The Resolution

Payton just stared, dumbfounded. Finally, after what seemed like hours she managed to stammer, “You’re ME?”

A wave of anger rolled over Payton.

“What kind of sick-ass joke is this? Haven’t I had enough crap today without you adding insult to injury and mocking me? Take all your buddies and get the hell out of my face!”

The woman continued to hold Payton’s hands and to look unflinchingly into her eyes.

“Payton. You know the truth. It’s one of those voices that have been pushed into the background by the others. They’ve tried to kill it, you know. What that gaggle of silly honking geese doesn’t know, and what you must understand, is that the truth belongs to you. It is yours. And it can never be killed – only hidden.”

Payton was confused. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that the one thing that can never be destroyed, is the truth – your truth. You can forget it, or ignore it, or even temporarily lose it, but it will not fail. It is your greatest strength, your strongest weapon and your truest love. Do you remember your Sunday School lessons? “You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free”. That’s more than just a meaningless line from an out-of-date book. That is what is genuine and real. You can live it, bathe in it, feed yourself through it and arm yourself with it. It will never forsake you, even when the world is crashing in around you and you can see no way out of the darkness. There is always a light – and that light is Truth. If you act bathed in the light of Truth, then no being, living or dead, real or imaginary, can do you real harm.”

Payton began to sob wretchedly. She was so miserable. How could this all be happening? It was too much to digest. Too much. Her mind was spinning in overdrive. And just when she thought she was about to implode, she felt the woman’s arms around her in a pure loving embrace.

“Payton.”

Payton raised her head and looked into the woman’s eyes – into her own eyes. And she knew that this spectacular creature was right. That meant that she was right. Payton felt her strength creeping back into her body. She was right! She did know the truth – her own truth. Somehow she had allowed all those demons into her head to distract her and seduce her away. But now she was back – and she was lock-and load back and loaded for bear!

Payton was ecstatic. She flung her arms around the woman, her other self, and hugged tight.

But the other woman was gone. Payton faltered. A frown creased her brow. She looked around for the woman, but saw no trace. Payton started to feel a little panicked. What had happened? And then something flickered just in the corner of her vision to the right. Payton turned her head quickly. There, right in front of her nose, hovered a small intense twinkle of light. It continued to hover there for a minute as Payton puzzled over what it was.

Suddenly the twinkle gave a little jump and settled on Payton’s chest, directly over her heart. Its warmth seemed to spread through her whole body, making her fingers and toes tingle. Then it appeared to dim. But no, it wasn’t going out – it was going in! Payton was absorbing it. As the last little flickered and then merged with Payton she heard the woman’s voice in her ear.

“In embracing me, you have embraced yourself. That is all the weaponry you need against the demons and specters you have in your mind. This is the truth – and it is yours. Love yourself purely and truly and you will never listen to those negative voices again. Remember – and be real.”

Payton smiled. She listened for the gibberish in her mind. It was gone. She was real, they were not. There might be bumps in her road – but she had her armor, and she would be just fine.