Page 69 - Fallen Thoughts

A Light in the Darkness

I slam the door of my apartment complex, breathing in the air of my city. I

grimace, it smells like car exhaust, cigarette smoke, and something else, rot,

maybe. The wind ruffles my hair playfully as I shuffle down the sidewalk.

The park right behind my apartment is abandoned seeing as it’s 9:30 pm. I

sigh and move towards the swings. The repetitive movements let me think out

what just happened. Meagan’s voice is still clear in my head.

“You promised me, no more secrets!”

I didn’t know what to tell her so I left. It seems like all I do is avoid my

problems. I close my eyes, counting to ten to calm down, to keep from crying. I

can’t tell her. I don’t even know how I would try.

The smell is getting worse now, maybe the wind is carrying the stench of

something from the fish processing plant a mile outside of town. I lift my scarf

over my mouth and nose to block out the smell.

A stray dog wanders past, and I wave my hand. The shadow of the mutt

comes to life and ambles towards me while the actual dog growls at its darker

counterpart and runs away. I stop swinging and reach out to the shadow, running

my fingers through the dog’s matted fur.

“Hey, Scruffy.” I mumble through my scarf.

The dog rests his head on my lap as I start to talk, “I hate keeping this a

secret but I don’t know what to say. ‘Oh, yeah babe, I just want to let you know I

can control shadows and I basically fight crime as my night job. Surprise!’ That’s

insane.”

A chuckle escapes my throat when I realize I’m rambling to the shadow of a

dog I animated. I shrug, there’s no one else to talk this through with.