The Cave

I sit atop my rock, looking at the four rock walls of what was my cave, but has now become my prison. I sit in almost complete darkness on my rock, missing the light but not wanting it. The sound of dripping water echoes from somewhere. My eyes drift over to the entrance where some light shines through. I'm afraid to approach it, afraid of what it might do, afraid of how it might take away my darkness. Out of an old habit I start to approach the light. As I get closer the glare blinds my eyes. I can start to feel the warmth of it hitting my arm. I open my eyes to see...I know not, but something other than rock. The light penetrates my eyes like a thousand knives. My scream echoes throughout the cave for several moments as I scramble blindly over the uneven ground with one arm up protecting my eyes incase the light tried to follow me. As I sit on my rock tears roll down my cheek one by one and I try to decide which ones are due to the pain of the light, and which ones are due to this self-made prison. My vision eventually clears and I again survey my dungeon. The light continues to stay at the entrance, almost inviting me to come to it, to bask in its warmth. My eyes begin to tear up again at the thought. I know I cannot leave. I have grown used to the dark, come to depend on its ability to hide me. I look down at my arms caked in mud, my legs are no better. I try to rub some off with my hands, but my hands are no cleaner so all it does is smear it around some. No, that pure, clean light couldn't allow one such as myself to bask in its warmth. I strain to remember the time before I entered this cave. Whatever compelled me to flee the light, to seek shelter in this place? I can't even remember anymore, if I even had a reason to begin with.

I lean my head back and close my eyes, remembering the feeling of the light on my head, dreaming of a time when I could feel it again.