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[Vatsal]

Beyond Darkness



I was running as fast as I could through a burning corridor, I felt the heat run through my body and the tongue of the flames hot as magma. I didn't know what I was running from or where I was going, but something kept me going. At the end of the corridor I found a door ever so blurry, and as I reach for the handle, the floor gave way and I felt myself sink deep down into a dark abyss…



I woke up with a jolt that day and found myself late for school. I prepared myself for school and scurried pass my parents. As I was running to school, I felt my body tremble at the thought of my dreams. Deeper than the outskirts of fear, I somehow felt happy, I felt like a hero with no fear.



There was nothing special that day, everything was normal; I was still the object of mockery at school. As I was eating my lunch with my one and only friend, I told him my dream with great enthusiasm and added a few bits and pieces. I was disappointed however, by the answer given by my friend. I felt angry at him and left him behind. Who wouldn't be? He told me that I read too many comic books and that I should grow up.



My friend and I are two different people; he was popular and had many friends. I was "popular" too, but I had no friends. As I was walking home, I felt guilty for leaving my friend. Worse of all, I found myself agreeing to what my friend was saying, making me feel even worse.



It was near home when I found a group of individuals running towards one direction. Out of interest, I followed the crowd (that's what I always do). I felt my heart gave a jolt as I gazed upon a 4 storey building blazing in fire. As I was watching with what seems to be dozens of others, I heard an old lady screaming. I couldn't make out the words at first, but as I concentrated, I heard the words "My…son...is still…there!"



To my hearts fear, the old lady raged in fury, got loose and ran my way. I didn't know what to do; I've never had anything peculiar happen to me before. I felt scared and hoped that it wasn't me. But my worse fears came true. Before I could react, the old lady grabbed my hand and said "please save my son!"



Her voice weren't harsh; it was nearly genial. As if she had put her life on those last words, pleading with all her life for ME to save her son. When she was finally taken aback, I felt the crowds look at me with disgust. I didn't know what to do and so, as always, I ran away. I felt the people behind me yell words I did not understand, I was too scared to try to listen.



As I was running as fast as I could, I heard a small voice in my head whisper "are you running away again?"

I stopped dead as I heard that voice. I felt my wrist burn and reflectively held my wrist. I saw the mark left behind by the old lady and felt guilty. I stood there what felt like ages and heard that same voice. "It is time!"



I didn't know what overtook me. It was as if I became someone else. I didn't remember much of what had happened afterwards. But I remembered rushing through a group of people and went in. The flames inside the building hissed like a snake, the mouths of the flames seemed to be inhaling oxygen, the tongues of the flame as hot as magma and the flickers of the flames burning my eyes.



Beneath the hissing flames, I heard a voice. I followed the voice and found a small boy cornered in a corner of the room, crying near a small window. I carried the boy on my back and yelled down from the window. A man spotted me and called in the firemen for help. Blurrily, I saw a group of firemen scurrying to hold a piece of cloth ready to catch us. I heard one of the firemen scream but couldn't make out the words. I didn't try to clarify what he said but assisted the boy to jump. Before jumping, the boy said "uncle, what about you?"

I smiled to him and pushed him down. I felt touch, and for the first time my heart felt warm and cozy.



The window the boy passed through was too small for me. All my life, I always thought that if I was to die, it didn't matter, no one cared and death wouldn't be so bad. Something inside me felt different though, it was as if I wanted to stay alive, for the first time in my life, I had a purpose. I ran down the stairs with haste, and as I was approaching the second floor, the floor gave way.



Nothing changed much since then! I was still "popular" and my friend list didn't increase. It was only that they were there all along, I just didn't realize. Nowadays, I enjoy being teased; I enjoy having people laugh at me. Because I know, I know that deep down; they all cared for me, because they all came to the hospital that day, to visit me.

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Often times we see life purposeless, we think that no one cares. So you never try anything to change it. But you see, there are just people who care for you, no matter who you are, all you have to do is take courage. When you do, life will be as beautiful as ever, because when you see behind the darkness…you'll find the light within it, an eternal light, waiting just for you…