Post by Dean Harper on Aug 24, 2024 13:08:46 GMT
A young boy, eyes still heavy with sleep, stirs awake in the middle of the night. The hotel is quiet, save for a faint, unfamiliar sound drifting from the living room. Curiosity piqued, he slips out of bed, the cool floor beneath his feet sending a shiver up his spine. As he tiptoes through the dimly lit hallway, he passes his father, sound asleep in the armchair, bathed in the soft glow of the television's static.
But the sound, gentle yet insistent, isn't coming from the TV. It's something else, something beyond. The boy follows it, his heart beating a little faster until he reaches the balcony door. The sound is clearer now—a soft, almost musical whisper, beckoning him forward. He hesitates momentarily, hand hovering over the doorknob before his curiosity wins out. Slowly, he pushes the door open, stepping out into the cool night air.
The balcony, bathed in moonlight, feels like a world apart. The sound is all around him now, a gentle hum that seems to resonate with the night itself.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
He looks out at the darkened landscape, searching for the source, feeling a strange mix of wonder and trepidation. The night is alive with possibilities, and the boy can't help but feel that something is waiting for him, just beyond the edge of the familiar.
Guileless son, I'll shape your belief
And you won't understand the cause of your grief
But you'll always follow the voices beneath
He steps a little further out onto the balcony, the cool night air brushing against his skin as he peers into the darkness. Just as he’s about to turn back, something catches his eye—a faint, ethereal glow hovering in the air just beyond the railing. His breath catches in his throat as the glow begins to take shape, slowly coalescing into a solid, swirling wisp.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
As he watches, the wisp seems to solidify, forming an image that makes his heart skip a beat. It’s a woman, her features bold and familiar, yet otherworldly. Her hair flows like a gentle breeze, and her eyes—kind and hard—hold a deep, unwavering love. Though he’s never met her in person, he knows who she is. He’s seen her in photos, watched her in old video clips, her smile always reaching out to him from a time before he could remember.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
It’s his mother.
Guileless son, your spirit will hate him
And expose his puppeteer behavior
For you will see the proof of how he betrayed my memory
The boy stands frozen, torn between disbelief and a deep, instinctive recognition. The image of his mother hovers before him, radiating a light that seems to wrap around him like a comforting embrace. Her presence says everything—she is with him, watching over him, even from beyond.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
The boy’s eyes well up with tears, a mixture of joy and sadness washing over him. He takes a tentative step closer, reaching out a hand as if to touch her, to hold onto this fleeting moment. The wisp flickers slightly, and for a brief second, he swears he feels a warmth against his fingers as if she’s reaching back. “Mommy?”
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
The boy’s heart aches with a longing so deep it nearly overwhelms him. As he stands there on the balcony, staring at the ghostly image of his mother, a desperate yearning fills his chest. He wants to be with her—more than anything in the world. The thought of being held in her arms, of hearing her voice for real, is more than he can bear.
Guileless son, each day you grow older
For the child of my body, the flesh of my soul
Tears spill down his cheeks as he whispers, "Mommy..." His voice cracks with the weight of his emotions. He takes another step forward, leaning over the railing drawn to her like a moth to a flame, wanting nothing more than to cross the distance between them. In his mind, he imagines himself running into her arms, feeling the warmth of her embrace, never letting go.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
The wisp of his mother seems to sense his yearning, and for a moment, the glow around her intensifies. She looks at him with such tenderness, her expression filled with love and understanding. But there’s something else in her eyes—an unspoken message, a gentle caution.
The boy hesitates, caught between his overwhelming desire and a growing sense of unease. He knows, deep down, that this moment is a gift, a fleeting connection between worlds. But the pull to be with her, to leave everything behind, -everyone keeps leaving why shouldn’t he- tugs at him fiercely. His heart is torn, the pain of wanting her so close, yet knowing she’s just out of reach, is almost too much to bear.
