08-25-2025, 12:03 PM
(This post was last modified: 08-25-2025, 12:04 PM by Rachel Shale.)
Rachel closed her eyes. She was trying to fight it back, if for no other reason that it would make Iāson's job easier if she wasn't shaking or whimpering in fear. She tried to remember what Jared had taught her about meditation. She began to focus on her breath and thought of a calming place; in her case, it was a river, flowing gently through the woods. She always saw herself in the river itself, laying on her back and floating. She never fought the river's gentle current, nor did she try to swim with it. She just let it take her where it wanted to, surrendering to its will. It was just a comforting image. Jared had always told her the next step was to let go of emotions. He described it as recognizing them with you inhale and releasing them with your exhale. Recognition, acceptance, and letting go.
Rachel felt her fear there, even in this calm woods. The trees held untold horrors, and the shadows seemed to reach for her. Rachel was aware something was happening, she could feel Iāson's power working around it in the way you felt the liquid from an IV going into your vein - a slight pressure that let her knew something was working within her. The fear began to change. It didn't flee at his power, but it was different. Even if Rachel couldn't see what he was doing, she could feel the effect. The fear was no longer the terror of a murderer chasing you or even the fear that forced you to fight for your very survival. This was the fear that lingered after you woke up from a nightmare. Residual and fractured, this fear would flee when you realized that you were safe.
Her calming image changed with this as well. The shadows began to retreat, and she was coming to a clearing in the trees - a spot where the sun shown brightly. The fear was still there trying, but unable to take hold. Rachel recognized it and with an inhale accepted it for what it was. On her exhale, she let the fear go. Then she felt herself, guided by the river she lay in to the sunny clearing. The sun was warm and welcoming, she surrendered to it as she had the river, breathing it in. She felt the light and warmth fill her. Rachel gasped in surprise. Despite the unfamiliarity she felt within her, Rachel wasn't afraid of it. It was sweet and powerful. Rachel smiled. Having found her peace, Rachel dismissed the image and the light went with it.
Rachel opened her eyes and noticed now that Iāson had let go of her hand. Emily's had remained and Rachel gave it a squeeze as she let go and sat up with her back against the wall. Rachel looked around. The room seemed brighter and the air less thick now. The shadows in the room were static, no longer reaching for her. She was calm, and for the first time in a long time, it wasn't accompanied by the lingering fear. Her eyes passed the window. Christmas lights shown on the houses of their neighbors. Her eyes suddenly landed on Emily.
Emily wasn't scared, but her eyes were widened slightly in surprise. "Em...is something wrong?"
Emily let out a chuckle. "No...everything's fine," she said, smiling at her. "We can talk about it later. How are you feeling?"
Rachel smiled. Something had happened, but it wasn't a bad thing. Rachel could tell if Emily's smile was a fake one meant to comfort. "I'm..." Rachel paused as she let out a relieved giggle. She hadn't felt this free for a long time. "I'm great. Mostly feel tired. A little disoriented. What day is it?"
Emily smiled. "December 24th."
"Christmas Eve - a time of miracles," Rachel said under her breath. "I don't remember much - just fragments of the last couple of weeks. Probably better that way."
Rachel turned to look at Iāson. This man had woken her from a neverending nightmare. Rachel got out of bed and walked over to him. She took his hands in hers and looked him in the eyes. Iāson..." she spoke softly, her eyes displaying only gratitude. She remained silent for a moment, finding the words to say. Thank you shouldn't have been hard for her to say, but she didn't know what to say when thank you wasn't really enough. She let out a light laugh and smiled. "Merry Christmas." she finally said as she gave his hands a squeeze and let go.
Rachel felt her fear there, even in this calm woods. The trees held untold horrors, and the shadows seemed to reach for her. Rachel was aware something was happening, she could feel Iāson's power working around it in the way you felt the liquid from an IV going into your vein - a slight pressure that let her knew something was working within her. The fear began to change. It didn't flee at his power, but it was different. Even if Rachel couldn't see what he was doing, she could feel the effect. The fear was no longer the terror of a murderer chasing you or even the fear that forced you to fight for your very survival. This was the fear that lingered after you woke up from a nightmare. Residual and fractured, this fear would flee when you realized that you were safe.
Her calming image changed with this as well. The shadows began to retreat, and she was coming to a clearing in the trees - a spot where the sun shown brightly. The fear was still there trying, but unable to take hold. Rachel recognized it and with an inhale accepted it for what it was. On her exhale, she let the fear go. Then she felt herself, guided by the river she lay in to the sunny clearing. The sun was warm and welcoming, she surrendered to it as she had the river, breathing it in. She felt the light and warmth fill her. Rachel gasped in surprise. Despite the unfamiliarity she felt within her, Rachel wasn't afraid of it. It was sweet and powerful. Rachel smiled. Having found her peace, Rachel dismissed the image and the light went with it.
Rachel opened her eyes and noticed now that Iāson had let go of her hand. Emily's had remained and Rachel gave it a squeeze as she let go and sat up with her back against the wall. Rachel looked around. The room seemed brighter and the air less thick now. The shadows in the room were static, no longer reaching for her. She was calm, and for the first time in a long time, it wasn't accompanied by the lingering fear. Her eyes passed the window. Christmas lights shown on the houses of their neighbors. Her eyes suddenly landed on Emily.
Emily wasn't scared, but her eyes were widened slightly in surprise. "Em...is something wrong?"
Emily let out a chuckle. "No...everything's fine," she said, smiling at her. "We can talk about it later. How are you feeling?"
Rachel smiled. Something had happened, but it wasn't a bad thing. Rachel could tell if Emily's smile was a fake one meant to comfort. "I'm..." Rachel paused as she let out a relieved giggle. She hadn't felt this free for a long time. "I'm great. Mostly feel tired. A little disoriented. What day is it?"
Emily smiled. "December 24th."
"Christmas Eve - a time of miracles," Rachel said under her breath. "I don't remember much - just fragments of the last couple of weeks. Probably better that way."
Rachel turned to look at Iāson. This man had woken her from a neverending nightmare. Rachel got out of bed and walked over to him. She took his hands in hers and looked him in the eyes. Iāson..." she spoke softly, her eyes displaying only gratitude. She remained silent for a moment, finding the words to say. Thank you shouldn't have been hard for her to say, but she didn't know what to say when thank you wasn't really enough. She let out a light laugh and smiled. "Merry Christmas." she finally said as she gave his hands a squeeze and let go.