glint of hope

[carotron]

I’ve grown used to this darkness, this paralyzing, blinding darkness. The light of hope could never hope to penetrate the shell I put up to protect the darkness. I have opened parts of the shell for certain people but the darkness only got stronger. I saw this beacon but remained behind the shell in the dark. The beacon wasn’t what I was looking for and only destroyed part of the shell letting unwanted light in. I rebuilt my barrier stronger and more secure. This beacon continued to give me false hope and burn me more and more. My heart has all but turned to coal. Another light appeared but was weaker than the beacon, so I ignored it. I sank further behind thicker shells hoping I could prevent my attraction to the beacon. Like a moth to the flame I was hypnotized. The second light was always there but I still refused to notice. It finally got my attention when I thought the beacon was gone. I discovered the light was only the shine of another shell as thick as mine. Trying to understand I opened my shell begrudgingly. The beacon returned but as I shrank back I realized it was a projection of my own creation. The other shell's inhabitant had a beacon of their own. They too opened a little to me. I don’t know what will happen to me, the darkness, or the shell but I know it can only improve nothing else will hurt me.