Father

My restless sleep came to an end with the sound of wings beating against the dark of the night. The soft undulating breeze blew gently across my face and my eyes flew open at the disturbance. The room felt suddenly cold and fear gripped my heart. The air in front of my face was strangely darker than the rest of the room. A distorted outline of a besieging creature held his place hovering over my body. Claustrophobic from the proximity of his damnable presence, I closed my eyes. The suffocating smoky breath that spewed from his nostrils filled my lungs and engulfed me like the fumes of a drug. From deep inside a groan swelled into my throat as the creature forcefully invaded my body. A shiver rushed through me and I felt an intense panic take hold.The culmination of every torturous experience, every painful encounter, every arduous ordeal was represented by the clawed hand of a demon that gripped my soul like a vice. His voice was hypnotic, like deep gravel and black velvet; words I drank in like the smooth taste of whiskey to a parched palate. My body felt like lead, his form like a sweet narcotic holding me down against my bed. Utterly transfixed by his presence, my breathing became rhythmic as I surrendered myself to this spirit of darkness.One quick breath of springtime – of fragrant flowers along a sweet garden path… its presence in my room an undeniably distinctive paradox to the smoky aura that consumed me in that moment. My eyes opened to the sight of a small orb of light floating in the corner of my room; a soft gleam shining dimly through the smoke. The trance gave way to terror as I was suddenly yanked back into reality.Oh God! I tried to cry out in desperation but the demon held my throat. His voice, still strangely hypnotic held me captive in his web.Oh God! I struggled against the creature that held me, gasping for breath, screaming inside my head. The more I struggled, the tighter his grip became and the brighter the orb shone. Biting, scratching, clawing my way free… with increasing desperation I fought against the talons. Like sharp blades, they sliced into my flesh, wounds deeper and more painful than anything I had ever experienced. With anguish, I realized I could fight no longer, there was nothing left. I was wounded from the battle, the lacerations were bleeding profusely. I would not win; I could not overcome; I had to give up. My grappling was in vain; this enemy was fiercer than I would have liked to admit. Defeat was imminent and dare I say unavoidable… my strength gave way to surrender and my body, hanging on the escarpment of death, lay still against the blood soaked sheets.Oh God... Help me... My last silent call of desperation, my only hope… And with a divine brilliance, the light burst forth into opulent, illustrious wings that beat the air like the meter of a percussive chorus. With divine swords they stormed the darkness and filled the room with the sounds of their rhythmic dance. I could not breathe as the claw of the demon tightened around my throat, his last effort to overcome his victim with the power of his ominous will. And then….I heard him squeal – a bone chilling, high pitched shriek and at once he let go. With one immense carnal heave the demon was expelled from my spent body, the sword of a seraph through his heart, and I lay exhausted under the angelic protection of illuminated wings.Oh God! Who am I that you would send an army of angels to save me from the clutches of the dark prince? Oh….. Father!