But then, as if reading his thoughts, the wisp of his mother begins to fade, her light dimming slightly. It’s as if she’s urging him to stay, to be there for his father when she can’t, to continue living the life she can no longer be a part of. The boy’s tears flow freely now, his chest tight with sorrow, but he understands. She’s telling him to hold on, to cherish the life she helped bring into the world, even if it means letting her go.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
With a trembling breath, he nods, taking a step back. The image of his mother smiles gently, her form becoming more translucent by the second. And then, just as softly as she appeared, she dissolves into the night, leaving the boy standing alone on the balcony, his heart heavy but his spirit a little lighter.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
Just as the boy takes a step back from the edge, the balcony door bursts open, and his father rushes out, his face pale with panic. In an instant, he grabs the boy by the shoulders, pulling him away from the railing with a mixture of fear and desperation.
“What are you doing out here?” the father gasps, his voice trembling. He pulls the boy into a tight embrace, his heart pounding in his chest as he realizes just how close his son had been to the edge. “You scared me, you could’ve fallen...”
The boy, still reeling from the encounter with his mother’s wisp, feels the warmth and strength of his father’s arms around him. The reality of the situation crashes down on him—he had been so focused on reaching out to his mother that he hadn’t noticed how dangerously close he’d been to slipping over the railing.
The father pulls back just enough to look his son in the eyes, his expression a mix of anger, relief, and lingering fear. “What were you thinking?” he asks, his voice firm but laced with concern. “Why were you out here?”
The boy’s lips tremble as he tries to find the words to explain what he saw, what he felt. But the emotions are too overwhelming, and all he can do is choke out, “I saw Mommy...”
The father’s breath catches, his expression softening as he sees the tears in his son’s eyes. He pulls the boy close again, his own emotions threatening to spill over. “I know, buddy,” he whispers, holding his son tightly. “I miss her too. But you have to stay here with me. We have to take care of each other, okay?”
The boy nods, burying his face in his father’s chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. The sound, so real and grounding, slowly calms the turmoil inside him. His father holds him for a long time, neither of them moving, as the night air swirls around them, carrying with it the last lingering traces of the wisp that had appeared and faded just as quickly.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
But the sound, gentle yet insistent, isn't coming from the TV. It's something else, something beyond. The boy follows it, his heart beating a little faster until he reaches the balcony door. The sound is clearer now—a soft, almost musical whisper, beckoning him forward. He hesitates momentarily, hand hovering over the doorknob before his curiosity wins out. Slowly, he pushes the door open, stepping out into the cool night air.
The balcony, bathed in moonlight, feels like a world apart. The sound is all around him now, a gentle hum that seems to resonate with the night itself.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
He looks out at the darkened landscape, searching for the source, feeling a strange mix of wonder and trepidation. The night is alive with possibilities, and the boy can't help but feel that something is waiting for him, just beyond the edge of the familiar.
Guileless son, I'll shape your belief
And you won't understand the cause of your grief
But you'll always follow the voices beneath
He steps a little further out onto the balcony, the cool night air brushing against his skin as he peers into the darkness. Just as he’s about to turn back, something catches his eye—a faint, ethereal glow hovering in the air just beyond the railing. His breath catches in his throat as the glow begins to take shape, slowly coalescing into a solid, swirling wisp.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
As he watches, the wisp seems to solidify, forming an image that makes his heart skip a beat. It’s a woman, her features bold and familiar, yet otherworldly. Her hair flows like a gentle breeze, and her eyes—kind and hard—hold a deep, unwavering love. Though he’s never met her in person, he knows who she is. He’s seen her in photos, watched her in old video clips, her smile always reaching out to him from a time before he could remember.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
It’s his mother.
