“I guess you win then…?” I look up from the object in my hands.
The dark shadow nods solemnly.
I sigh and look back down. A ghost of a frown crossed my brow and I look back up at the shadow.
“May I ask?” I begin, pausing as the shadow slowly nods. “Why did you come here? What brought you to me?”
The shadow hesitates but eventually a thought enters my mind that is not of my making. This is the normal way it communicates. You were weak… that’s what brought me to you… it was too sweet to resist…
I think over the word carefully, remembering clearly the first instance I heard the shadows intrusive thoughts.
I let out a humourless snort. “You’re right. I was weak.” I feel wetness on my cheeks as my vision begins to blur and my briefly brush the tears away with my hand.
I tighten my grip on the object in my hand, ignoring the sting as it cuts into my palms.
Well? The shadow prompts. You’ve waited long enough… don’t you think it’s time…?
I take a deep breath, closing my eyes tightly. I nod. “You’re right.” I say again. “I was weak when you came to me. I should have ended it all those years ago,” I open my eyes and look determinedly up at the shadow which hadn’t moved from its corner of the room. “But I’m not weak anymore.”
I feel the shadow tense at these words but I ignore it, pushing myself shakily to my feet, one hand falling from the blade in my hands to rest against the wall behind me. “You may have found me all those years ago pathetic and downtrodden. No way out. But I persisted. I remained. And now I see, it isn’t me who is weak; it’s you.”
The shadow tenses again but I continue before more of its poisonous thoughts can enter my mind. “I survived all this time with you hanging over me and all this time I thought it was me relying on you. But really, it was the other way around. So, yea, your right; it is time. But not for this!” I drop the knife and turn the light on. The shadow shrinks in the sudden brightness of the room. “I don’t need you.”
And I leave the room, heading to my bedroom where I feel safe and I know my mobile phone is sat on my bedside table, on top of my note. I slam the door behind me as the shadow attempt to follow me in, and pick up the phone. I call the first person who come to mind.
It rings for a bit. And then… “Hello, sweetheart. Are you ok?”
A small smile tugs at the corner of my lips and tear well in my eyes again. “Hi, mum.”
- Sorry, I can’t do sad endings at the moment. I hope you enjoy my take on this prompt.