The Noise Darkness Makes

Tick…

Tick…

Tick…

That noise—what is that noise?

Tick…

Tick…

Tick…

There it goes again. What is that noise? I can only see darkness, so what is causing that sound? Maybe a clock? But where? I tried to concentrate, but it sounded like it was coming from everywhere—All directions, with no relent, as it continued to tick, tick, tick.

What was going on?

Where was I?

Two questions, I didn’t know the answer to, but why? I don't remember how this has come to be. Just me, surrounded in darkness, as the ticking echoed all around me. There has to be an explanation, I just need to find it.

I moved forward with a hesitant stride.

Even the floor was pitch black, but it was definitely there, as I could feel myself standing on something. It was like I was floating in space or it being the middle of the night in the woods. I couldn't even see my own legs or hands. It was just that dark.

I continued to walk forward slowly. Taking every step with caution as I tried to sense anything else around me. However, as my walking continued and I found nothing else to guide my way, I began to feel an instinctual fear take hold. And what was cautious steps began to turn into hasteful walking, and what was hasteful walking began to turn into urgent jogging, and what was urgent jogging began to turn into fearful sprinting.

And as I ran cluelessly through the abyss, it only seemed like the ticking got louder and louder. My heart was racing from fear and exhaustion, but the adrenaline only fueled me as I continued to run around aimlessly.

What was going on?

Surely there was something here to guide me?

But the more I ran, the more my mind became clouded with questions. Questions I couldn’t answer, but needed to figure out. Yet, even though I was trying my hardest to recall any little detail I possibly could to help me out, I just couldn't think straight. As my focus was drifting in and out, every time I was interrupted by the one sound I heard.

Tick…

Tick…

Tick…

I began to get frustrated and deprived of energy as I fell to my knees. My brain was stuck and I couldn’t think of anything to help. All I felt was hopelessness as nothing seemed to give me an answer I needed.

“Please, show me something,” I begged out loud.

Part of me expected to suddenly see some sort of sign after that, but there was just nothing. Only the repeated ticking that overtook my mind in the middle of the darkness.

I fell to the floor completely, lying on my back as I looked up to the eternal void. I didn’t know what to do—I was just trapped. The only thing I could think of was closing my eyes and accepting the reality of my situation.

Once I shut my eyes, I sat listening to the constant ticks over and over again. It was just as dark when I had my eyes open, but at least I felt a little more soothed. My heart rate was slowing down and my fears started to dissipate. However, as I continued to lie down with my eyes closed, something suddenly came into vision.

I still had my eyes shut so I really didn't know what I was seeing. It had to be my colorful imagination, but I wasn’t quite sure. I watched in curiosity as the dark background began to grow lighter and full of colors. It was like a sudden vision came into fruition, separate from the darkness, and standing as its own thing. It was the only bit of color I have seen, so I made sure to keep my eyes shut to see what it would show.

Suddenly, the blurry mush of colors started to become more defined. I saw blue and light brown start to transform into what seemed to be a pretty picture of the ocean. It was like I was really there, watching the waves come in by the shore. I haven't seen anything but darkness, so maybe that's why it looked so real. Or maybe it was real? Maybe this was the guidance I begged for?

I knew I was lying down, but it felt like I was standing up for whatever reason. The vision was getting so real that I couldn't tell where I really was. Was I really lying down in a void of darkness or was I here, standing on the beach?

It only became more confusing when I began to hear the water splash against the sandy shore. No more ticking, just the sound of the ocean. It was calm, peaceful, like I was in a place of clarity, not a place of fear and unknowing. And the smell—It smelt like the ocean, with the subtle scent of salt in the air. Everything was so real—but was it really there?

My closed eyes began to wander around me, looking for anything else. And even though I couldn’t move my body to see a different angle, I did catch a glimpse of something closer to the shore. It was a blurry, smudged, mess, but as I continued to focus on it, it slowly became more clear. The details finally came together like the natural surroundings and what I saw was a person—No, not just one person, two people.

I watched them look out to the ocean, holding hands as the sun was setting in front of them. It had this purple and red, maybe even orange haziness to it, as it was almost past the ocean’s horizon. It was truly beautiful, something anyone might desire or long for with their significant other—definitely something I would. It brought a smile to my face thinking of it so whole heartedly, because I knew how much I would give for such a moment.

It was then, I saw two kids run into frame—A girl and a boy. They were playing around so happily behind what I assumed was their parents, just being kids really. I could even hear their voices of excitement as they ran by.

An uncontrollable smile came over my face once again as I looked back at the parents. They seemed so happy and so—achieved in life. Most people might envy them or even grow jealous. And even though I thought I would as well, I didn’t. I was just—happy for them. It just seemed so precious to be in witness of something so beautiful.

Soon, the kids ran back into frame, saying something to their parents as they ran over to them. I watched, as they turned around to face them, but what I saw was more than just a face. I felt my smile fall apart just as quickly as it came together. The ocean went quiet as realization hit me in an eerie way. The beautiful moment had a new meaning as all I heard was the sound of my own voice respond to the children. It was me—Me, with a family I didn’t know, but a family I wanted oh so badly, in a dream I wanted oh so badly.

And as I saw my envisioned self from afar, so did he, as he looked up from the kids and stared directly at me. My heart was racing and I felt a growing pressure in my body. I felt my cheek twitch out of fear, anticipation, and unachieved desire. He looked at me with quite the opposite expression, calm and relaxed with a subtle smile. He stared right at me and he whispered something out loud. I couldn’t hear it, but I knew what he said from his lips.

“Don’t give up,” he said.

I awoke my body and moved towards him in a sudden jolt. I wanted to see if it was real, but as I screamed out and opened my eyes, I only arose from the void I was lying in. I was panicked and distressed, as I came to my senses on where I was again. Nothing has changed, I was still in the black void I knew all so well. And the vision I had was all but just a vision. I fought the urge to believe it was true, but it was.

Tick…

Tick…

Tick…

I heard the ticking once again as I sat up idle. The vision was no longer here, but surely it wasn't gone for good. It was replaying in my mind again and again. And all I could remember was what my own self told me.

“Don’t give up,” I remembered him saying.

I didn’t hear it, but I know I saw his lips move in that way. And I know the vision I saw had color, not just darkness. It was too real to really just be my imagination—It can’t be.

I stood up in the darkness, looking around from where I was. There was no light, no color, just nothing. However, even though I saw this compassless void in front of me, I wasn’t scared. I didn’t feel fear from not knowing what there was ahead. No direction, just me and my legs. My heart was racing, but not out of fear. I saw something—something that has to be real. I saw color and I saw hope. I don’t need a light, I just need the confidence to keep going. To know there is a belief, not a truth, just a spark. And with every tick I heard, I knew I would find something as long as I kept moving forward.

And that's what I did. I took the first stride to the abyss in front of me. I'm not scared that I won't find light. I'm scared that I'll be stuck in the darkness forever if I don’t try. With every step forward, I know I'll come closer to something worth finding. And as long as I know that, then I’m not scared to try. Because, in the end, I know it will only bring me closer to the vision that fuels me.

And with every step I took, I walked with patience and pace, as the darkness ticked away the time I have.

Tick…

Tick…

Tick…

© 2025, John Henry. Published by WhisperPublications. All rights reserved.

— John Henry