Guileless son, your spirit will hate him
And expose his puppeteer behavior
For you will see the proof of how he betrayed my memory
The boy stands frozen, torn between disbelief and a deep, instinctive recognition. The image of his mother hovers before him, radiating a light that seems to wrap around him like a comforting embrace. Her presence says everything—she is with him, watching over him, even from beyond.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
The boy’s eyes well up with tears, a mixture of joy and sadness washing over him. He takes a tentative step closer, reaching out a hand as if to touch her, to hold onto this fleeting moment. The wisp flickers slightly, and for a brief second, he swears he feels a warmth against his fingers as if she’s reaching back. “Mommy?”
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
The boy’s heart aches with a longing so deep it nearly overwhelms him. As he stands there on the balcony, staring at the ghostly image of his mother, a desperate yearning fills his chest. He wants to be with her—more than anything in the world. The thought of being held in her arms, of hearing her voice for real, is more than he can bear.
Guileless son, each day you grow older
For the child of my body, the flesh of my soul
Tears spill down his cheeks as he whispers, "Mommy..." His voice cracks with the weight of his emotions. He takes another step forward, leaning over the railing drawn to her like a moth to a flame, wanting nothing more than to cross the distance between them. In his mind, he imagines himself running into her arms, feeling the warmth of her embrace, never letting go.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
The wisp of his mother seems to sense his yearning, and for a moment, the glow around her intensifies. She looks at him with such tenderness, her expression filled with love and understanding. But there’s something else in her eyes—an unspoken message, a gentle caution.
The boy hesitates, caught between his overwhelming desire and a growing sense of unease. He knows, deep down, that this moment is a gift, a fleeting connection between worlds. But the pull to be with her, to leave everything behind, -everyone keeps leaving why shouldn’t he- tugs at him fiercely. His heart is torn, the pain of wanting her so close, yet knowing she’s just out of reach, is almost too much to bear.
But then, as if reading his thoughts, the wisp of his mother begins to fade, her light dimming slightly. It’s as if she’s urging him to stay, to be there for his father when she can’t, to continue living the life she can no longer be a part of. The boy’s tears flow freely now, his chest tight with sorrow, but he understands. She’s telling him to hold on, to cherish the life she helped bring into the world, even if it means letting her go.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
Child, the darkness will rise from the deep
And carry you down into sleep
With a trembling breath, he nods, taking a step back. The image of his mother smiles gently, her form becoming more translucent by the second. And then, just as softly as she appeared, she dissolves into the night, leaving the boy standing alone on the balcony, his heart heavy but his spirit a little lighter.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
Just as the boy takes a step back from the edge, the balcony door bursts open, and his father rushes out, his face pale with panic. In an instant, he grabs the boy by the shoulders, pulling him away from the railing with a mixture of fear and desperation.
“What are you doing out here?” the father gasps, his voice trembling. He pulls the boy into a tight embrace, his heart pounding in his chest as he realizes just how close his son had been to the edge. “You scared me, you could’ve fallen...”
The boy, still reeling from the encounter with his mother’s wisp, feels the warmth and strength of his father’s arms around him. The reality of the situation crashes down on him—he had been so focused on reaching out to his mother that he hadn’t noticed how dangerously close he’d been to slipping over the railing.
The father pulls back just enough to look his son in the eyes, his expression a mix of anger, relief, and lingering fear. “What were you thinking?” he asks, his voice firm but laced with concern. “Why were you out here?”
The boy’s lips tremble as he tries to find the words to explain what he saw, what he felt. But the emotions are too overwhelming, and all he can do is choke out, “I saw Mommy...”
The father’s breath catches, his expression softening as he sees the tears in his son’s eyes. He pulls the boy close again, his own emotions threatening to spill over. “I know, buddy,” he whispers, holding his son tightly. “I miss her too. But you have to stay here with me. We have to take care of each other, okay?”
The boy nods, burying his face in his father’s chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart. The sound, so real and grounding, slowly calms the turmoil inside him. His father holds him for a long time, neither of them moving, as the night air swirls around them, carrying with it the last lingering traces of the wisp that had appeared and faded just as quickly.
Hush, child, the darkness will rise from the deep
Well howdy there pardner.