Stronger Than Before
When we go through those moments in life that make us wish we could go back and do it all again differently, it sometimes helps to reflect on what we learn. . . how the things that we can’t change, change us.
Stronger Than Before belongs to the following groups:
ABSTRACT DIGITAL ART AND WRITING, All Out Emotion, All Things Poetic, Artistic, Philosophical, Masterpieces: Literary Workshop, The Healing Journey, Up & Coming Writers and WMGRushing through the bushland
I stop.
Hear a rustle in the nearby scrub.
An animal?
In trouble
Hurt.
I change directions
Veer off my course
Follow the sound
Not sure what I will find
My instincts scream stop!
GO BACK!
But the animal sounds hurt
And alone
I know that fear
Pain.
I want to help.
So I continue
Further from my path,
Toward another place.
The hot sun burning down
Scorching
Yet I feel colder than before.
Tall boulders ahead
I avoid them.
Rocks on the path
I move them.
And finally reach the source of the noise.
The struggle.
In the shrub.
What is it?
A child?
A bird?
A rabbit?
A snake?
A snake.
OW! Pulling my hand away
AH! Stepping back
STOP! Looking away
THAT hurts! Running
ssssss. It hisses
ssssss. Ringing in my ears
Running
Away from the snake.
Running
Hurting
Running
Hurting!
Running
Crying
Dying.
No . . .
Not dying.
Breathing
Stumbling
Hurting
Searching
Bleeding
Shaking
Praying.
Then up ahead, through the scrub, I see my footprints. Where
I walked before. Heading to where I was meant to be.
I amble towards my path.
Then suddenly I freeze.
A noise. Behind me.
ssssss
I turn and see the snake.
For all that it is.
Slippery, sneaky, hungry and hurtful.
Poisonous.
But not fatal.
Not for me.
Yet it lingers.
Ready to strike.
I grab a long stick and
drive it into the ground between us.
ssssss
I grab another stick.
Drive it in.
And another.
And another.
Making a fence.
ssssss
The angry snake slitters in circles
Spitting
ssssss
Churning up dust
Yet it does not strike.
I turn and walk away.
I am not afraid.
I need to get back to my path.
The snake will make its own.
It might slither through the fence.
It might slither through the scrub.
I might see it coming.
I might not.
But it matters not.
The snake that bit me. Hurt me. I tried to help.
It might be gone from my life forever.
I walk on.
Back toward my path.
My path alone.
My eyes look up ahead.
My wounds have healed.
I will stay on track.
My resolve solid.
I can trust.
I have faith.
I am strong.
Stronger than before.
silverstrummer...
Wow …....... I was so engrossed in the story and I could just imagine the scenario brrrrrrrrr I don’t like snakes at the best of times. You have written this with such feelings that the reader could feel also! I hope that you recovered from your experiences too. – David :>))
Marlo11 replied
Thanks David. I appreciate your comment. Glad you liked the story. Cheers. :)
Leon Walker
A wonderful tale of live… I have been there too…
Marlo11 replied
Thanks Leon. Sorry to hear that you can relate, but thanks for sharing. Often feeling alone can hurt just as much as the bite. Survivors syndrome. If you get my meaning, which you probably do. Cheers friend. :)