When you think of darkness, what do you picture?

Darkness is often depicted as evil, a bottomless black hole. That the only thing to defeat darkness is light. Some statements are more accurate than others. Though, to truly experience the power of darkness, and to go into depth of what capabilities darkness holds, no one has done.

As darkness approaches, taking over the sky, what feelings envelope you? Serenity, tiredness, happiness?

The first thing that consciousness feels when darkness settles is pain.

The dark is a great unknown. Even I today am afraid of the dark. It may seem like a silly notion, but there is deeper meaning to the phobia of darkness.

In darkness, you cannot see. Is there a wall there? Walls that not only stop you, but trap you? What about a hole? If you fall, no one can see you. No one can help you. Not only the inanimate things that are troublesome, but also things that wait to cause harm.

Suffering is often caused in the dark. Being left in it can only associate darkness with bad things.

Do you remember being left in the dark as a child? Were you scared? Did someone assure you that there was nothing to fear?

Imagine if no one was there to comfort you. Your fear would grow. Fear, when used properly, can be a dangerous weapon. If you’ve been plagued by it, never knowing when it’ll stop, it will overtake you.

Now, what if you knew where your pain was coming from? To me, I see hands, but don’t see. It’s waiting for me, I know it, but don’t know when it’ll strike. The hands that cause so much torture.

In darkness, other phobias can sprout. The fear of hands can cause many problems in life. You would not be able to hold your lover knowing that their hands could hurt you, even though you trust them.

You can’t see it, but you know it can see you. Every time they draw near, they laugh because you cower. Every time darkness talks to you, whispers it. You can hear your name.

Solitude.

Darkness also causes you to hallucinate. You see things you don’t want to see. Ghosts, many things. It can bring out a person’s dark side.

In the end, darkness can seem like an imposing and intimidating topic to discuss. Abuse and humiliation can occur in the darkness. Some belong in darkness, but I was never created to touch it. In this type of darkness, light isn’t the solution. Light cannot destroy darkness. It doesn’t defeat darkness. It is the power to defend yourself and grow strong.

It may be an absence of light, but there are things to brighten up it.