Finally, after a long, tiring day; darkness fell and that one night finally brought itself upon him – it was the one he had been simply dreading, for far too long now. Would he be able and prepared to get himself through it? Nobody could say for sure. It was just so hard, so draining to believe. His beloved was struck down by a most dreadful illness, that had threatened her ever-weakening body for far too long. She simply hadn't the strength to keep fighting it any longer, it had completely taken over her entire being. Her life was no longer her own, towards the end of her long, harrowing battle. In a sense, as much as it pained him; Damian often wondered whether her passing was a welcome release from the pain she had suffered through for so long.
The only thing to break the deathly silence that had made its' presence very much felt, was the sound of water dripping from the leaking tap in the open-doored kitchen. Ruffles was also napping peacefully, his paws still resting on his owner's lap and his soft snores letting him know he had at least one friend in this cruel, unforgiving world. There was, at least, the upcoming vacation to look forward to. Just the thought of getting away from it all for a while never failed to bring a smile to the face of a soul who often struggled to remember the last time he felt true happiness. But now, he finally had a chance to put his worries behind him, even if just for a short time. Although he couldn't quite figure out why, there was a strong feeling telling this simple man that things could still change for him. That he still had a chance at a better life, despite how impossible that dream may seem to him at dark, seemingly hopeless times such as these.
Still, regardless of the seemingly constant stream of strife and turmoil that life has such a habit of throwing our way; often the best solutions to our troubles can come to us in the most unlikely of ways. To give-up and throw in the towel in such situations, would be to close the door on what could just turn-out to be the very opportunity we have been unknowingly seeking all our lives. The most difficult trials in life are given only to those strong enough to fight back, pull through them and come out even stronger than before. It is this strength which separates such people from those who would much rather just surrender the fight right then and there. It was this notion, which primarily highlighted the divide between the two types of people; in this harsh, unforgiving world each day. This, was the one thing that so many people seemed to forget, so easily.
It was the eerie silence in the air, that had originally woken Damian that night. That was over an hour ago and now, he had somehow found himself in the midst of accompanying his young daughter. Not that he really minded, all that much. It had provided him with something to do, something else to focus on for a while. A welcome release, from what was normally nothing but night after night of stone-cold, stagnant loneliness. At least he now had something else, to help keep his mind off things. Perhaps it would also help give him some renewed hope, that life wasn't always that bad after all. He could only wait and see, what the night time would bring for them both – kind or otherwise, it was yet to be seen.
"Now you make sure to keep a-hold of my hand Sadie, we don't want to lose each other. There's no telling how much worse, this storm could get." The man's voice was firm but calm, as he spoke these distinct words of warning to his young child. He felt that he just had to keep her safe, no matter what dangers came around.
The ice-cold wind slashed harshly at his rain-soaked face, and sudden cracks of thunder and lightning broke apart the pitch-black skies above. Damian's racing mind was rapidly becoming ever more plagued, with thoughts of uncertainty and resentment towards the past. As he tried his best to gather together his bearings on the lonesome, isolated bench; the defeated, trodden down man let out a heavy sigh and glanced down at his feet. No matter how hard he had tried, he simply just wasn't prepared for tonight at all. He couldn't put his finger on it, but there was most certainly something in the air that was almost warning him of something. Damian did his best to shake the feeling and focus on his little girl. She was his only child and he loved her with everything he had. All he had ever wanted, was for her to know that for sure.
"Not to worry Daddy, I'll be right here with you!" The young child being addressed as Sadie, gave her best smile and a big thumbs-up to her father, sitting worriedly beside her. She always was one to help others see the brighter side of things in life, it was one of her best qualities. Helping them to smile again.
YOU ARE READING
Child Without a Voice.
Horror- - - - It had been merely a year, since the occurrence of that one tragic incident. Yet in spite of it all, Damian could still remember what had happened, as if it were only yesterday. The loud, ear-piercing screeches of the speeding vehicle's tire...
