At the innermost core of all loneliness is a deep and powerful yearning for union with one's lost self.
- Brendan Francis
Darkness...........
Emptiness.........
Coldness........
He saw nothing....
He heard nothing.....
"Get him inside! Get him inside!"
But then.....
"We're losing him!"
Sound!
"Clear!"
*ZZZZZCHKCHKCHK*
And then a flurry of feelings and sensations!
All coming together into one solid point!
Pain!
Unbridled pain!
*GASP!*
"We got him back! Let’s move people!"
He breathed....
The air hurt.....
Pain....with every breath....
He opened his eyes....
To see bright lights rushing by, rushing by at high speeds!
Blurred and distorted was his vision!
And twisted faces stared at him and spoke in voices that moved from whispers to shouts!
"You're going to be okay sir! Just stay with us! We've got the surgeons coming in now!"
Thoughts.....
Emotions....
Questions....
His mind began to slowly race....
He asked questions........though no one heard....
He began to panic.....
He began to cry.....
"It's gonna be okay sir. You'll be just fine."
Lies!
He could tell they were lying!
But they had to!
What choice did they have!
He was in pain!
He was dying!
There was no salvation!
But then he felt calm....
The black void of relief came......and he was spared.......for a moment....
He tried to remember.....
He tried to ask again.....
He saw.......light.....a light.....and a sound.......
He felt fire........he felt metal....
He saw flashes.......
His spirit ebbed.......in.......and out.....
He saw a table.......
He saw men in white....
He saw objects of black......
He felt so many things......
And the light got brighter......and brighter......and brighter......and brighter!
And then it all was gone.........................................
He saw a figure.......
He saw a woman....
She came close to him.....
He heard her speak....
About a spell..........................about a catastrophe and an important task...............................and about him....
And as she spoke she changed.....
She began to walk away......
And she changed.......
From human......
To equine.......
And she faded away..................
And his mind, filled with pain and fear and confusion.........................gave up.....................
Exhaustion.....
Feelings......
Fade....
Dark.....
He heard.......a word......no............a name.......
Elijah......
And the Ballad had thus begun....