Fighting the Darkness
By Noel Palmer
Copyright 2007 Noel Palmer
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Sitting alone, ignored by the world, she began to dream. In these dreams the girl was always the hero who encountered strange creatures and even stranger situations. Sometimes she would fight an evil dragon, sometimes she would befriend a sphinx, and others; she would stand alone, against an infinite army, guarding her friends’ retreat. Each time, whether it ended in victory or defeat, the girl would always be the winner. She came out of her dreams confident and secure that she could conquer anything. Even the terrifying monster known as Cancer, this creature which haunted her every waking moment. In the first moments after waking each day, she dreamt of the day when her doctor would walk in and announce she was cured. Then she would truly awaken, and despair claimed her for another miserable day.
Sometimes she would write down her adventures in the dream world, but she never told anyone about them. After a while, the young girl died. Her parents were going through the girl’s belongings when they found a notebook, hidden under the mattress of the bed. Filled with her handwriting, this was the record of their daughter’s battle. The final entry was a story of loss and acceptance, showing that the girl they knew was much more mature than they had believed. The little girl’s mother read it aloud to her husband:
“These endless wars have drained my strength, but not my heart. Each battle has wounded me more and now I know that my time has come. I just wish I could continue fighting, for my friends and family. They will miss me, and grieve for me, but my greatest hope is that they will never give up struggling against the Darkness, in my name.
I stood in the pass, holding my staff in front of me as he approached. I knew I had little left, but still I was determined to not give up. “All you have to do is move aside and you will not be harmed. If you join me, there are great rewards to be had. The only thing I require is that you not bar my path.” He said charmingly. I knew better, his promises were empty and he would destroy everything I hold dear if I agreed. My reply was one final word: “No.” So quickly, that if I had blinked I would have missed it, he moved. His hands rose and Power came at his call. Planting my staff, I prepared my shields with all I had left and waited. The Power took me quickly, but with my dying will I grabbed hold and brought him with me. I know he’ll return, but at least he’ll be weaker.
My dream fades as I wake to my last day here. Mom, I love you. Dad, you’re my hero. I’ll be with you forever, so never give up the fight. Goodbye, and I’ll see you again in Heaven. Do not grieve, Fight.”
As she finished reading, the little girl’s mother wiped away one final tear. Finally at peace with their daughter’s death, she and her husband began to live again. They took up their daughter’s fight, raising money for cancer research and using their daughter’s journal to inspire others. May the Darkness one day be defeated.