Flash Fiction - Fear
"We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear."
- Marin Luther King, Jr.
"If you look into your own heart, and you find nothing wrong there, what is there to worry about? What is there to fear?"
- Confucius
The clock ticks as she stares blankly at the wall, its pendulum sounds faded and forgotten, it won't reach her ears. Foot taps on the floor, her entire leg begins to shake with anticipation and anxiety. Then, fingers start to tap at the table top, nails clicking at its' wooden surface. She swallows, saliva thick and dry in her throat, she wonders if someone would hear it. No one would though, because she was completely and utterly alone.
A clap of lightning sounds in the distance, though it was all too loud for her ears. She whimpers, throwing her body from the chair, the table, landing in a heap on the floor. Hands move to her head, covering it, blocking the horrific sound that rang and boomed through the room. It echoed off the walls, it rang continuously through her head. She could not stop it, it laughed and taunted her. This form of reality was unfair, unwanted and troublesome.
Breath coming out heavy now, she shakes, her eyes darting left and right, up and down. Her pupils are constricted now, hues of blue now closed tight. Her mind is now beyond that of reality, a jumbled mix that disallowed her brain of thought. A flash of light leaked through the shaking window, Maya now felt like a deer in headlights.
Gathering herself, she crawled slowly from the floor, her movements slow and cautious. Heart thumping in her chest, her breaths raspey and shallow. She could feel herself grow weak, another black out was to come, she was going to faint. Black dots gathered on the edge of her vision, fear was consuming her from the inside out, her body could not, and would not take anymore.
Staggering as she moved onto her hands and knees, her vision blurred like a merry-go-round, the objects and room around her nothing more than a blur. Her consciousness was becoming devoured by darkness, like she was being buried in a deep hole under the earth. Time began to slow, everything seemed to lag in time of reality, her breath came out slower, her mind still spinning endlessly.
Though, she knew what was going to happen. It happened every time there was a thunderstorm, it was pathetic to be scared of such a thing. This time will be different! She exclaimed, shakily getting to her feet. She staggered towards the window, drawing the red velvet shades back. Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, hands latching onto the handles of the white-lined window. Pulling them open, the wind carried the window, as it connected with a crash against the pale walls on either side of it. Rain splatted against her face, the loud claps of thunder fresh against her ears. Her heart races in her chest as she opens her eyes, a wide smile dancing on her cracked lips. This is what courage feels like.
...The only real fear, is fear itself. Fear is what our brains create in order to avoid the painful truth of everyday reality. Fear is what creates a suspenseful daily life; you'll never know what is going to happen. Fear is something that everyone has had at some point in their lifetime. Sometimes it's physical, like hating needles because they penetrate your skin. Emotional, because fear is mostly reacting to your brains' pleas for help, your body then acts upon these to protect your well being as well as keep you within your own comfort zone. In this Flash fiction, I have made the connection between fear as well as courage, both sides of the tapestry weaving together to create a master piece...
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