Metaphor

       It was a dark brisk night; The kind of night where thick clouds suffocated the starlight, leaving me in the blackness of my thoughts. The cold winds swirled and I felt abandoned and alone on this remote island. As I stared into the darkness, listening to the crashing waves, a strange light began to glow, revealing to me for the first time, that a gigantic stone mountain stood before me. The light seemed to be gaining in strength, as it came from the far side of this great mass. Suddenly I felt my sense of hopelessness vanish, as curiosity drew me to the light. I treaded slowly up the side of the mountain until I reached this source of new hope. The light beamed from a small cave. As I entered, I felt a comforting blast of heat from this light and then paused as I stood in awe. The light source was blinding, as it reflected off the treasures that lay before me. A path of gold, silver and bronze coins covered the barren floor, creating a warm glitter. Astonished, I realized a cave full of riches. Determined to find the source of this light, I walked further into the cave, allowing myself the warming pleasures of its radiating beams. As I shuffled through these coins, taking each step in stride with my beating heart, it created the sounds of an exotic dance rhythm. On my way toward this light source, it was suddenly revealed to me that the walls were punctured with tiny hole openings, each about the size of a human fist. The light source seemed to be piercing through these holes like laser beams, reinforcing a sense of strength within the soul of this cave. Yet I knew my presence inside the cave made it feel more alive than it had ever felt before when fire flies began tickling the edges of its walls, creating a wonderful display of twinkling flashes. However the fire flies kept repeating the same circular pattern around an area of the wall that did not have an opening hole. It was at that moment that I knew what I had to do. I focused inside the bright glowing circle and then looked at my fist that suddenly felt as strong as the great hammer of the gods, and with one solid strike I became a part of the living mountain. My fist drove a hole, leaving my mark forever. The fire flies took leave through this new opening and as I peered through it to see them take flight, I finally found the source of the powerful light. Staring down at me were thousands of stars and I knew that I had found salvation out of the darkness and into the light. Moments later, my rescue had arrived. A gigantic black hawk settled down on the peak of the mountain. It looked over and saw the reflection of my eyes through the hole. I smiled at it, thanked the stars and made my way out of the cave. The black hawk swooped down and lifted me away. As we ascended into the night sky, I knew that I had left behind my mark in honor of those who came before me and those who would follow. I reflected on how wonderful it would be if I could bring this paradise to others. Upon my return to this world, it became my dream to re-create this paradise.