Broken, but Alive

Broken, but Alive

(by Evelyn Ashby)

It was dark,

it was cold,

and I was crying.

Scratch that - I was sobbing.

My broken heart lay in pieces around me, shattered, splintered, and bruised. The raw emotions that had been caged up inside were now let loose. They surged from the ruins flooding, choking, drowning my very being.

My future looked bleak. The road of life was covered in a thick, black, and foreboding shadow. And the smooth road became twisted and mangled before it disappeared into the gloom.

What was left of my heart cowered and cringed at the vision. I wanted to scream - to escape from this wretched view.

Suddenly, a light appeared in the shadow. It shone strong despite the darkness’ effort to overtake it, and slowly but confidently it came through the frightening barrier. It brought with it a feeling of comfort, and I stared at it, not wanting to look away.

Then memories from long (oh so long) ago came surging to the front of my mind, unbidden, uncalled for, as if in response to the light.

They were covered in dust and yellowed with age, but I was able to read them nonetheless:

“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path...Yea though I walk through the valley of shadows of death, I will fear no evil for thou art with me...In God I have put my trust; I shall not be afraid. What can mere man do to me?”   

I lifted my head from the surrendered position it hung, I felt unspeakable joy as I had never felt before. Where had these words from from? I remembered suddenly and clambered across my room to grab the Bible that had lain, untouched, for years.

I felt drawn to a verse, and collapsing to the ground I read,

“For You have delivered my soul from death, Indeed my feet from stumbling, So that I may walk before God In the light of the living.” -Psalms 56:13

It was light,

it was warm,

and I was smiling.

Scratch that - I was grinning.

* * * * * * 

This is a piece of fiction work, but I can say that experience has had a small hand in helping write it, even if I didn't realize it. 

<3 Eva

---------------------------------------------------