Story: The Reflections of Fear
Story and 3D Art by: Gail Nobles © 2024
Little Benny stood before the cracked bathroom mirror, the dim light casting strange shadows across his face. Each time he glanced at his reflection, he flinched, not only because of the blemishes that marred his skin but because of something deeper that lurked beneath the surface. An ugly figure stared back at him, a warped version of himself — a taro-like demon with hollow eyes and a wicked grin. It was an illusion sent by his own mind, a manifestation of all his fears and insecurities.
“I’ve got to stop smoking for good,” he muttered, stepping back as if distancing himself from the repulsive image. The smell of stale tobacco still clung to his clothes, a constant reminder of his struggles. The truth was, it wasn’t just the nicotine that held him captive; it was the fear that wrapped around him like a thick fog.
He recalled the pit of dread that had settled in his stomach when he lost his job. The sense of failure gnawed at him, a predator in the shadows, lurking as he faced each day. Memories of missed opportunities and regret surfaced, drenching him in a cold sweat. He could hardly breathe at the thought of an uncertain future, and with each passing day, the fear of the unknown became more suffocating.
Panic gripped him tight whenever he thought about going to the doctor. Needles. He couldn’t shake the memory of the last time — the sharp prick, the rush of panic, the sensation of his heart racing as the room spun around him. It was a fear that shackled him, keeping him from seeking help for the things that tormented him most.
Little Benny tried to hold onto faith, clinging to the hope that things would get better, but doubt had a way of creeping in, whispering venomous thoughts that clouded his judgment. "Why bother? You're just going to fail again," it hissed, drowning out the little voice that encouraged him to be brave.
Little Benny had found a friend in Ms. Daniels, a kind-hearted teacher who believed in him, whose encouragement had ignited a flicker of hope in his otherwise chaotic world. Yet now, the shadows of his “giant enemy,” the bullies who tormented him, loomed large over his head. What if he lost her too? The thought paralyzed him. He felt like a tiny ship lost in a storm, tossed about by waves of anxiety with so little control over his destiny.
“What am I supposed to do?” he lamented, staring at the wood grains of the floor as if they held the answers to his turmoil. He too realized it wasn’t just the monsters outside that threatened him; it was the demons within, those fears that clung tightly like barnacles.
With a deep breath, Little Benny wiped his sweaty palms on his jeans, taking one last glance at his warped reflection. "I’m going to face this.”
Before long, little Benny’s distorted reflection faded away, and they parted ways.
You're listening to the story of Little Benny by Gail Nobles © 2024.
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