Face the Fear

Fear
rising from nowhere,
growing,
conquering,
said to have arisen
from the depths of our minds,
weighting its victims with chains.
Smothering them.
Visions, signs from above,
are given to us
in our time of need -
a guide to salvation.

In a dream,
a voice spoke his name.
"Taroc, go forth.
Face the 'thing'.
Look inside you and
bring forth the brave warrior.
Go, bearing sword and shield
and slay the demon."
The next day
he rose to fight.

He broke the bonds
and sought it.
Finally, he approached its lair.
Stopped, hesitating,
he could feel it lurking in the shadows
waiting
anxious
growing.

Taroc took hold of himself.
Ready to face it,
he threw open the door,
his frame steeled with determination.
As they stood there,
the boy and his fear,
face to face,
Taroc knew it had
no control over him;
that he had given it power -
had fed it.
Now its power was gone.
The battle was over.

It shrank. Disappeared.

Elaine Rucki is a 50-year old Canadian living in Hamilton, Ontario.

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