The Abyss

It was getting late in the evening, so Scooter began getting ready for bed. He was already dreading it. A nights slumber was seldom restful and was definitely not something to look forward to.

He climbed into bed, and found himself feeling as he often did. Restless and afraid. He felt that way these days whenever he watched the never ending parade of unhealthy and unwanted stories on both television and social media. One side always right, one side always wrong. All sides corrupted. No one willing to compromise, no one willing to work together. Consistent gloom and doom, promises made but never kept. Little hope to hang your hat on. He wasn't that way, and he didn't want the world to be that way either.

Scooter had tried various items and techniques to conquer his sleep deprivation. Alcohol got him to sleep, then woke him up a couple of hours later. No help there. Gummies relaxed him, but didn't do much for sleep. Yoga was good for the body and soul, but didn't help him sleep much better either.

Still, he believed in the good in people, in the special gifts that life can bring. In the simple joys that his friends, family and pets delivered every day. An internal optimism within himself is what he sought. Needed really. He kept believing if he stayed steady and focused on that path, that eventually it would lead to a more restful, peaceful sleep.

Sometimes that directed thought process helped. And ofttimes his enduring belief wasn't nearly enough. This turned out to be one of those nights. Disruptions for this evening's restful sleep, came from a special delivered gift, arriving COD of course.

Not a glimmer of light

The black shroud of night

Brought darkness to the soul

That no man could remove

Felt in the depths of his bones

So stark and alone

An aching

Too deep to describe

Adamant

The selfish haze would not reveal

Any truth

Only misdirection and confusion

It was cold

Lonely and sad

No references

To hold on to

There was nothing

There could be nothing

In this lonely world

Of dark

Bleakness ruled

No hope in sight

Unending darkness

And misery

Yet from the abyss

Came a glimmer

Not of light

But of hope

As he focused upward

He caught a glimpse of something

Imagination perhaps

Unknown

He felt its touch

A feeling of expectation and of faith

And of others

Perhaps kindred souls

So close

Blackness barely holding on

He could feel

Optimism rising

Just beyond his reach

This something

It was fleeting

Then gone

Darkness closed in

Like an unholy blanket

Covered in mass

And almost suffocating

The flame of loss

Cold

Instant

Solitary

It had vanished

That feeling of hope

He was alone again

And afraid

The hospital room was cold and stark. It had to be; it was the ICU. The man in the bed was surrounded by a somber medical doctor, several nurses and by all his loved ones. Their mood was pensive, desolate and intense.

Just two scant days ago, the man had been in a terrible car accident. His body shattered and broken, he was not expected to live. He'd been in a deep coma since arriving. Almost no signs of life.

Still there was hope. The family had just seen a blip on the high-tech monitoring machine, indicating potential brain function. And then it just vanished. The doctor said that was a common occurrence in these kinds of cases, and to not get their hopes up.

A feeling of despair filled the room. A dark abyss of gloom…

Scooter woke up with a start, finding himself in despair as well.

He'd made recent efforts to be more positive. He was trying not to curse so much. Was trying to ignore all the ills of the world, and just be himself. He vowed to be more creative and to be a positive force in both his and others lives. Mixed results so far, but better than he used to be he mused. He just had to strive for consistency and keep it up, no matter what.

He had even done research on lucid dreaming. You know, that concept where you develop techniques to not only realize that you are dreaming, but then be able to influence and direct the dream your are having. He'd not had much success with that yet, but he'd keep trying.

He did however, decide to create something in his dream journal more positive than what he'd just experienced in his dream. He began midway through the previous poem.

Yet from the abyss

Came a glimmer

Darkness ending

Perhaps hope

Focused upward

He felt a blossoming power

Not his imagination

But unknown

He felt its touch

A feeling of optimism

And of other souls

Loving and aware

So close

Blackness escaping

He could sense

A rising power

He reached toward it

Grabbed it

Held On

Tight

Darkness began to lift

That unholy blanket, dissipating

He could feel himself

Begin to live again

The cold desolation

Warming

Instantly

No longer alone

It was gone

That feeling of depression

Ready to move forward

And return

The hospital room was stark and uninviting. It had to be; it was the ICU. The man in the bed was surrounded by a single medical doctor, a bevy of nurses and by all his beloved ones. They all had each other to hold onto, but little else to believe in. They were uncomfortable, joined unjustly in their united sadness.

Just a few scant days ago, the man had been in a tragic car accident. Body mangled, he was in a deep coma. Minimal signs of life, kept alive by miracle machines.

Still there was promise. The family had just noticed a blip on the EEG (Electroencephalogram), indicating potential brain function. And then it vanished like a cold breeze in the hot dregs of summer.

As the doctor was about to counsel them not to get their hopes up, the man's eyes began to flutter open.

No one noticed at first. Then a small boy exclaimed "Hey look, I think he's moving!"

The man awoke with a thankful smile, beaming at all his loved ones.

It was a miracle.

A joyous cheer erupted in the room. The dark abyss of gloom, immediately vanquished for good. Never more to return.

Scooter was satisfied with his new results. He slept soundly that night, and the next few nights as well. Maybe he was onto something.

The world will heal. We will surely adjust and move forward. We just have to believe.