It has been long since anyone intruded.
I remember when I was small enough. Only he brought out my full potential. We were the inseparable duo, and we helped each other grow in what we mutually love, basketball. And indeed, as time passed, our combined strength was unimaginable; opponents were struck with awe, the crowd shook the hall with standing ovations. I glowed, and he glowed, even in the shadows.
But we were not perfect, and I was not satisfied. I wanted more. I wanted to succeed in every single match, buckling only beneath the intensity of my own prowess.
I had wished too soon. I was too eager for success, too eager for my light to engulf the land. I had shone too brightly, and risen too high. And before I knew it, I was the only one in the sky.
No one beat me anymore. None of my opponents looked me in the eye with rising intensity; not a single trace of light escaped their windows from their souls. They had all given up on me. On themselves. And yet I got what I wanted. One by one, I effortlessly crushed them as they dropped like flies to my feet.
And soon, even my own shadow left me. Our feet were once joined via our love for basketball, but he simply took off and ran away. The sizzling heat of the treacherous sun laughed raucously as I was left empty, with no shadow. Tears evaporated. I was as good as gone.
They say, be careful of what you wish for. I think I finally understand the meaning of these words. They also say, the greatest insult from anybody would be for them to give up on you. Finally, I understand the meaning of these words too.
I miss when I breathed nothing but basketball. I miss when there was hope in every day, where the prospect of furthering our growth had me drawn like a moth to a lamp. I miss when I had a partner, when the presence of my shadow was the very embodiment of my humility. And we played together, laughed together, and bumped our fists together. I could not stop shivering, because there was no way to get out of the cold.
Until the shadow sought new light. They played together, laughed together, and bumped their fists together. I saw red and blue. I was angry at the world, angry at myself, angry at him, and him. I was sad to have nothing but my own light, stronger than everything, yet weaker than everything. Because it held nothing, not even a shadow. This light was too worthless to even mention anymore, because it was alone. As good as gone.
Little did I know that in no time, this new inseparable duo would stand up to me, look me in the eyes with rising intensity and challenge me from the depths of their very within. Overwhelmingly bright rays of light shot out from their souls, emanating strangely-comforting warmth. Together, the shadow and its newfound light engulfed the land. They swallowed me whole. They won. I lost. But what is this feeling?
I have never felt such relief on finding a worthy opponent. Though the shadow which I lost can never return, it seems I have been released from agony. This feels bittersweet and is strangely contradictory. I am defeated, but feel more bliss than any victor. They are my saviours; it is their aspirations which brought me back to my feet.
I was dead, but I am alive again. Hope starts to flicker again in that once-lightless night sky.
fin.
Constructive criticism is greatly appreciated, but just the fact that you have read till the end is enough to make my day. Thank you.