By Ihket
He walked through a glass hall. Scenes from his life dancing just beyond the windows. The good, the bad and the horrifying playing out with equal intensity. He stared at the record of his soul. “This is what I am.” He said to no one in particular.
He stopped and stared with fondness at the figure of an old woman standing in the ocean. Her white hair flowing around her weathered face as she smiled at him. Her lips moved but the glass between them kept the sound of her from his ears. He did not need it. Her voice would always be with him. “I love you too, mom.”
There were things about her he would never understand. He had just accepted them and had lived again within the bright grace of her love not long after the darkest walk his soul had ever taken.
That walk played before him now as it had so many times before. The image was the same, mocking and vague. A piano on a stage, lone spotlight over its player. Blood on the ivory, left by the husk of the virtuoso. Dead eyes stared without focus at the red keys before him. The light was shrinking, inch by inch it’s diameter decreased taking the player with it and leaving him alone. In the dark, cut of from all sound, sight, smell, taste and touch. He was set adrift in isolation. No feeling, no life, just the husk. A shell that would crumble to dust given not so much time.
The feeling in his heart was the same every time he visited this place. Black despair, numbing grief and a rage so deep it drained his very soul. The walk only lasted minutes, but it had been enough for a lifetime. A viscous call to what could have been and what was for those seven minutes in May.
He had not been worthy of the miracle given to him. Few people ever are. The restoration was not given appreciation until months later, again so close to too late. He had finally grasped the lesson taught to him the May before. Recognized the blessings and gifts for what they were a moment before they whisped into the ether. One moment, a desperate grab, strong hands struggling against his own and then acceptance between the two souls bound by brotherhood. Their paths were clear and they walked them through the pain, fear and loss.
He had found and recognized his beacon. From that day he was cherished and cherished in return.
His heart calmed as he came face to face with his guide. He clasped the hand that reached to him. It was time to leave this place. He would have to complete this walk another time. He had things that needed to be done.
He took one last look back at the woman in the ocean, she was still smiling at him. He could feel her pride and this time he heard her words. “You have found the right path, my son. Walk it with joy.”
~Fini~