Mirrored In The Dark

Chapter 11

Scarlett and the figure are still standing in the garden, and the sun is still shining brightly. "Now that you've found gratitude," the figure says, "it's time to move on to the next step." Scarlett listens intently, eager to hear what comes next. "The next step is forgiveness," the figure says. "It's about letting go of resentment, and finding a way to forgive, even when it seems impossible." Scarlett looks skeptical.

"I know, it sounds hard," the figure says. "But it's not as hard as you might think. The first step is to understand why you're feeling resentment in the first place. Is it something someone did to you, or something you did to someone else? Or is it about something else entirely?" Scarlett thinks about the question, and realizes that she has a lot of resentment about things that have happened to her. She tells the figure about her experiences, and why they've made her feel the way she does.

"I'm so sorry to hear that," the figure says. "It sounds like you've been through a lot. And it makes sense that you feel resentment. But I want you to try something. Think about the person or people who you feel resentful towards. What would it take for you to forgive them? Not necessarily to forget what happened, but to find a way to release the anger and the hurt?" Scarlett thinks about the question, and is surprised by what comes to mind.

As Scarlett considers the question, she realizes that the answer is surprisingly simple. "What I need," she says, "is an apology. An honest, heartfelt apology. I need to hear that the person who hurt me understands why I'm hurt, and that they're sorry. I need to know that they care about me, and that they don't want to cause me pain." The figure nods. "That's a very reasonable need," it says. "But what if you don't get that apology?" Scarlett considers this, and feels a sense of frustration.

"That's where the second part of forgiveness comes in," the figure says. "Even if you don't get an apology, you can still choose to forgive. That doesn't mean you condone what happened, or that you're letting the person off the hook. It just means that you're choosing to release the resentment, and to move on. It's a choice you can make for yourself." Scarlett thinks about this, and realizes that it's a difficult but powerful idea.

"That might sound like a lot to take in," the figure says. "So let's start small. Think of a minor resentment you have, something that's not very important but still bothers you. Can you try forgiving that, and see how it feels?" Scarlett thinks for a moment, and then an idea comes to her. "I know what it is," she says. "My friend borrowed my favorite sweater, and then lost it." she says.

"It's okay to feel upset about that," the figure says. "But try imagining what your friend was thinking at the time. Maybe they didn't mean to lose the sweater. Or maybe they were just caught up in something else, and weren't thinking clearly. Can you imagine that?" Scarlett thinks about this, and finds that she can understand what her friend might have been thinking. "Yeah, I can see how that might have happened," she says.

"Now, try thinking about the situation from your friend's perspective," the figure suggests. "Imagine that you lost their favorite sweater. How would you feel? What would you want them to say or do in that situation?" Scarlett thinks about this, and realizes that she would want her friend to understand and forgive her. "I'd want them to know that I didn't mean to hurt them," she says.

"That's good insight," the figure says. "So let's try taking the next step. Can you tell yourself that you forgive your friend for losing your sweater?" Scarlett pauses for a moment, and then she says the words. "I forgive you," she says, and she's surprised to find that it feels good to say them. "That's a good start," the figure says.

"Now, try taking it one step further," the figure says. "Can you think of something positive about the situation? Maybe your friend losing the sweater taught you to be more careful about what you lend to people, or made you realize that material things aren't the most important thing in the world. Can you think of anything positive like that?" Scarlett considers this, and finds that there is a silver lining to the situation. "Yeah, I think it's taught me to value my friends more than my stuff," she says.

"That's a wonderful thing to take away from the situation," the figure says. "So let's try a little experiment. Close your eyes, and imagine the sweater in your mind. As you do, say to yourself, 'I'm releasing you.'" Scarlett does as the figure suggests. She closes her eyes, and sees the sweater in her mind's eye. As she does, she speaks the words. "I'm releasing you," she says. And as she does, she feels something like a weight lifting off her shoulders.

"That's amazing," the figure says. "So let's try applying the same technique to a bigger issue. Think of a resentment you have that's been bothering you for a long time. It could be something that happened years ago, but still bothers you. Can you bring it to mind?" Scarlett thinks of a situation from her past that she's never really been able to let go of. She feels the anger and resentment welling up inside her, and then she takes a deep breath.

"Now, repeat the same process we did with the sweater," the figure says. "Imagine the situation in your mind, and then say to yourself, 'I'm releasing you.' Can you do that?" Scarlett takes a deep breath, and then she closes her eyes. She imagines the situation, and feels the anger and resentment rising up. Then, she says the words. "I'm releasing you," she says, and she feels a strange sense of peace. "Wow," she says. "That felt..." She starts.

"... like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she finishes. "You're doing really well," the figure says. "Now, we're going to try a visualization technique. I want you to imagine yourself in a peaceful place. It could be anywhere - a place you've been before, or a place you've imagined. It could be somewhere real, or somewhere fantastical. Just pick a place that feels calming and safe to you." Scarlett pictures a beach she visited as a child, with soft sand and clear blue water.

"Great," the figure says. "Now, I want you to imagine yourself at that beach, and I want you to imagine yourself releasing all of the negative feelings you've been holding onto. You can imagine them as a black cloud, or as a dark weight. And then, you can imagine that cloud or weight dissipating into the air. Are you ready to try?" Scarlett nods, and the figure continues. "Take a deep breath, and then imagine yourself at the beach," the figure says. Scarlett closes her eyes and takes a deep breath.

In her mind's eye, Scarlett sees herself standing on the beach. She looks out at the ocean, and the waves seem to be whispering to her. She takes a step towards the water, and then another. Soon, she's up to her ankles in the cool water. The waves lap at her feet, and she can feel the weight of her resentments starting to lift from her. She takes another step, and the water reaches her knees. As it does, she feels a sense of lightness, as though she's letting go of all the anger and pain she's been holding onto.

Scarlett takes one more step, and now the water reaches her waist. As it does, she lets out a deep breath, and the resentment is gone. In its place, there's only peace and calm. She feels like a weight has been lifted off her, and she feels lighter than air. She turns and looks at the beach, and she sees the figure standing there, smiling at her. "You did it," the figure says. "You let go of the resentment.

As Scarlett returns to the beach, she feels like a new person. She no longer feels burdened by the past, and she feels free to move forward with her life. She walks back up the beach, and the figure fades away. She turns to face the ocean, and she feels the sun on her face. She smiles, and she knows that she can face anything that comes her way.

As Scarlett turns to leave the beach, she feels herself fading. The beach, the ocean, and the sun start to disappear, and she begins to feel herself waking up. She opens her eyes, and she's back in her own home. She sits up, and she feels lighter than she has in years. She knows that she's changed, and she's ready to move on with her life. She stands up, and she feels a new sense of purpose. She's ready to start living again.