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The Untapped Darkness

Emerging from the Shadows

By Helen SmithPublished about a year ago 4 min read
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The Untapped Darkness
Photo by Carolina Pimenta on Unsplash

Mary had been living in her small village for as long as she could remember. She was married off at a young age and had two children with her husband, Tom. They had a small farm on the outskirts of the village, and they made just enough money to get by. Mary spent most of her days doing household chores and taking care of the children, while Tom worked the farm.

Despite the simplicity of her life, Mary was deeply unhappy. She felt isolated and alone, cut off from the world beyond the boundaries of her village. She had never traveled, never seen the sights or experienced the joys of the city. The only company she had were her husband and children, and while she loved them dearly, she longed for something more.

But Tom was a traditional man, and he believed that a woman's place was in the home. He discouraged Mary from venturing out into the wider world, and she complied, fearing his wrath. As the years went by, Mary's world grew smaller and smaller until it was nothing more than the four walls of her home.

One day, Mary's children went off to visit their grandparents, leaving her alone with Tom. She was overjoyed at the prospect of having some time to herself, but Tom had other ideas. He expected her to continue with her daily chores and take care of him as usual.

Mary tried to reason with him, to explain how she felt trapped and suffocated, but Tom was unyielding. In a fit of anger, he lashed out at her, hitting her repeatedly until she was left bruised and bleeding on the floor.

Terrified and alone, Mary retreated into herself. She stopped talking to Tom, stopped going outside, stopped living altogether. The only sounds that could be heard in the house were the occasional sobs and cries of Mary as she lay in bed, wishing for a way out.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks turned into months. Mary grew weaker and weaker, barely able to move from her bed. Her only solace was the small radio she had hidden away, which she listened to in secret. She longed to hear the voices of the people on the radio, to feel connected to the world beyond her village.

But even that was taken away from her. Tom discovered the radio and destroyed it, leaving Mary even more isolated and alone than before.

It was only when a new family moved into the village that Mary's life changed. The family had a daughter named Sarah, who was about the same age as Mary's children. Sarah was curious and adventurous, and she quickly struck up a friendship with Mary.

For the first time in years, Mary felt a glimmer of hope. She spent hours talking to Sarah, telling her stories of her life and her dreams. Sarah listened with rapt attention, and in her eyes, Mary saw a reflection of the life she had longed for.

But Tom was not pleased with the new friendship. He saw it as a threat to his authority and did everything in his power to sabotage it. He forbade Mary from seeing Sarah, even going so far as to lock her in the house to prevent her from leaving.

But Mary was not the same woman she had been before. She had found a reason to live, and she was not going to give it up without a fight. She pleaded with Tom, begged him to let her see Sarah, but he refused.

In the end, it was Sarah who came to Mary's rescue. She convinced her parents to speak to Tom, and together they were able to persuade him to let Mary see Sarah again.

For Mary, it was a lifeline. She clung to her friendship with Sarah, using it as a way to stay connected to the world outside. She listened to Sarah's stories of adventures and experiences with envy, imagining what her life could have been like if she had been born into a different family.

As time passed, Mary's relationship with Tom became more strained. She had grown tired of living in fear, of being treated like a prisoner in her own home. She knew that she had to leave, that she couldn't spend the rest of her life like this.

With Sarah's help, Mary began to make plans to escape. She packed a small bag with some clothes and food and waited for the right moment. When Tom was out working on the farm, Mary slipped out of the house and ran towards the village square where she knew Sarah's family lived.

She arrived breathless and trembling, but Sarah's family welcomed her with open arms. They listened to her story with horror, and promised to protect her from Tom.

Mary was free at last, but the trauma of her years of isolation and abuse lingered. She struggled with anxiety and depression, and had nightmares about Tom coming to take her back.

But Sarah's family never let her out of their sight, and slowly but surely, Mary began to heal. She started to venture out into the village, making new friends and discovering the joys of community life.

Years later, when she looked back on her life, Mary realized that her years of suffering had made her stronger. She had survived the worst of humanity and come out the other side, more resilient and more determined than ever.

And even though the scars of her past would always be with her, she knew that she had a bright future ahead. She had finally found the courage to break free from the chains of her isolation, and nothing could ever hold her back again.

Start Your Journey Ahead With Ambition

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About the Creator

Helen Smith

Love the Life You Want To Be Rest Will Follow

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