Overcoming

 Stephen King said, “The scariest moment is always just before you start. After that, things can only get better.”
This week we asked you to write a memoir post inspired by that statement – in 300 words or less.

“I don’t think I can do this”, I said with pleading eyes.   

“Yes you can; it’s not that hard,” he replied.  

  My mind was racing with excuses that would help me get out of this predicament, but I couldn’t verbalize any of them.   We boarded the boat and found our seats.  A few minutes later we were racing through the warm turquoise waters.   The further we went, the more frightened I became.   To make matters worse, the rocking of the boat was making me nauseous.

 “I feel sick; I should wait for you in the boat.”  I said.  He looked disappointed.

 “Ok, breath… focus… you can do this young lady” I told myself.

Suddenly, the crew was passing out the equipment:  life jackets, flippers, and masks with breathing tubes. 

 “Oh no, this is it.” 

 Alarmed with images of shark attacks; drowning; being left behind, I stumbled, heart racing, to the back of the boat.     I could barely breathe.  Joe asked me to let out some of the air in the life jacket. 

“No way,” I replied stubbornly.    I’m a big girl and I need all the lift I can get.”  

He jumped in first and I followed after a quick prayer.    I couldn’t roll onto my stomach and water was getting inside my breathing tube.  I was kicking and gasping for air frantically.   Then Joe appeared.    He helped me make a few adjustments and lovingly reassured me that all was well.  He was right.  I was not drowning and there were no sharks.   I let out a sign of relief.  He reached out and held my hand.  With all the tension gone, I peacefully floated beside him, observing with wonderment the beauty of this underwater world.     All I could say was “Thank you God for allowing me to experience this.”    

From Darkness to Light

The prompt was "In the Dark of Night" - anything goes, so long as it fits that theme.

The alarm mercilessly yank her from her much needed rest with its insistent ring.  Enid had grown to despise these rude awakenings and wished for a time in her life when she would not be ruled by a clock.     She reached over, with eyes still closed, and hit the off button so as not to wake anyone, especially her husband who slept peacefully next to her.  She laid there in the darkness savoring the gift of comfort that only the night could offer her.   After a few seconds she reluctantly removed the blanket that had warmed her through the night and force her tired sleepy body to sit by the edge of the bed.  The soft wooly rug welcomed the soles of her feet.   In that position she waited until she was able to mustard enough will power to make her next move.

  “Oh God, please give me the strength I need today."   She 

Whispered.  

She took a deep breath, slipped on her slippers, grabbed the robe that laid by the foot of the bed and quietly stumbled into the darkness of the early morning hours.    The quiet hum of the house constantly warning her to limit the movements so as not to wake the others who slumbered peacefully underneath their cozy blankets.   Every breath she took hurt; every step she took was taken with great effort.  The order of her universe had been shattered.  

Exhausted in her spirit she kneels on the bathroom floor.  "It isn't right; how can I possibly exist without him", she angrily cries out to God.   She tries to conjure images of his sweet smile and joyful eyes that carried all his hopes and dreams.  But all she could see was the casket that housed his body, her beautiful child, being lowered into the dark depths of the Earth.     Tears from an anguished deep well within her soul flood her eyes while silent screams rise in desperate pleas to God asking Him again to release her from the unbearable pain; the pain that made it hard to breath; The pain that darkened her soul.  After a while, exhausted and defeated she sprawls herself on the floor before the darkness heaving uncontrollably into the towel she pulled from the rack.  This was her morning ritual since that awful day.   She knew that somehow she had to mustard the strength to face the light of another day.    From somewhere inside of her she hears her grandma's words trying to give her strength. 

  "The soul would have no rainbow if the eyes had no tears." 

  It was an old Native American proverb that her 

grandmother often recited.  As a child Enid could never 

understand what it meant, but now, she felt that even an 

ocean of tears would not bring the rainbows back to her 

life.   Suddenly she hears a soft tapping on the door.  It was 

little Mel calling her. 

  "Mommy, are you in there?  I'm hungry."  She said.   

"Yes sweetie", Enid replies.

“I will be right out" 

Enid splashes cold water on her face and takes one last 

look in the mirror before opening the door.  She barely 

recognizes herself.    There, in front of her, is the only 

thing that dispels her darkness.    She bends down and 

holds Mel tightly for a moment and then... she breathes.