In Blinding Darkness

To live in such interesting times as these, a fate unwished upon even the most damned soul, yet we must endure; the sun and stars have been painted over, their light a distant memory; they've made Atlases of us all, our world's weight bore alone. 

 

Everyday, the world darkens just a little more. At first, it wasn't noticeable, at first, it was gradual but, as time has progressed, so has the darkening; places once so full of light now dwell in their dinge. No one noticed at first. It wasn't until we looked back upon the past that we saw the diminishing light. People traced the cause and found themselves chasing hydra; the heads became too numerous to count though from the largest the most darkness spewed.

 

Impartiality and balance. Eyes in the dark. Words of power indeed; innocent enough though only if the powers they wield are appropriately measured and checked. At first, they worked to stave off the darkness, ensuring all voices were heard however, the voices started to change and so did the meanings of those two words. As clouds of black steamed from the beast's maw, impartiality stained to apathy; that which was once shown under even light became obscured beyond recognition. Similar came of balance for the scales they shifted; once a forum of equality became an auction house in bid to monopolize. Darkness consumed weighted side and gravity forbade us from sliding back.

 

The world around us has expanded in definition; as spaces have closed they've moved to locations new. For a time, we were free. For a time. Upon the intangible web, we found ourselves as flies trapped; 'checked upon' by spiderous captors, injected with their venom. Paralyzed by overstimulation we find ourselves unable to retaliate, unable to speak out, unable to refuse the darkness we now invite into ourselves. Such vile images, ideas, rhetoric taken in, adapting our minds to soften the dark.

 

This darkness is insidious; for we too are to blame. Such exposure to its plague has made carriers of us all. Consumption of the dark makes for poor sustenance and changes us from within; plummeting boiling points leads even the lukewarm to spill over as rage becomes dominant. All of us are guilty: those who resist, try their hardest not to succumb, oft scald themselves and those who don't darken the world just that little bit more; its almost imperceptible.

 

Though the sun and stars have been painted over and the darkness stalks our every step, it still lingers in our shadows; light remains for those with eyes to see and patience to nurture it. Within us all, a spark. With us from birth, it must be cared for, looked after, shared, to allow it to grow. Within us all: Hope. We have, in our possession, the means to brighten tomorrow though one light alone is but a star in the infinite; standing together, side by side, our hope as one, can drive away the darkness. Shared hope, shared wishes, shared faith in creating a better tomorrow can reverse the damages done in time. 

 

Hope is faith; it guides us gently through situations unknown, protecting all; it's trust that a better reality exists and that there is a way to achieve it; it's a promise based on established fact, the darkness has been beaten before and it can be again; it's a reminder that to see it and embrace it, we must all be better; and above all else, hope is infinite, it cannot be quelled nor extinguished. Not truly. Hope never goes away; it may falter and flicker and fade but eventually, new kindling will catch and the flames will rise once more. Hope unites, hope maintains and hope reminds.

 

To live in such interesting times as these, a fate unwished upon even the most damned soul, yet we do endure; the sun and stars have been painted over, and although their light is a distant memory we carry our own within us; they may have made Atlases of us all, but together, the weight of our world becomes lighter each day.