Random Writing

writing prompt: fear

Fear is something that cannot be controlled. It claws at the edges of your mind and clouds your thoughts. It makes you do things that you would not do in most situations, like scream for help or run without stopping; you don't know where you are going, but it is infinitely better than where you are, where the terror grabs at you from the dark and pulls you close. Every moment spent in fear is agonizing and each second makes the symptoms worse, makes you scream louder and run faster.

Fear is a monster, with large claws and sharp fangs, with glowing eyes and a menacing laugh. It is all of your worst phobias combined into one being. It is something that lurks over you when you are alone and it is something that controls you whenever it can. Fight or flight are the choices that it gives you. You can choose to cower or face the fear head on.

Then again, it does not matter much if you choose to fight or flee. The fear is crippling. It drives you to make the decision, and it drives you still to do out of character actions. You would not normally sprint towards who knows where, and you would not normally call out for help, no matter who is around.

There I go with the repetition again. You can't blame me. I'm just trying to get my point across, after all; but I digress.

Have you ever been faced with your worst nightmare? You freeze. You have the chance to run or fight, and you think irrationally as you stare your fear directly in the eyes. Perhaps, however, you have not had the chance to realize this phenomenon in person. Maybe you have not faced your greatest fears yet.

Maybe you have seen others face their fears. Close friends, family? Even a stranger will do. They become paralyzed, their eyes wide and their breaths shallow as they too decide whether to hide or challenge their phobias. It is normally quite easy to recognize these situations, unless the person happens to be very good at hiding their feelings.

There is no doubt in my mind that you have met fear in at least one of its forms. Maybe in person. Perhaps you have looked fear in the eyes. Possibly, you have even beaten it, declaring that you have won; you have defeated the fear and you have faced it. Maybe you ran from the fear. That is just as common, and completely acceptable. Not everyone is ready to face their fears. When the time comes, however, eventually you will shake hands with the fear. You will greet it like an old friend.

Maybe you will even be able to say that you have overcome it.