phoenix

I feel like I've awoken from a long, somewhat restful sleep. It was unnatural how long I slept, quiet and alone. I dreamt I was running alone in the wilderness, unable to see through the thickness of trees and brush, thorns and twigs scratching at my skin and eyes, blood trickling from my superficial wounds. I was panicked. Panicked. No matter which way I turned it all looked the same, the same moss-covered trees and logs, the same shrubs bearing bright red, poisonous berries. A beast was gnawing on my stomach, begging to be fed. I tried to scream, but my dry throat knew no sound. I ran, stumbled, fell. Everywhere I went, I was surrounded by horror and deep oblivion.

It struck me then. The only thing that this forest was vulnerable to was fire. I only had to ignite the fire within me. This place was only my imagination after all. My heart burned hot, searing the beast in my abdomen. Flames engulfed my torso, moving out rapidly to my extremities. Fire burned everything around me, the wilderness collapsed around me in a heap of ash, white flames radiated from my body. Wave after wave of passion rose in me, pushing the fire further and further from my body. When the fire died out around me, I collapsed naked on the ground, exhausted from the passion that had overcome me.

Fear had fled. My terror passed. I was free of the torment. Calmly I lay there, feeling each cold breath enter my chest, cooling the fire. The heat subsided, but it still remained. The reminder that I had it in me to move forward, to rise like the phoenix from the ashes naked and vulnerable. My chest rose and fell; slow, careful breaths crept in and escaped. In place of fire moved quiet strength. I rose a new man. I knew I would never be the same.