The Stunning Revival

A woman struggling to find value and belonging wanders away down into the woods to get away from the rest of the world. There she is discovered by an elk helping her find real love and purpose.

The city skyline appeared as the sun rose over the skyscrapers and city buildings. A train zipped through a tunnel where the bright white light at the end revealed the big bustling city. The city that never sleeps indeed was revealed with many people down below already out and about their day as normal while glued to their phones, hardly anyone really speaking to each other on their way to wherever they were going. A car suddenly blared its engine obnoxiously when a young lady came out of its mist. 

               

                She was different than the others, her eyes weren't really glued on anything, they were just... lost. She seemed sad and just wandered along, not really going anywhere in particular.  She wore jeans and a regular light green t-shirt with her dirty blonde hair in a ponytail. She also wore her hands in the pockets of her brown sweater on a chilly fall day with leaves falling beside her. Her green eyes seemed lonely as she would look at people around her as though she couldn't fit in. She looked up into the city rooftops and then back down to her feet. She wanted something more, something more, whatever that was. 

               

                Everyone around always seemed so mindless to her. The way they just went along with the next big hit show and thought it was so great even though she found it be so shallow and cheesy. The many filler scenes that meant nothing to the story, the way the characters always seemed to forget what they just said 5 minutes ago then saying something totally random, and the bunch of really unnecessarily long fight scenes. Yeah, but everyone seemed to love it for some reason. 

 

                She wanted to understand so to make more friends, but one way or another always found herself being ridiculed for not getting a certain scene or trend like it was that good. She just couldn't fit in, and everyone just kept laughing and teasingly calling her weird no matter how many times she told them to stop calling her that as if it was so funny. She really didn't mind what people said about her or sitting by herself, but she really just wanted to find people of her own. To her, friends were more than just people you talk about ordinary things with, but someone you can confide in about deeper matters of the heart. Someone she could trust. She didn't seek to have a boyfriend like everyone else, she simply wanted a real friend that's all. She couldn't understand why she couldn't just have that.

 

                She continued down a sidewalk more towards the outside of the city. She couldn't really explain it but there were days she just wanted to wander trying to get away from her family and others that she was acquainted with but would hardly call good friends or anything, as they would always refer to themselves that way anyhow, again no matter how many times she would tell them to stop. She would've loved to be friends with them but not over the same shallow jokes and empty conversations.

 

                The air was raspy, she stepped on some dry leaves while following the power lines outside the city. She eventually wandered off deeper into some woods away from the road and the car noise. As she wandered down, the leaves crumbing under her feet, a pebble stumbled into the creek bed further down with a splash, where something suddenly looked up behind the brush from drinking. Leaves  were seen resembling a thick armor around the neck to the head with a bright crystal-clear emerald eye appearing from the darkness. 

 

                Every step she took down began to feel like a step closer into that void of feeling invisible like everyone in the world would only see her from the outside only.  Like she was just another of billions in the world with no real purpose or value. She bit her lip; tears began to blur her vision in a flurry of anger and confusion mixed with the bitter weight of depression. She didn't want to feel sorry for herself or make anyone else ever feel sad with her for no reason, but she just felt so empty, and no one could ever really fill that emptiness in her heart. 

 

                Out of nowhere she began to just angrily stomp and moved her arms up and down with a fist in anger at the world around her.  Spinning around, she accidentally tripped down the hill and stopped right before falling into the ravine with her hands, face staring right into the deep sided ravine. Her face was now full of dirt and scratched up as she looked down into the creek bed before pushing herself back up. She grudgingly put her hand into a fist and hit the ground in exhaustion and frustration. Tears began to just flow down into the shallow waters below when she suddenly let out the most heart wrenching yell and began to just break down crying. 

 

                Suddenly the creature's ears met her distant cry and was deeply moved while fixated toward the sound. Antlers were now visible like the branches in the bitter wind as it began to walk through the shadows of the depths of the creek bed further away. Every other creature might have darted off after hearing a sound like that full of anger and sadness, but not this one. Emerald eyes radiating concern for whoever that was. Just needing to find the source of this cry so purely intense and sorrowful, that even the hardest heart would melt.

 

                This elk was no ordinary elk, he was the guardian of the forest realm, upholding the virtues that cause everything to flow together interconnectivity. Something about this person's presence had alerted it, as if a wave flowed through the trees over to its heart of a long-anticipated encounter. He was made aware of every tear that fell to the ground, making its way to see this human. Finally making its way around the ben to see her from below where the roots of the trees were shown in the dirt walls of the ravine. It saw her but she could not see it.

 

                "What ails you so much dear one?" The guardian's voice penetrating the silence with a gentle and concerned tone.

 

                The woman didn't react to the voice as if the life was drained out her. She was so angry, so tired, conflicted, she didn't even question the voice. Words failed her for a moment when she then answered, "I am all alone and lost in this world."

 

                The elk could sense her longing and desperation for something more. It's heart breaking for her, he then spoke again,

"You look down now, what do you see?"

 

                "Just my empty shallow existence staring back at me." She said blankly.

 

                "Indeed, and where has the water gone in this deep pit of your despair?" The creature responded.

 

                "I don't know if it was ever there at all, so I couldn't say."

 

                "Hm, and would the water hide?"

 

                "No."

 

                "It does exist and is here, only is stuck somewhere else. Now to your right can you see?

 

                She slowly looked up in the direction where the water would be flowing from.

 

                "The water is there, only blocked by the garbage and clay soil that has drifted in. If only to be let in."

