The Dark Healing Forest

The tall trees spoke to me. I am to run an endurance race through a dark forest. When I get to the other side, I will feel lighter. My daily anguish will be left behind, scraped away by the thorn barks of the tall trees that will be towering over me.

"Your eyes will be closed," comforted one survivor. 

"You won't even know what's happening until it's over," chided another. 

"It will be unknown darkness. Then light," jumped in yet another. 

These are warriors. They have gone through this journey and bear well-veiled scars. 

I am ready. I have to get rid of the part of my flesh that's gnawing at my senses.

I will close my eyes and come out at the end of the forest with only scars and pain that will last a short while. I will be free. 

Let the trees tower over me. 

I am ready to close my eyes. 

"Your eyes will be open." These words echoed through my head like a giant gong causing vibrations in every organ inside me.

"Your eyes will be shielded from the work of the thorns. You will feel every thorn touching you, cutting you, clawing at your flesh and removing pieces of it. Fear not," said the wise tall tree, "your mind too will be shielded from true pain. We have a tree whose special leaves will put a veil over you without making it dark for you."

Why can I not be granted full darkness like the rest of the warriors?

"You see, the safety of full darkness while we walk you through this journey is only safe for those whose chests are agreeable. Your chest may hold on to the darkness and never let it go. Your chest may let your breath of life flutter away," the tree warned.

He added, "The forest will look after you."

And so it will be.

I will run my race, eyes open, chest guarded, thorns felt and trees in full vision.

All the same, the race is short. I will be free.