstige apotheken
http://pharmajetzt.com/# PharmaJetzt
Pharma Jetzt PharmaJetzt PharmaJetzt
apoteken: medikamente online kaufen – PharmaJetzt
Pharma Connect USA: Viagra Plus – Pharma Connect USA
http://pharmaconfiance.com/# Pharma Confiance
Pharma Connect USA boots pharmacy viagra Pharma Connect USA
http://pharmaconfiance.com/# traitement monuril
Medicijn Punt: MedicijnPunt – online apotheek nederland met recept
viata online apotheek: MedicijnPunt – Medicijn Punt
https://pharmaconnectusa.com/# overseas pharmacy adipex
Medicijn Punt MedicijnPunt digitale apotheek
cetirizine pharmacy: PharmaConnectUSA – Pharma Connect USA
PharmaConnectUSA: rx solutions pharmacy help desk – Pharma Connect USA
http://medicijnpunt.com/# Medicijn Punt
PharmaJetzt Pharma Jetzt Pharma Jetzt
Pharma Jetzt: medikamente – online versandapotheke
http://medicijnpunt.com/# MedicijnPunt
Medicijn Punt: MedicijnPunt – medicijnen aanvragen
http://pharmajetzt.com/# online apptheke
united pharmacy accutane cheap pharmacy online PharmaConnectUSA
Pharma Jetzt: metaflow rabattcode – PharmaJetzt
med pharmacy: online pharmacy not requiring prescription – bahrain pharmacy cialis
http://medicijnpunt.com/# apotheken in holland
medicijn recept online apotheke Medicijn Punt
online apotheek frankrijk: MedicijnPunt – MedicijnPunt
Pharma Confiance: Pharma Confiance – Pharma Confiance
https://pharmaconfiance.shop/# Pharma Confiance
https://pharmajetzt.com/# Pharma Jetzt
Pharma Connect USA sams club pharmacy levitra online viagra pharmacy reviews
online apotheek – gratis verzending: MedicijnPunt – de online apotheek
http://medicijnpunt.com/# medicijnen kopen online
Atarax: pre pharmacy courses online – Pharma Connect USA
ketoprofene 50 parapharmacie caen chondrosulf 400 le moins cher
https://medicijnpunt.com/# mijn medicijnen bestellen
Pharma Confiance: Pharma Confiance – prix du viagra en pharmacie france
clomid online pharmacy: Pharma Connect USA – discount pharmacy card
https://pharmaconnectusa.com/# pharmacy global rx
http://pharmajetzt.com/# Pharma Jetzt
PharmaConnectUSA PharmaConnectUSA pharmacy store requirements
online aporheke: PharmaJetzt – PharmaJetzt
Pharma Confiance: avis klorane – Pharma Confiance
https://pharmaconnectusa.shop/# abilify prices pharmacy
medikamente sofort liefern PharmaJetzt PharmaJetzt
medicijnen zonder recept kopen: MedicijnPunt – MedicijnPunt
PharmaConnectUSA: Pharma Connect USA – PharmaConnectUSA
https://pharmajetzt.shop/# versandapotheke shop apotheke