Your Light in the Night

There are many blank pages at the beginning of  this book. The pages are worn, indeed, but there are no recorded memories or time that can be recalled. Just stained, frayed, and creased pages. Sometimes, there are little ink blots to ponder and decipher as if participating in a Rorschach test. It results in frustration and pain and a fight against bitterness.

The blackened lily of bitterness appears to its victims as alluring, mysterious, and a source of power. It is like dark chocolate to the soul; so easily consumed and comforting; yet, it results in a false confidence. It claims innocence and wisdom and argues a meticulous argument of injustice. As this poison enters the blood stream it begins to alter reality, twist and tighten veins, and harden the delicate valves of the heart. The false poetic musings of the slowly cracking embittered heart lead to isolation. It locks child-likeness in a dark room and doesn't let her out. There is no breath, no freedom, and no creativity. Just stagnant recycled air pretending to bring strength while all it brings is long hours, tears, and the inability to see truth.

The end of the book reads "From glory to glory and into eternity".  The golden embossing glistens as rough fingers run across it. These hands repeatedly brush over the letters as if reading braille, but are in reality making the letters shine more brightly. These weathered hands begin to drip gold and slowly as if blown by a gentle spring breeze the pages flip  and the hands begin to leak the sparkling liquid on the preceding pages. Ornate patterns begin to turn into letters and the letters into words: Mine. Destined. Holy. Justice. Free. Overcomer. Seen. Unique...

As the pages flow to the beginning, the wind ceases and the hands gently and slowly begin to turn each page until it reaches page five. As if in secret, one hand covers the worn page as the other caresses it with great care and intention. Out of the finger tips now drips a deep pigmented color that appears black, but as it hits the page reveals a brilliant midnight red. The red blot begins to circle on the page and extend over the creases and frayed edges, which quiver in reaction. Then a strange thing begins to happen. The ink begins to absorb and as if like protein to the page, the paper begins to thicken and become brighter and brighter. Finally, the blinding word HOPE can be seen. Pages one through four receive the same tenderness. Pages one through five read LOVED. JOY-FILLED. HEART. KNOWN. HOPE.

As the hands quickly breeze through the pages with excitement, black petals begin to fly out in masses. As they do, the hands catch them like little flies and crush them into dust. This process is repeated until no more black petals can be seen.

The hands then rest on the cover of the ethereal book which glitters a sweet baby pink. The title reads: "Baby Girl". The worn hands then open the book once again from the beginning, and, as if for the first time, rest on page one.

Such care, Baby Girl,
Will I take of you.
In clouds; on wings.
Up high in the sky.

With your friends
Those twinkle brights,
You will sleep
Soundly tonight.

I will hold you
Tight and tighter;
Yet, you will fly
Into glorious destiny.

And even if you wake,
I am here.
Always here.
Your light in the night.