I look in the mirror after washing my hands and see morning hair all wonky up front and a huge red scrape across my nose.
Another at my chin.
I itch my back under my shirt and feel a row of raised scratches.
I wonder if it was the wildcats.
Or maybe the talons that grasped for exposed skin.
From the looks of things, I put up quite a fight while I thought I slept. Apparently covered the left side of my face valiantly, protected my torso.
I don’t remember it clearly, but I think I fell to the dust in the fetal position when I saw the pack of overwhelm scurrying from every crack in the house. Clearly, all the clawing anxiety could reach is my back.
During the day, I think I see them, and I speak scared words at their darting shadows, and they retreat for a while.
But they’ve been doing their work at night this week.
While I try remembering my safe hiding place.
This piece is a free-writing exercise for a Tuesday feature called “Just Write,” hosted on a beautiful blog called The Extraordinary Ordinary. I do this on Tuesdays whenever the mood strikes. You’ll find my first go-round here.
Connecting through the power of stories written, spoken and lived
Beautifully written.. I hope you find your safe place…
Thank you, Smidge. I have found it. :)
And I keep “finding” it, again and again.
You’ve painted such vivid imagery here Ash! These “overwhelms” that rise from and then retreat back into the shadowy cracks are scary indeed! They frighten me for you, dear girl, fighting them alone in your sleep. One thing I know is you can’t give those “overwhelms” an inch or they’ll take a mile. The “safe place” seems to be anchoring to “Calm” in their midst. And I agree with Smidge…beautifully written.
Thank you, Mama. And I so agree with you. Those overwhelms can’t defeat me when I anchor to the Calm — the Safe Place that never shifts or retreats.
WOW!!
:)
The descriptions are vivid and beautifully written. Can’t wait for the next
“Extraordinary Ordinary” . Mom
Thank you, Mom. I’m enjoying this exercise in free writing. Glad you are, too. :)
Exercise! More like the thoughts of an accomplished writer stretching metaphor. If you can express it I doubt that it has the power to overwhelm you.
I like that, Papa. Thank you! :)