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Dark Empty Space: A Contemplative Piece
He woke up at 4 AM last night to another episode of existential dread. He said: “it’s not like I dread my existence, but I dread the empty space that exists within my very being”.
He describes it as a locked dark empty room that lies at the center of his heart.
I asked: “what is so dreadful about an empty space, it has nothing in it after all”. And he replied: “but the heart is meant to be full”.
He said: “I don’t fear the dark empty space, but I dread it when it is not where it should be.” He continued: “The heart is not the place for empty dark spaces to take residence”. I asked: “Isn’t your heart yours? Can’t you ask this emptiness to leave?” He replied: “The empty space didn’t ask for my permission to reside within my heart. It just did, like an uninvited guest. It liked my heart so much it remained there. And I am too scared to ask it to leave. What if it gets bigger and darker if I rebel against it?”
I replied: “But have you tried to walk into the dark empty space, make friends with it, and ask why it liked your heart?” “Maybe it liked your heart so much because it was tender and full of light”.
“Maybe it just wants to be loved”.
