Dark shadows often gather on the horizon of our lives. Undeniably have I felt the grim hands of depression place their hold upon my soul. It is a grip all to familiar. It is a testament to the strength of the human spirit that we can rise above these harsh moments, lift our head to the sky, and tread forwards with our lives. Though not always easy to shed from our shoulders, we must never let hope fade from our sights. It is often said that all which does not kill us only makes us stronger. This is not the truth. Like a wall of stone, strength and sanity can be chipped away with time, slowly eroding towards nothingness, and often it becomes difficult to face the light, and hard to see through the darkness. I know that I was reaching the end of my rope when it happened. One sweet angel came into my life, offering to save my soul, when I was beginning to lose my hope in the world. Very slowly my wounds heal, many scars left from the past wish to linger onwards, threatening to drive me back to the darkness, and back to solitude. The slings and arrows of societies hate can inflict grevious pain upon it's victims, and there comes a point when something has to give. I was reaching that point, scared, alone, abandoned, and fast becoming hopeless. Oh many will say that our troubles are far from that bad, and others will say that I exxagerate too much, but I know in my heart that as time marched onwards, I continued to feel left behind, and I know beyond all doubt that I wore a smiling mask to hide pain. The harsh lyrics of Korn and the obsessive words of Trent Reznor frequently expelled by my speakers, the sad tunes of Matchbox 20, and the hateful screams of Marilyn Manson all made sense to my lonely, bitter soul. I screamed with them, hoping to expunge this darkness from my life, but hate brings only hate, and strife brings strife. One must make peace. I never will be able to fight my own demons, but perhaps with the love and help of another, perhaps I may yet heal the wounds of so many lonely years. The pain is no longer constant, angry, boiling inside of me. I have felt the weight of my own chains tossed aside with the power of love. I have waited for a long time, the journey was not a simple one, but the reward at the end is well worth the effort. --TD