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.
horse racing non runners tomorrow
Look into my web page; latest greyhound derby betting
(https://Grayhound-betting.com/)
bet on horse races
Also visit my site :: Watch greyhound racing Replays (https://Bukmacherjakie.com/)
new online horse racing betting sites
Here is my page Harlow Dog Results
https://medsmexican.blog/# mexico medication
Viagra sans ordonnance 24h suisse Viagra gГ©nГ©rique sans ordonnance en pharmacie Viagra vente libre allemagne
farmacias direct: farmacia online envГo gratis – farmacias direct
online casino ohne 5 sekunden regel kreditkarte
Check out my site; slot machine echtgeld [Delores]
https://farmaciaspain.online/# farmacia barata
casino 3 euro einzahlung visa (Sandra) sofortüberweisung ab 25 euro
перенаправляется сюда https://slon9-cc.com
Как крауд-маркетинг помогает, когда идёт SEO продвижение молодого сайта на старте?
farmacia online barata farmacia online madrid farmacias online baratas
casino slots multiplier
Also visit my webpage – Bingo App Um Echtes Geld
https://medfrance.top/# SildГ©nafil 100 mg prix en pharmacie en France
casino ohne identifikation paysafecard (Fernando) ohne oasis neteller
can i use td australia visa debit for online
gambling, free deposit casino uk and best casino in new zealand,
or casinos that accept neteller australia
Here is my blog post: does cache creek Have Roulette
https://farmaciaspain.online/# farmacias online seguras
free bet blackjack neue tischspiele online (Suzanne)
gaming club casino usa login, no deposit bonus uk online casinos and united statesn roulette strategy to win big, or united statesn free slots no download
Here is my web site … gambling license ukraine (Curtis)
Viagra prix pharmacie paris Viagra pas cher paris SildГ©nafil 100 mg prix en pharmacie en France
blackjack surrender online
My web site; casino 20 euro litecoin – https://www.Arantxa.eus/ –
casinos in toronto ontario australia, best online pokies united kingdom forum and blackjack canada online, or top ten slots usa
Here is my homepage; counseling interventions for Gambling disorder
neue online casinos sachsen
Check out my site – casino mindesteinzahlung 20 euro astropay (Hilario)
https://medmexico.online/# mexican drug stores
Viagra homme sans ordonnance belgique: п»їViagra sans ordonnance 24h – Prix du Viagra 100mg en France
blackjack mit freunden spielen
my web-site: casino 20 euro ethereum (Natalie)
free poker sites uk, on line casino canada and how to bet online
at rivers casino (Leonard) casino
australia free spins sign up, or the top online pokies and casinos in australia day
casino ohne lugas echtgeld
Review my web site; seriöse casinos mit kreditkarte
horse betting online sites
My web page Ante Post Non Runner No Bet
casino united kingdom, where can united statesns play roulette online and online gambling sites
real money usa, or what online gambling is There A
casino at the palazzo – pooldeckresurfacinghouston.com – legal
in united states
Viagra sans ordonnance livraison 48h Viagra vente libre allemagne Viagra pas cher livraison rapide france
como site de apostas em esports gratis; Vince,
can you play online casino game maker inc in united states,
bet365 play blackjack online uk and free spins bonus codes uk, or play poker in south united states
https://medfrance.top/# Viagra pas cher livraison rapide france
casino united kingdom, canada gambling bill and uk casinos free spins, or free casino bonus
united states
Also visit my web page can you win playing online blackjack (Jillian)
durch casino reich geworden
Also visit my site; blackjack mit echtgeld
promo soorten wedden bookmaker
tips
what poker sites are legal in united states, how
many the top online pokies and casinos in australia and online gambling australia legislation, or slot machine
sales uk
Here is my webpage … liberty casino no deposit bonus codes 2021 (Emory)
https://medsmexican.blog/# mexican pharmacies
casinos die paypal akzeptieren
Also visit my web blog; freispiele Ohne einzahlung germany (Tirestorageottawa.com)
mexican online pharmacy wegovy los algodones pharmacy online mexican rx
https://farmaciaspain.online/# farmacias direct
sport wetten tipps heute
Here is my webpage; Sportwetten Reload bonus
online casino Mit 1 euro Einzahlung
casino ohne anmeldung echtgeld
bet365 money casino usa, new zealandn online casinos no deposit and new zealandn online pokies minimum $5 deposit, or united kingdom roulette game wheel
My web-site; playcasino
online casino mit 150 freispielen ohne einzahlung
My homepage; Beste Fruit Slots (https://Mgmjaworzno.Pl/2025/10/10/Gibt-Es-Im-Jahr-2026-Ein-Elektronisches-Casino-In-Sachsen/)
https://medfrance.top/# Viagra vente libre pays
online Casino Kreditkarte Ab 20 Euro 3 euro einzahlung paysafecard
uk poker tour, australia casino pokies and online real slots australia, or 5 dollar deposit casino united kingdom
Feel free to surf to my webpage; Pechanga roulette machine
poker stars sign up bonus uk, are there casinos in saskatchewan canada blackjack and baccarat difference play slots for real money usa, or online casino real money canada paysafe