The Upper Room

The staircase creaks under my steps, I haven’t visited in a while. My palms gather dust as they cling to the rail leaving an upward trail of sweat in my wake. The door that leads to that place is still intact despite missing screws from its hinges. The door opens, and the room’s dark, I make my way through without missing a step in perfect darkness. The four walls recognize its guest; a familiar stranger and illuminate itself. Light slowly unravels the mysteries of what the darkness keeps secret from peering eyes.

The room twists and turns and the once gentle light now flashes hazardously. The floor violently pulls from beneath my feet and I fall defencelessly on my back. My eyes open; looking upward, there is no ceiling. My cherished memories, those closest to me lay bare in the clouds in the sky. My eyes well up as dormant emotions possess me. I stand to my feet to loosen myself from meaningless nostalgia. Through my dampened eyes I see a figure in the corner of the room; my room. Equally terrified and intrigued my body stiffens with indecisiveness whether to retreat or engage, to withdraw or to approach.

I approach it, and with each and every step I take towards it, it matches me. Now face to face, I see my reflection. I see authenticity with a look of disgust on his face at how I’ve been living since I locked him away. I have to leave! I need to leave before he speaks, for if he were to speak it would unravel the lifetime of lies I told myself. As he opens his mouth the room shakes! Delusions and reality clash for control. I cover my ears and repeat false affirmations over and over to myself. I NEED TO LEAVE.

He continues to speak, and with each word he chips away the image I spent years rebuilding myself in. I wrestle with him, deciding not to go down without a fight. The room rescinds its lighting leaving us both grappling for the door to leave this place. The door opens and one leaves, closing the door behind him. The figure descends the flight of stairs, nonchalant, giving no expression away other than a limp, he’s hurt, but alive to fight again tomorrow.