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She
awoke and squirmed a little. But only a little for there was very
little room. She looked around. She saw no one and nothing. She was
alone. Frightened, she began to cry.
“What
is it, my child?” A soft voice whispered.“Why do you cry?”
Even more frightened, she tried to look around, yet she
could not move. She still saw no one. “Who are you?”
“I've
been known by many names.” The voice replied. “Most call me
Mother.”
“Why?”
Mother
chuckled. “Because Little One, from me all life comes. To me, all
life returns to rest until it is time to be born to learn and grow.
Just as you are doing now.”
She pondered. “Who am I?”
Mother chuckled again. “Long ago when your soul was
first born, you were named, Shylon. But now that you are awake enough
to ask, you may choose another name. ”
“Shylon?” She liked the sound. “If I can
choose any name, I choose Shylon.”
“I approve Little One.”
Shylon
ate and slept and then ate some more. After a time she could move
around. She shifted and turned. She wanted to know more about this
place. But all around her seemed the same. “Mother,” she
called.
“Yes, Little One.”
“What
is this place?”
“It is your home. It
is the safe world that I built for just you.”
“Why
does it shrink when I sleep?”
Mother
chuckled. “It's not shrinking. You are growing. As you eat, you
make room. When you sleep you grow. Soon you will outgrow it and have
to leave.”
Leave? Why would I want to
do that?Shylon started to panic. I don't want to leave my
home. Mother made it just for me. I like it here. Then the idea
came to her and she spoke up. “You can make it bigger.”
“No
my Little One. I can't do that.”
Shylon
started to cry. She didn't want to leave her home. Mother made it
just for her. She felt special and loved here. She was happy and
safe. She had everything she needed in her world. Why would I want
to leave it? Mother must not love me anymore.
“Little One,
why do you cry?”
“You
don't love me anymore.” Shylon whimpered.
“Why do you
think that?”
“You made this place just for me.
Why you do want me to leave it?”
Mother chuckled.
“When it is time, it will be your decision. Free will is our
highest law. Not even I can break it. Nor would I want to. You
see, that is how we learn and grow.”
Comforted, Shylon settled back and ate some more. “If I
decide to stay here always, will you still love me?”
Mother continued to chuckle. “Yes, Little One. I will
always love you. There is nothing you can do that would make me
stop.”
There came a time when she had a great deal more room
to move. Her food was no longer soft and sweet; instead, it had
become bitter and more difficult to chew. The light sometimes made it
to difficult sleep. With the light came the heat that made her world
seem so much smaller.
The light did help her find the
sweet-tasting food, but it also showed how little there was left.
Shylon reached for it. An eerie shape moved. Fearfully, she moved to
the other side to get away. It moved along the wall, following her.
Her fear was quickly replaced by anger. It must have taken my
food. That’s why it was gone. She cried out, “Mother!
Mother! A monster! A monster! It stole my food!”
Mother laughed. “Little One, it’s your shadow. See as
you move so does it.”
How
did the shadow get inside my world? That’s not possible. This
world belongs to me and me alone. Mother made it just for me!
Her anger exploded and she lashed out at it. But it shrank away
and disappeared only to reappear someplace else. “Mother, make it
go away! It’s bad! It ate my food. All I have left tastes
terrible!”
“Little
One. Little One.” Mother’s voice began fading away.
Shylon could no longer hear her. She was too busy chasing
the shadow. But it always escaped. She squirmed and turned until
she was too tired to move. More exhausted than she had ever been,
she cried until she had no more tears left to shed.
“Mother, help me.”
But there was
only silence. Shylon didn’t know what to say or do. Mother had
never ignored her before. Mother doesn’t love me anymore.
The thought made her sick. How can I get her to love me again?
I don't understand. Why did she stop? I must be bad, Shylon
thought. I didn't mean to be. It just happened. The
shadow scared me and made me angry. “Mother, if I promise to
always be good will you love me again? Please? I’ll be good. I
promise. Please love me again!”
“Little
One, I will always love you?” Mother's voice sounded strange; it
was like she was suddenly far, far away.
Hearing
her voice calmed Shylon, but the fear still remained.
“Your shadow was always there. But it was too dark for
you to see it until now.”
“It stole my food!” Shylon
whined.
“Shylon!” Mother scolded. Her voice was clear
and strong as before. “You know that is not true.”
Surprised
by her tone, Shylon became silent.
“No
one has taken anything from you!” Mother continued. “You still
have food to eat.”
“All that is left tastes bad.”
“There
is always bitter with the sweet. Otherwise, you wouldn’t know the
difference.”
“I’m sorry!” Shylon cried. “I’ll be
happy with the food you give me. I promise.”
“Little
One, I would never give you less than what is for your best and
highest good. When you learn how to trust you will understand.”
I
wish I could believe that. Shylon thought as she cried herself
to sleep. She dreamed of a place that was too wonderful to describe.
There were colors she had never seen before. There were new sounds
that she had never heard before. It was all so bright and beautiful.
There were others there that looked like her and many who were much
different. She felt safe and happy.
She longed for
the dream to continue. But she woke up and her world didn’t seem
as wonderful. She had never noticed how dark and small it was
before. The light made it easier for her to find the last spot where
the food was soft and sweet. She ate it until it was gone then began
eating the other until she made a hole and the light streamed
brightly inside. It was warm and comforting. It reminded her of the
dream.
Her shadow became bigger and darker as it danced on the
wall. It startled her at first, but she no longer feared it.
Something came through the hole and touched her, but she couldn’t
see anything. It was cool, yet not. It smelled sweet. Wind,
she thought, but she didn’t know how she knew that. The sounds
reminded her of the dream.
Curious,
she looked out of the hole. Things moved. Startled, she jerked back.
A big piece of the wall fell outward and she could see beyond her
little world. Her curiosity overwhelmed her fear and she briefly
stuck her head out. But just as quickly ducked back inside. “Mother,
what is that?”
Coming in from the outside, Mother’s voice
was louder and clearer than before. “That is outside.”
“Outside? Is that were you are?”
Mother
chuckled. “Come out and see.”
Shylon looked
around. She loved her world. It had kept her safe. But she needed
to know what was out there. She wiggled out of the hole. Besides,
she thought, I can always go back inside if I don't like it.
