One Short Story A Day

August 15, 2024

Prompt: Imagine what would happen if you woke up one morning unable to see, speak, or hear.

I never imagined that my life would change so drastically in an instant. It started like any other morning. The sun was just beginning to filter through the curtains, casting a warm glow on my face. I stretched and yawned, ready to start my day. But as I tried to sit up, I realized something was wrong.

I couldn't see anything.

Panic gripped me as I frantically blinked my eyes, willing the darkness to go away. But nothing changed. It was as if a thick black curtain had been pulled over my eyes, blocking out all light. I reached out, feeling for something familiar, but my hands only met empty air.

Then I realized something even more terrifying – I couldn't hear anything either. There was complete silence surrounding me, no sound of birds chirping or cars passing by. It was as if the world had gone still, leaving me alone in this dark void.

And then, as I opened my mouth to scream in fear, I realized I couldn't speak. My voice was gone, stolen away in the night. I tried to make even the smallest sound, but my throat remained stubbornly silent.

I was trapped in my own body, unable to see, speak, or hear. The darkness pressed in on me, suffocating me with its oppressive weight. I was lost, adrift in a world of shadows and silence.

But even in my fear and confusion, a newfound determination began to grow within me. I refused to let this darkness consume me. I may have lost my sight, my voice, and my hearing, but I still had my mind, my willpower, my resilience.

I began to navigate my way through this new reality, relying on my other senses to guide me. I focused on the feel of the cold floor beneath my feet, the scent of stale air in my nostrils, the taste of fear on my tongue. I moved slowly, cautiously, feeling my way through the darkness with outstretched hands.

As I explored this new world, I began to notice strange and unsettling things. I could sense a presence, a shadowy figure that seemed to be watching me from the corners of my mind. It whispered words of doubt and despair, trying to drag me down into the depths of my own fear.

But I refused to listen. I pushed forward, determined to find a way out of this nightmare. And then, just when I thought all hope was lost, a glimmer of light appeared on the horizon.

It was faint at first, a mere flicker in the darkness. But as I drew closer, it grew brighter, illuminating the path ahead. I stumbled towards it, feeling a surge of hope and relief flood through me.

And then, as I stepped into the light, everything changed. My sight was restored, the world coming into sharp focus around me. I could see the colors and shapes of the room, the familiar furniture and decorations that had once been hidden from me.

I let out a cry of joy, my voice returning to me like a long-lost friend. And as I turned to the source of the light, I saw a figure standing before me – a figure bathed in radiance and beauty, with eyes that shone like stars.

It was then that I realized the true nature of my ordeal. This darkness, this loss of sight, speech, and hearing – it was not a curse, but a test. A test of my strength, my resilience, my will to survive.

And I had passed.

The figure smiled at me, a smile that warmed my soul and filled me with a sense of peace. It spoke to me in a voice that was more felt than heard, telling me that I had faced my fears and emerged victorious.

And as I basked in the light of that glorious presence, I knew that I would never again take for granted the gift of sight, speech, and hearing. I had faced the darkness and emerged stronger for it, ready to face whatever challenges life threw my way.

I was no longer afraid.

I was a survivor.