Into the Light

by Emma Freeman

I remember when the door opened

and I suddenly saw your small tender body

tucked into that dark corner

huddled against the cold, wet ground

You were filthy, silent and scared

quaking from somewhere deep inside

your body was so full of holes

like someone had poked the entire fabric of your being 

with a thousand sharp needles

When our eyes met

I heard your desperate cry for help

a whisper 

like the last flicker of light from a candle 

before it goes out for good

It startled me so much that I ran away

far away

and tried to forget

what I saw in that moment

but I kept remembering you there

all alone

Something made me finally go back

and find that doorway again

This time I sat down next to you

as the ocean of tears flooded from our eyes

I whispered, “You are not alone anymore”

and as you collapsed

your delicate wounded body into mine 

I could feel our heartbeats syncing

our rhythms moving together

as if they were one and the same

We wrapped our arms around each other

creating a soft cocoon of warmth and safety

where we stayed for hours

I turned and smiled at you 

as I stood up and reached my hand out to yours

then we walked out of that cave

you had been stuck in for so long

up and out into the light

into the light…