"FOLLOW ME INTO DARKNESS" HER EYES SAID. AND IT FELT AS THOUGH MY ANCHORS HAD LIFTED. "COME AWAY WITH ME" SHE SILENTLY PLEADED. SO I CAST OFF AND BRAVED THE STORM WITH QUICKENING PACE. REACHING INTO DARKNESS TRYING TO SMOTHER MY OWN INNER LIGHT, I FEEL THE MONOLITH SWAY. "THIS COULD BE THE END OF ME" I WHISPER LOOKING UP INTO THE NIGHT SKY. MY COMPASS NO LONGER POINTS NORTH AS I LOSE MYSELF IN THIS MOMENT. NOTHING LEFT ASHORE CROSSES MY MIND. AND I'M LIKE A BLOOD SICKENED BEAST RAVAGING IT'S PREY. I AM OUTSIDE MYSELF LOOKING DOWN ON THE SCENE UNABLE TO STOP WHAT'S COMING, THE MESSY END AND ALL THE BROKEN PIECES THAT GO WITH IT. BUILDING MOMENTUM AND FALLING INTO A TAILSPIN I CHOKE BACK MEMORIES OF THE MAN I ONCE WAS, AND STARE. I STARE INTO THE REELING FACE OF OBLIVION. I TASTE BLOOD ON THE LIPS OF DEATH. CLOSE AS I AM TO HER I CANNOT JOIN HER. I FEEL THE GROWING URGE CREEP IN ON ME AS I HEAR THE GNASHING JAWS OF THE SWEET END POUNDING IN MY EARS. "WHERE IS MY COMFORT?" I SCREAM WITHIN MY OWN MIND. HOW WILL I GET BACK ASHORE? LOST AT SEA I DRIFT BETWEEN WORLDS. "I CAN'T SAVE YOU NOW." BUT SHE ALREADY KNOWS. MY TALE FINALLY REACHES ITS ****** AND I AM PULLED BACK FROM THE TOSSING WAKE OF ETERNITY. AS THE TIDE COMES IN AND LIGHT SHOWS AGAIN I SIT BESIDE THE MONOLITH AND PONDER... "WHAT HAVE I BECOME?"