The Shadow Of Fear

The Shadow Of Fear

Fear is the emotion we feel when we are threatened by something. Yet it is an emotion we can control if we try. Some people have a fear of snakes, but by confronting their fear and interacting with snakes in a controlled environment they can learn to control their fear. Some of us refuse to face our fears, and live our whole life in its tight grip.
One dark, moonless night I was walking home alone from the bus stop when I heard footsteps behind me. Turning around very quickly I looked back down the sidewalk seeing nothing as the scene faded into the black damp night air. I became very agitated and nervous as I continued on my way.
As I passed by an alley on my left I looked into the black abyss, and I swear I saw something moving from the building on the left and disappear into the brick wall on the right. It happened so fast that I was not sure what I saw, but I know it was something.
I increased my gait glancing back occasionally to see if I was being followed. Looking all about I could see no other soul as a fog-shrouded mist started to envelope me. Just ahead was another alley, and as I approached it the streetlight burned out with a bright flash. I stopped dead in my tracks frozen with fear when again I heard the fall of footsteps behind me accompanied by a scraping sound. I turned around to face my assailant, but I could not penetrate the thick fog for more than a few feet.
Turning back, my first thought went directly to my feet saying, “run”. As the thought entered my brain, my left foot was already hitting the pavement with a thud. Passing the 2nd alley I looked over my left shoulder and saw an arm come out of the dark! The hand was pitch black running all the way back into the night as the fingers slipped off my shoulder leaving my shoulder numb from the cold touch.
By now I was running full speed, but the steps behind me had increased and were gaining on me. I felt the hair on the back of my neck stand up as the sound of the steps came closer. I crossed the street toward the park just a block from my house, but the fog was making it hard to see. I knew the park was ahead, but I just could not see it. Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my right foot as it slammed into something hard, and I went head first into the bushes sprawling face down on the grass.
I felt someone grab my shoulder and heard “ Are you alright mate?” Looking up I saw a young gentleman huffing and puffing as he spoke. I said, “ I believe so, just a few grass stains.” I said, “ Who are you”? He said, “My name is Fred, and I have been trying to catch up to you for two blocks to give you your wallet you left on the bus. I almost lost my umbrella back there when you dashed off just as I started to catch up to you. I called out several times for you to stop, but I guess you did not hear me”.
I thanked Fred after he helped me up, and gave me my wallet, and sheepishly told him as a young boy I had always been afraid of the dark. I reached down to fix my shoe as I told him this, and when I looked back up the fog had lifted, and Fred was nowhere in sight even though I could see for 100 yards in all directions.
Looking at my hand, my wallet was not there. I reached back touching my back pocket, and felt the slight bulge of my wallet still in my pants pocket. I hurried home where I poured myself a small glass of brandy. Reflecting on all that had happened I wondered if this was just my imagination, or had I just met the Shadow of Fear.

Robert L. Murdoch 07/21/09