Alone Again

Surrounded by darkness, alone and scared. He calls out, "HELLO? Is anyone there?" The echo of his voice is deafening. Nobody to hear his cries for help. The boy begins to wander, not knowing which direction to go, hoping he’ll find a way out. Tired and confused he stops, nothing in sight, nobody to help. Crying, he falls to his knees. "Dear boy, why are you so afraid of this darkness?" A quiet voice says. Looking around the boy cries out, "Who's there?! Where are you?!?". "Dear boy, why are you so afraid of this darkness?" The voice echoes again. Confused by this voice he replied, "I’m alone...I don't know what to do."

A few minutes pass, once again the boy is alone. No longer does the mysterious voice question him. Gaining his composure, he rose off of the ground. So many thoughts rushed through his head at once, talking to himself he asks, "How did I get here? Where did that voice come from? Why can’t I get out of this place?"

Pushing those thoughts out of his head, he picks up his pace. Minutes seemed to go on for hours, hours seemed to go on for days. "Maybe it’s a dream! I’m sure to wake up soon, yeah it’s all just a dream!" He exclaimed. Pinching his arm, he cried out "Ow!" realizing that it may not be after all. Unable to go any further, he collapsed. The mysterious voice returned, "Rest now young one. I shall watch over you until you awake. Don’t let this darkness scare you, you’re not alone anymore."

Maybe it was the comfort of that mysterious voice where the boy was able to fall asleep so fast. The ground was hard and cold. Most people wouldn’t be able to bare the idea of even sleeping in such a desolate area. Yet he did, after awhile it almost feels of a familiar place. Kind of like the boys home, his parents didn’t show him much affection. His friends all but abandoned him. Such a lonely feeling it was, nobody around seen how much hurt was going through him. In a sense, the boy has always known what it’s like to be alone.

Laying on the ground so peaceful, he feels a hand touch his face. It felt so warm, he couldn’t help but be overwhelmed with emotions, tears began to fall. His own mother never comforted him like this before. It was something new, something that he couldn’t even describe if he was asked to. Suddenly the boy awoke, wiping away his tears, he looked around. Yearning for that moment just one more time. It was understandable, he may never feel that ‘love’ again in his own home. Finally he rose up off the ground, still exhausted, he looked around once more.

The voice returned, this time the boy wasn’t scared anymore. Standing so confidently the boy said, "This darkness doesn’t scare me. It’s being alone that I’m so afraid of. But...now I know, I’m really never alone. There will always be that warm touch I’ll remember. I felt loved, I felt the warmth..."

Before he could finish a light shined from behind him. "Could it be? No, it can’t be." He thought to himself.

"Go now boy, hurry, your light is closing. You don’t have much time!"

Panicked, he takes off, running faster than he ever has. It seemed like such a long ways away, he doesn’t think he’ll make it. The closer he gets the more the light begins too dim. "No! Please stay open!" he cries out. He’s there, it’s so warm, the same feeling he had when he fell asleep. Taking another step forward blinded him with light...it was of another world. Hearing voices around him, he begins calling out, hoping they’ll hear him. Yelling as loud as he could. "Up ahead, you’re almost there." The voice’s final words rang through.

The boy awoke to more bright lights, looking around he sees both of his parents asleep, having no recollection of why he’s there he yells out, "Mom...Dad...what happen..?" They awoke. Rushing over to his side, his mother in tears, his dad trying to be strong starts to cry. It’s that feeling again he thought to himself, his eyes begin to fill with tears.

"I’m not alone...I’m never alone.." He said.