The night i learned shadows could love was the night i almost died.
The air was unusually cold that night , so cold that it hurt to breathe.
I was leaving college late.
The streetlights shut off one by one ,
as if someone was turning them off on purpose.
I clutched my scarf tighter and quickened my pace.
That's when i felt it -
someone was following me.
I turned around .
no one was there.
But my shadows ...
it wasn't normal.
It wasn't moving with me.
My shadow shifted in a direction I hadn't moved.
My heart pounded.
''It's just my imagination'',
I told myself.
but when i stepped under a streetlight, my shadow stretched.
Far too long .like it belonged to someone else.
Then i heard a voice
soft. but close.
''STOP''
My body froze . i tried to scream , but no sound came out.
the shadow rose from my feet and climbed the wall beside me.
I shut my eyes and then...
something changed . the shadow didn't hurt me.
It embraced me. There was no fear in its touch only... (protection).
''THE VOICE SPOKE AGAIN ; ''FROM TONIGHT ONWARDS, YOU WILL BE NOT BE ALONE ,
I gathered my courage and asked , ''who are you?''
The shadow paused . amd then replied:
I am the one you were never meant to see.''
The streetlight flickered back on,
The shadows returned to normal.
I stood there , trembling , but i knew one thing. that night wasn't the end of my life .
IT WAS THE BEGINNING.