By Kanak Pardeshi
It's dark, really dark, just dark everywhere.
There was nothing; I desperately searched, I swear.
I can't see a thing, not a soul, not even mine.
There was no one I could hold or hope to find.
Like I was trapped in this empty box, shut tight,
Like nothing could escape it, not even fright.
My prayers were ignored, my screams unheard,
I felt like a caged bird, my wings all shattered.
Where was I? Was it hell or the black hole?
What else could swallow me and my soul?
I sat there, defeated, finding comfort in dark.
I could hear distant echoes from something afar.
Those voices were coming close, I could tell.
I knew them, I did; it just didn't ring a bell.
"Hey there, old friend," they said, and then it clicked,
Like in the old jigsaw puzzle, all the pieces fit.
"Missed us, didn't you, darling?" my insecurity spoke.
"How could she not?" said depression, like a joke.
Hearing them, I froze. "No, they can't be here."
"Thought you could lock us? What a pity, my dear."
The monsters got close; I could feel their claws.
They held me tight until I could see all my flaws.
My eyes lost all shine, and misery overtook,
Life falling apart like torn pages of a book.
I was gathering courage, not to back down without a fight,
And fought back I did, with all my might.
Then it happened, the crack in the box.
Light peeped in, and I saw my tear drops.
Hope returned, I hit with my spirits high.
Darkness crumbled, and I finally saw the sky.
Free now, I looked at the monsters, shocked.
"We will let you go for now," with a smile, they mocked.
They said, "Remember the dark, because next time we'll attack."
I promised to myself, "For next time, I will be ready with a comeback."