| Biographical Non-Fiction posted February 24, 2020 |
  |
From Dark to Light
Coping
by Raffaelina Lowcock
On November 9th of 1965 I was in a private room at the Scarboro General Hospital and in a very sad state of self-pity. Suddenly there was complete darkness. I lay there for about five minutes waiting for a nurse to come and see what could be done about the loss of light. No one came.
I cautiously got out of the bed and felt my way toward the window. It wasn’t an easy journey. I knew where the wall behind the bed was and felt my way from there. What I was expecting to see once I reached the window, was streetlights. There were none. This was the Great North Eastern Blackout of Toronto and New York City. I, of course, had no idea what was happening.
I was so disoriented by the total darkness, that I had to find the handles on the window to hang onto.
As my mind regained composure, I knew I should get back to the bed. Again, I felt my way along the wall and climbed back into the bed.
Once I was settled, my mind took off. I was here because on November 4th, I had given birth to a baby boy. That baby died after 72 hours because of congenital problems that today would have been repairable, but back then, were not.
What was I thinking about? Oh, I immediately worried if this was connected to my devastating situation and I knew, of course, it was not. I thought about my husband and my four boys at home, and I wondered if indeed they were at home and, were they also somewhere where there was darkness.
As I thought of my four boys my sadness turned to pleasure. Acknowledging that I had four healthy boys waiting for me, lightened the sadness of the death of the recently born son, John Willy. I closed my eyes and let the tears run down my face as I cried and prayed in gratitude for what I had.
I then thought, “This darkness has helped me to see the light.”
The Dark writing prompt entry
On November 9th of 1965 I was in a private room at the Scarboro General Hospital and in a very sad state of self-pity. Suddenly there was complete darkness. I lay there for about five minutes waiting for a nurse to come and see what could be done about the loss of light. No one came.
I cautiously got out of the bed and felt my way toward the window. It wasn’t an easy journey. I knew where the wall behind the bed was and felt my way from there. What I was expecting to see once I reached the window, was streetlights. There were none. This was the Great North Eastern Blackout of Toronto and New York City. I, of course, had no idea what was happening.
I was so disoriented by the total darkness, that I had to find the handles on the window to hang onto.
As my mind regained composure, I knew I should get back to the bed. Again, I felt my way along the wall and climbed back into the bed.
Once I was settled, my mind took off. I was here because on November 4th, I had given birth to a baby boy. That baby died after 72 hours because of congenital problems that today would have been repairable, but back then, were not.
What was I thinking about? Oh, I immediately worried if this was connected to my devastating situation and I knew, of course, it was not. I thought about my husband and my four boys at home, and I wondered if indeed they were at home and, were they also somewhere where there was darkness.
As I thought of my four boys my sadness turned to pleasure. Acknowledging that I had four healthy boys waiting for me, lightened the sadness of the death of the recently born son, John Willy. I closed my eyes and let the tears run down my face as I cried and prayed in gratitude for what I had.
I then thought, “This darkness has helped me to see the light.”
I cautiously got out of the bed and felt my way toward the window. It wasn’t an easy journey. I knew where the wall behind the bed was and felt my way from there. What I was expecting to see once I reached the window, was streetlights. There were none. This was the Great North Eastern Blackout of Toronto and New York City. I, of course, had no idea what was happening.
I was so disoriented by the total darkness, that I had to find the handles on the window to hang onto.
As my mind regained composure, I knew I should get back to the bed. Again, I felt my way along the wall and climbed back into the bed.
Once I was settled, my mind took off. I was here because on November 4th, I had given birth to a baby boy. That baby died after 72 hours because of congenital problems that today would have been repairable, but back then, were not.
What was I thinking about? Oh, I immediately worried if this was connected to my devastating situation and I knew, of course, it was not. I thought about my husband and my four boys at home, and I wondered if indeed they were at home and, were they also somewhere where there was darkness.
As I thought of my four boys my sadness turned to pleasure. Acknowledging that I had four healthy boys waiting for me, lightened the sadness of the death of the recently born son, John Willy. I closed my eyes and let the tears run down my face as I cried and prayed in gratitude for what I had.
I then thought, “This darkness has helped me to see the light.”
|
Writing Prompt Write a story where your character is stuck in complete darkness. |
 Recognized |
When the candle of THOUGHT lights the way.
For the art... Thanks to Andre Three Thou
Pays
one point
and 2 member cents. For the art... Thanks to Andre Three Thou
You need to login or register to write reviews. It's quick! We only ask four questions to new members.
© Copyright 2022. Raffaelina Lowcock All rights reserved.
Raffaelina Lowcock has granted FanStory.com, its affiliates and its syndicates non-exclusive rights to display this work.