January-February 2010 - The Journey Magazine

By Judi Lifton
I froze. There, looming in my path, stood three hooded, black-cloaked figures Ö shadows of reality.
The figures were faceless and reeked a noxious stench. Black hoods clung to their invisible skulls and folded inward,
puckering and draping. They looked as if they were ferocious beasts with gaping jowls. I faced them, gripped by terror.
Would they destroy me?
I watched. They made no sound or movement. They seemed to pose no threat. My terror ebbed and I moved closer.
I noticed their belts had no buckles, no end or beginning, just seamless strands choking, surrounding, and suffocating the
internal form.
The first black shadow wore a belt of precious jewels – glittering jewels: rubies, diamonds, emeralds – embedded in a gold
mesh.
And I called him greed.
The second shadow wore strands of brown twine woven in a lacey pattern. There were knots, then holes, then emptiness.
And I called him loneliness.
Squinting to distinguish the belt camouflaged against his cloak, I stepped closer. The third shadow wore a black seamless
string, fragile and tightly binding.
And I called him fear.
I stood still, transfixed by the shadows. Finally, the clouds overhead moved and the sun peered out. And I remembered that
shadows are visible only in a certain light, are cast by intercepting light, are dependent on my direction of movement.
Turning away I left the shadows behind.
I am the captain.
Shadows
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JANUARY • FEBRUARY 2010
THE JOURNEY