Morning Notes Left on the Doorstep

The early morning light barely made its way through the curtains, illuminating the messy kitchen, and the aroma of freshly brewed coffee curled around the edges of half-opened windows. It was the kind of morning that seemed to last forever—calm, quiet, and seemingly perfect in its simplicity. Emma, on the other hand, was far from at peace; she had barely slept the night before, her mind racing with ideas she could not quite grasp. Weeks had passed since the strange notes began showing up on her doorstep, each one written in elegant, looping script, signed with a single, bold crescent moon. Each note seemed to contain a different message, ranging from direct observations about her life to cryptic verses. At first, she assumed it was a practical joke, possibly from a neighbor, but as the days passed, the notes kept coming, and they always arrived at dawn.

Emma was more affected by it all today than she usually is. The way the notes had been ingrained in her morning ritual had an eerie quality. She would go to the door, open it, and discover a meticulously folded piece of paper waiting for her—it was as predictable as the sunrise. She could not get rid of the thought that the person who was leaving them knew a lot more about her than was appropriate.

She had kept the notes to herself. Her family and friends would likely believe she was losing her sense of reality. However, this was not like the others. The messages had a strange familiarity, a quiet knowing that made her uneasy.

She was startled out of her reverie by the whistling of the kettle on the stove. She placed the cup on the counter and made herself a cup of tea, the steam rising in exquisite spirals. Emma made her way over to the front door. There it was, the note, like always. Her fingers brushed the chilly paper as she knelt down to take it up. Despite the early hour, the writing on it remained as clear as ever, with rich, dark ink.

Emma sighed quietly as she opened the note and saw:

"You are protected by the moon. The shadows that follow you fade as it does. The darkness is only a means to your awakening, therefore do not be afraid of it.

Emma's spine tingled with cold. Her brow furrowed as she read it again. What on earth might it mean? A way to wake her up? She did not feel at all awake. If anything, every day she felt more and more adrift.

Half expecting to find someone watching her from the shadows, she looked around her front porch. However, nothing was present. With the exception of the distant, faint singing of birds, the street was as silent as usual. With her mind jumbled, she shook her head and shut the door, locking it after her.

Emma made an effort to ignore the note as the day went on. She had a few errands to go, a meeting at work, and before she knew it, nightfall had arrived. However, Emma could not get rid of the feeling that something was about to shift as the sky grew darker and the stars started to sparkle. The note had the feel of a warning rather than merely a mysterious message.

Emma found herself sitting in her apartment that night, gazing out the window. The city was bathed in a silvery glow due to the full moon. The moon's phases had never really caught her attention before, but now they seemed to dominate everything. She kept thinking about the note's message.

"The shadows that pursue you fade as it does."

She felt compelled to learn more about the moon, its phases, and its significance. She had the impression that there was a deeper link that she was not comprehending. However, she was unsure about where to start.

She had not touched the little book on her bookshelves for years until she suddenly saw it. Her grandmother had given her an ancient diary that was full of bizarre symbols, drawings, and notes. Uncertain of its meaning, Emma had always kept it hidden. Her grandmother had been a highly religious woman who was constantly discussing the moon, the sky, and the deeper significance in ordinary things. She had frequently cautioned Emma that reality had more levels than most people realized and that the world was not as it looked.

Perhaps there were answers in the journal.

Emma got to her feet and picked up the book. A section with notes about the moon caught her attention as she turned the pages. Its phases had influenced the plants, the tides, and even human emotions, according to her grandmother's writings. In addition to the elaborate patterns and symbols she had drawn, there were also paragraphs that seemed to allude to something deeper.

Emma was particularly drawn to one page. The title of it was "The Moon's Secrets." Her grandma had written beneath it:

"Change is needed while the moon is waning. The shadows that pursue them will not be dreaded by those who comprehend its attraction because they are simply a mirror of the soul's greatest need. The moon will disclose the way.”

Emma felt her heart race faster. Her grandma seems to have anticipated that she would eventually be looking for answers. Her fingers shook a little as she read the passage again. There was no denying the link between the note and what her grandmother had said. Everything was present, even the darkness and the way to awakening.

Emma's obsession with the moon grew throughout the course of the following few days. She dug deeper into her grandmother's journal to learn more about its phases and symbolism. She became increasingly convinced that the cosmos was trying to communicate with her as she gained more knowledge. Every note that came in felt like a puzzle piece, leading her to a reality she was yet unable to fully understand.

Another note showed up on her doorstep one morning. After a moment of hesitation, Emma picked it up. Her thoughts was racing, but her hands were steady now.

"The road is open. You will discover what has been concealed from you if you walk in the moonlight. The unknown is the gateway to your awakening, therefore do not be afraid of it.

The thought of awakening was there once more. However, something felt different this time. Emma was not afraid or unsure. She had a peculiar sensation of peace, as though the cosmos was informing her that everything will make sense in due time.

Her decision was made. She would follow the moonlight that night.

Emma stood on her balcony as darkness fell, gazing down at the city. Once more, the streets were illuminated by the pale light of the full moon. She felt she had to try, even though she had no idea what would happen if she gave in to its draw.

She inhaled deeply before going outdoors and strolling along the street. She experienced an odd sense of purpose as she continued on, as if every step was leading her closer to something she had always known but had never completely comprehended.

She ended up in a peaceful park on the outskirts of the city. Long shadows were created on the ground by the trees that towered over it. She sensed a presence here, in the silence, a soft, silent pull that seemed like a thread pulling at her heart.

A tiny stone circle that was partially concealed by the trees caught Emma's attention as she stared up at the bright moon. Despite its little size, it seemed significant, as if it had been waiting for her the entire time.

Her heart thumping in her chest, she entered the circle. As though they were enveloping her in a protective embrace, the shadows that had previously seemed so threatening now felt reassuring.

Then everything changed in that instant.

She heard a familiar, quiet voice in her head. Emma, you have woken up. You have been guided by the moon.

The voice of her granny. Suddenly, she realized that this had always been the way. The messages and the notes were not just words. She had been led here, to this moment, by them.

Emma felt the moonlight wash over her as she closed her eyes. She experienced a profound sense of calmness, as if she had finally discovered what she had been looking for all her life. There was no longer any menace from the shadows. Rather, they were a part of who she was and the path she had to follow in order to discover who she was.

She was awake now.

The notes stopped after that night. Emma did not need to see the enigmatic person who had abandoned them, but she never did. As promised by her grandma, the moon had led her. Emma finally understood. The moon had been guiding her the entire time, not just keeping watch over her.

Emma's life became more clear as the days stretched into weeks. She no longer feared the unknown or the dark. Knowing that they were only a step on the road to her awakening, she embraced them. The light from the moon served as a continual reminder that often the biggest secrets were those that were concealed within.

She would occasionally stand on her balcony and gaze up at the sky during the full moon, feeling thankful for the notes that had permanently altered her life.