There in the silence my soul gave way to tears. The shriek of agony that rose up inside died out on my lips as the darkness closed in around me, seeping through the barriers of indifference and false strength, pulling down my fragile walls of cynicsm and doubt, knocking over the tower of anger. My inner sanctuary of hopes and dreams was now exposed.
Slowly the black hand of eternal emptiness squeezed its fingers ’round the treasures of my soul. A scream of torment grew, coursing through my veins, raging war on my heart, seeking escape through my open lips. But there it died.
The hand that had crushed that which was most precious to me could hurt me no longer. Slowly the fingers uncurled from their iron grip. And there in the silence my inner sanctuary crumbled like ashes into the dust.