The Black Box

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She closes her eyes and breathes deeply.

Her eyes flicker open and they dart around the room. They go from one item to another. Never stopping, not for anything.

The midnight pupils, encased by the hazel irises, glance over the back, left corner and continue on. They stop suddenly and quickly revert back to that corner, landing and holding its position on a tiny black box. The box, out of place in a room of colour and joy, glows with the darkness, the disappointment, the hate, the misery that all feel at least once in the lifetime. It was like it was a keeper of darkness, keeping all the negativity locked away in its clutches.

She slowly picks herself up and, as if she hasn't walked in years, carefully stumbles over to that source of darkness.

Ten steps to go and the feelings are getting stronger by the second.

Nine steps to go and the colour in the room is diminishing.

Eight. Seven. Six steps to go and the room of joy, happiness, beauty and love slowly but surely fades from view.

Five. Four. Only Three steps left and the world around her has completely dwindled away.

Two steps left and her breathing quickens, as does her speed, as she hastens to get to that box.

One step to go and she is so absorbed in her steps, her journey, that she doesn't notice the changes around her. She doesn't notice the world revolving. She doesn't notice her breathing coming in short, sharp bursts.

No steps to go. She has arrived. As her feet are firmly planted on the ground in front of the dreaded item she hesitantly reaches out a pale hand. Shaking slightly, her fingers clasp onto the edge of the dark lid of the box and she prepares herself for the horrors inside.

Her fingers grip tighter and her arm little by little, bit by bit, rises while she holds a breath of anticipation.

CRACK!

A loud noise from the real world startles her and she releases the lid of the box and watches it as it clatters back into place. She takes three hasty steps back, her eyes widen in horror.

She carefully makes her way back to the front of the room, and safety and reality returns. The room becomes a myriad of colours and again a place of joy. She slows her breathing and her racing heart to a calmer rate. Her eyes dare to glance back to that feared corner and mercifully they see nothing but an empty space.

"That was close."

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Please R&R