The sound of boots across stone. The heavy clang and scrape of barred doors. The familiar groan, the tears, the heartache. It was all the same. Day after day. It took eleven steps to get from the cell across the hall to the door leading out. And when you were taken from your cell, there were only two options after that. Death, or life. Which would it be?

She’d been chained for so long, enjoying the pleasure of her blindness. The sweet melodies of darkness had been pleasing and enchanting. Never satisfied, she’d always grasped for more. Many elusive strains and echoes would pass by her ear, each sweet and full of promises of delight. But each would fade to leave her in more discontent and distress.

And then the Voice had come. Cold, hard, unrelenting, it resonated through her being.

“And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

And now all she could hear were the steps of the Guard. One, two, three… it was no good counting. There were always eleven steps. The grinding creak of the cell doors next to her grated in her head. The sobs and then the threatening quietness. Death or life? Which would be waiting for her when the Guard came for her? There was only darkness before her, and the dreadful truth remained. She had loved darkness rather then light. No wonder she was blind.

And then another Voice, rich, deep, and powerful seemed to shake her cell.

“Let there be light.”

And there was. Blinding light filled her cell, and her heart. It was almost painful, and the words seemed to repeat and repeat and repeat. The shadows melted in fear. And as the darkness fled from before her and her eyes received their sight, she heard the sound of footsteps. But not the heavy boots of the Guard. These were firm, brisk footfalls. They seemed to her to be joyful. And as her door swung open a victorious Voice proclaimed,

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it!”

She looked up, and saw a man standing in the doorway. Across the front of his blazing gold armor ran the words “Messenger of Life.” He took her by the hand, raised her up, and their footsteps rang through the stronghold as they walked side by side for the last eleven steps.

 

Love,

Hannah Jo <3