My final story written in abstract

Save me!

I have five ways to escape this overwhelming darkness that is closing in on me. It is engulfing and suffocating me.

Alas, none of those five escape routes lead to a long term solution to the problem.

One, a short term plan that ultimately leads back to the beginning, back to the root of the enigma.

Two, delve deeper into a passionately doomed relationship that will certainly end badly. There are just too many variables which are intertwined into a mind numbing knot, from which it will be impossible to disentangle and enable a peaceful freedom for the soul.

Three, let go and sink into the bottom of the miry depths of the foggy calm of the sea, and become one with it.

S.O.S.

Save our souls.

From a Dreamscape in sleep. And an Escape from reality.

I am on a large beautifully sleek and very expensive boat equipped with all that modern conveniences that money could buy. Food, drink, friends and as much happiness as one could envision.

All was going according to plan, when up from the deep emerged a giant, gargantuan sea creature. Tentacled much like an octopus. It wrapped itself around the boat and squeezed.

Unfortunately, it was nighttime, candles had been lit for a more romantic setting. So while bones were crunching, and blood was flowing, the boat caught on fire.

The monster was after me. I was thrown from the melee on board and into the dark waters of the sea. I thrashed about and tried to swim for the shore. What shore? We were deep into the middle of the waters. There was no land in sight.

Why was this thing after me? I had no idea.

On second thought, I do know why.

My insecurities, my hesitance to face the insurmountable task of uprooting myself, yet again, to be there for others rather than choose for myself.

My monster turned around, red eyes aglow with anger. I realized it had seen me. I swam for my life.

The boat was now fully ablaze. I heard my friends screaming in agony. I could not help them. My tears mixed with the salty sea water as I was choking and gasping for air.

I swam with all my might.

The creature was close behind me. It is upon me. It opens its huge foul mouth and swallows me whole. I am in the belly of the beast. I am gagging and drooling and unable to breathe. My last thought as I am losing consciousness, is that my life in unfinished and unfulfilled. There is so much that I have yet to do.

I have to write a book. Skydive from that airplane, climb that mountain and travel the world. I have to run with the bulls in Pamplona and dance naked on a moving train.

SOLUTION NUMBER FOUR

Wake up!

I am dreaming.

My monsters are all metaphorical. Unreal, except in my mind.

I am at a crossroads in my life, and I cannot see a definite solution.

My choices are all short term solutions.

I turn over in my bed, turn onto my right side, which comforts me. My eyes close again, and the waters engulf me.

I am again floating on a sea of discontent.

My family needs me for the first short term solution. I must honor this promise.

Escape routes two and three are not very wise options for me.

Solution number four, wake up. I do not want to face that one. It makes me unhappy. I will have to face reality and start making decisions which I would rather avoid.

THE FIFTH AND MOST SENSIBLE SOLUTION

Makes my stomach turn. A life with someone who makes me miserable and for whom I no longer feel tenderness. Once it was, but is no longer joy. Only a deep and abiding sadness.

The turbulent waters dash the bed against the tide, I am in grave danger of falling in and drowning.

I close my eyes and I sleep. Let the waters take me where it will.

I must enter door number one.

With the ebbing of the tide, and the passing of time, I know that I will make the right decisions and find the best solution that will propel me to the next phase of my existence.

The sea creature spat me out upon the shore. There are decisions to make. Plans to get into motion, and fears to surmount.

I am now fully awake.

No more metaphors and monsters.

A stark, but gentle return to reality.

To the literal monsters of every day life that needs to be slain and conquered.

I am facing them head on, with much bravery, and a great big sigh.