coming up from the drain in the bathtub. I closed my eyes again, even tighter than before as I dug through my memories. As the snakes began to spill over onto my feet, I found the memory I was searching for. I had been lying next to my grandmother one morning in her bed and she had told me to remember this always because it would give me strength when I felt my weakest. With my eyes still closed, I tried my hardest to ignore the slithering and the flicks of tiny tongues on my ankles and calves so I could focus on the memory. As I recalled the memory, the passage washed over me and I said, "The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me near quiet waters. He restores my soul. He guides me even in paths of righteousness for his name's sake." I felt the snakes all around me begin to twitch as I continued to speak. "Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil." Tears dripped from my tired face, yet the more I spoke, the stronger I felt. I began speaking louder and more firm. "For You are with me; Your rod and staff comfort me. You set a table in front of me in the presence of enemies. You anoint my head with oil and my cup overflows." The snakes twitches turned violent. "Surely goodness and love will follow me for all my life and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." I opened my eyes and saw that the snakes were beginning to wither away and I repeated, "I fear no evil! I fear no evil! Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil!"
All but one snake had died; it slid its weakened body over the rotted bodies of the other snakes. The bathroom door splintered inwards, shards of wood rained down over me. Frank stood in the doorway, his face twisted in anger and frustration. His eyes were wide and red. His mouth was contorted in an unnatural manner.
I clenched my fists at my sides, squared my shoulders and as he lunged at me I screamed, "I FEAR NO EVIL!"
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Thank you for reading! Be sure to watch for more of this tale! Please feel free and take a moment to leave me a review, thank you!
Deliah Kiester
Am I Dreaming? Page 3
