Sta.sh
I was told to find out about fear. They said to ask people what fear was. So first, I asked a small child.
“What is fear?”
The child frowned thoughtfully. “Fear is when the monsters under your bed are out to get you and you know it, but your mommy and daddy don’t believe you.”
I thanked him and kept going. Next, I asked an old woman.
“What is fear?”
The old woman looked sad. “Fear is the feeling of death creeping up on you and you knowing it is impossible to stop. Fear is being helpless to stop it. Be thankful that you are still young.”
I nodded thanks and kept moving. Finally, I asked a girl with scars on her arms and a scowl on her face.
“What is fear?”
She laughed derisively. “If you need to ask, you won’t know.”
“But I do know!” I protested. “I know that fear is. I just want to know what you think fear is.”
“Do I have to answer?”
I smiled encouragingly. “As soon as you answer I swear to leave you alone and never ask again.”
"Fear is despair. It is hopeless. It is dark and cold and hot and endless, all at once.”
“But that can’t be what fear is!” I exclaimed.
“What do you know of fear?” she asked bitterly. “What do you know of despair and terror and hopelessness? Do you know how it feels to be utterly without hope of seeing the light of day again? Do you have any clue of how that feels?”
“No, I guess not.” I admitted.
She nodded, as though that was what she’d expected.
“But,” I added. “I’d be willing to learn.”
“You can’t “learn”.” She scoffed. “You either experience it… Or you don’t. There are no ways to “learn” these things.”
She paused and looked around, like she was trying to find an escape route from my questions and obvious ignorance. “You said that I’d be free to go once I answered your question, correct? You wanted to know about fear. Well, I can’t teach you about true fear. I can tell you all I know, but that wouldn’t show you fear. I can’t give you fear. So I think that I’ve answered your question. Good bye.”
She turned and walked away from me, and I was left standing there, still unsure of what she meant. I never learned what fear was.
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Love is fear.
Death is fear.
We are fear.
Fear is many things to different people. It has many incarnations. It's our worst nightmare we hope to never see in reality. To face it is to defeat it.
Anywho, great story. Powerfully gripping.