My Soul

The vast landscape looks like a wasteland. All plant life has failed
to survive and remains scattered throughout the terrain like a disease
spreading through a body. The ground, rough and broken, shakes with
tremors, allowing no dust to settle in this quiet, abandoned land.
Looking around, it appears as if you have stepped through a portal. A
land that was once full of life but has been taken over by disease,
pain, and suffering. Looking around, you see your footprints gently
disappear with each small tremor, erasing any sign of life and
preventing any possibility of a new beginning.

You continue to search for signs of life as you move across the hard,
seemingly unforgiving land. The temperature fluctuates, preventing you
from becoming settled or comfortable. Unsure, you make your way across
broken land with no forethought and the discomfort of being lost. The
sharp, jagged edges of the mountains corral you and guide you towards
an endless portal of confusion and misery. Looking around again, no
guidance or forgiveness appears as you move forward in this unknown
world. Confusion and panic begins to attach to your mind and senses as
you wander around like a normal person in a blind world.

Your temptation to scream is withdrawn as the heavy silence of your
surroundings pierces your mind. The talons of confusion and panic
tighten as you question your surroundings. Is it real? Am I here? What
is it? There is no precept of time here, only the constant reign of
pain. The scars of the landscape cry out from the suffering, wanting to
be healed or to be taken out of this callous world. Still wandering,
something grabs your attention like an addict tapping a vein. Looking
ahead, a small glimmer of hope can be seen. Is it a mirage? A miracle?
A hoax? You begin running, running towards the shining light in this
dark nightmare. You run and you push but you can't reach it in time.
Fatigue begins to set in but your mind refuses to let you quit, it
refuses to surrender to the insanity that perches on your
shoulder.

As you draw closer to this entity, this paradise, you begin to see it
take shape. Beautiful scenery overcomes your senses as you focus on the
green trees, the white sand, and the clear water. The tranquillity of
this image allows a smile to creep upon your lips, a smile of relief.
As this paradise draws near, you see a gate and a fence. An elusive
fence, a fence that appears harmless but will stick you and bleed you
in the blink of an eye. A barbed wire fence. The claws of panic once
again sink into your mind. A fence? No! Not a fence. Rushing to the
gate, you find it open and unguarded. A peaceful sanctuary in a dreary,
broken land is left open and unguarded? A look of confusion overcomes
your face as you hesitate to enter the paradise before you. Scanning
the gate, a beaten, tattered sign can be seen hanging from the top of
the structure. A sign that hangs like the last petal of a dying flower.
Cocking your head to the side, you slowly read the faded, etched words
. . . . . . Welcome To My Soul