Semi-Daily Scribbles

Stephanie was the light to which her friends were drawn. She was not an attention seeker, and never thought of herself as the life of the party, but she knew the value of projecting a positive attitude. It rubbed off on people. A kind word or gesture made the loneliest soul feel invincible, and obstacles melted in the afternoon sun. It was Stephanie's greatest achievement when a personal connection was made with another human being. She thought of that energy being absorbed into her own little cloak of invincibility. Stephanie believed if enough happy thoughts were wound around each other, safety and warmth would smother the bad dreams demanding to be noticed. The roots were buried deep, but her dreams sent up runners to obliterate the light of reason. Stephanie's own mocking doubt strangled her resolve, reducing her from a leader to a wanderer. Stephanie had traveled that path before. It led her into a darkness from which she never fully escaped. As her light flickered, allowing glimpses of the shadow to appear, Stephanie spun her last lucky threads with as nimble a hand as she could. She would not allow her devouring need to draw her friends into the ever-widening emptiness.