 

                "So?"  she asked dully.

 

                "The same is true for the flow to your spirit. Human beings are special. They are meant to be filled with words, not just things or empty praise. When they are born, they not only need physical food, but something else to fill the void they are born with as well in their spirit. They cannot fill themselves with what they do not have such as love or belonging. The true spirit of love is the only thing that can fill that void that hurts you so much."

 

                "Humans love." She stated.

 

                "But is it real love or just a fleeting moment or feeling? Something that truly fills you?"

 

                She didn't respond, contemplating the truth in that statement.

               

                "That clay soil is the expectations and lies set by the world that can harden your heart to everything around you."

               

                Her eyes slowly opened in acknowledgment from that reality, but quickly furrowed in frustration from it all.

 

                "Why does it even matter? Why should I even bother with this world anymore?! It's all just the same insanity again and again, people never change! What's the point of even living? It doesn't mean anything to anyone anyway, other than just to use me when they’re upset all while never doing the same for me. I can't do it anymore!"

 

                She hit the ground again with her fist. Her face in such agony looking towards the sky and and then returning back down again.

 

                "Yes." He answered solemnly and acknowledging her pain. "People use people. They take and even when they mean well or try to give to you, they can't give anything that lasts and fills our hearts with real love and joy. Only empty promises of such things."

 

                She still couldn't see him. Dust and tears building up in her eyes again. She just sat there continuing to contemplate life. Some had said in the past that she tended to overthink things, but she just wanted to look past the surface for meaning. She started to sink back into helpless depression, burying her head in her arms in frustration with herself and the world around her. 

 

                The elk saw. He continued on. The wind rustled gently through the tree branches as the leaves blew off. "The murky part of water over there on the left, why does the water reside alone there and become impure?"

 

                "Probably just a really sandy bottom draining it all." She said turned away in her arms.

 

                "The same is true for the flow to your spirit. You yearn for something more from the world, fulfillment and guidance. Instead, you are left confused, unsatisfied, broken, and empty even though you do your best. The more you take in, the more you still find yourself with nothing. Just that still broken, still  tattered heart. A never-ending cycle of false hope and discouragement."

 

                Hot tears streamed down her face. She turned more towards the source of the voice. Her face was still sad but understanding the reality of someone speaking to her, to her. A warmth she had never encountered before in the cold bitterness of society. She still felt a hate for herself and the world around her.

 

                ''Shall I continue?" He asked.

 

                "I guess."

 

                "The birds can you hear them?"

               

                '"No."

               

                "Then listen closer."

 

                "She was as still as possible and began to hear the distant songs of the birds nearby."

 

                "Do you know that not one of them worries about tomorrow or what they shall eat, drink, or where they shall call home? Do you know that all their needs are provided for by me as they seek refuge here? Do you know that even they mourn for the loss of their homes, and yet are comforted as they sing for joy in a new day in the changing of the seasons. Mourning is a sign of humanity, of pain. A sign some humans don't realize the depths too. A sign that you may be comforted as your hardened heart is pierced making way for the water of life to flow freely, overflowing in your heart.  Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted. The words of our creator.

               

                "Creator?"

 

                "Yes, and the rightful king of the world. The one who gave dominion to humans to rule over the Earth and animals. Although most choose to live idly and never acknowledge him and the world he has given for them. His son came in the flesh and even died for the world, but the world still chooses to hate him and his words of life. He is the one that gave the gift of the Holy Spirit. The true spirit of love. The spirit who counsels us and gives us encouragement and wisdom. Never failing love and purpose on our path. By simply believing in his son's sacrifice on the cross, and that he rose again to redeem the lost to have a fulfilling relationship with him, we can be saved from the spiral of darkness in this world.  His son said, he is the way, the truth, and the life. Nobody comes to the father except through him. When we can then be baptized by the Holy Spirit who makes us born again. The one who gives our hearts real love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. A hope and a future."

 

 The woman's heartbroken eyes slowly filled with life and hope at this.  "This creator loves me that much?"

 

"Yes, indeed he does. Do you believe his words?"

 

She lit up with excitement as she said, “yes!"

 

She pushed herself off the edge to remove the blockage for the water to flow through freely down to the rest of creek. "Holy Spirit please come fill me with you love!" She exclaimed, removing the rubble and mud, and the water began to rush through.

 

He smiled at her words. Coming towards her from behind. She suddenly felt his breath upon her when she spun around, hands behind and still on the ground. She looked at the ground slowly up to the magnificent and tall leafy armored elk, as their eyes met each other's. She could see him. Raizen. The guardian elk of the forest realm. His emerald eyes stared deeply into her with a sweet intimacy she had never experienced before. His eyes made her feel seen, no longer invisible, loved and valued. 

 

"What is your name dear one?" He asked.

 

"K-Kira." She answered nervously and in awe.

 

"Kira, my name is Raizen, guardian of the forest realm. Not many have the eyes to see me.  You have been set apart and now are a warrior and ambassador to the light of the world. Wherever you go in this world his spirit will be with you. Call on him and he is faithful to answer in his timing. Your battle won't be with flesh and blood, but against the rulers of darkness. You are so loved."  

 

A light began to glow around her as her own emerald armor formed over her. She valiantly rose to her feet from the mud, her heart filled with real love, joy, and purpose.  She stood there in amazement.

 

Raizen smiled again. "Because you have chosen to believe and not conform to the patterns of the world, you too have been transformed." He said, proud of her finding an identity not in the world but in who she was as a child, a princess, of the most high king and creator of the universe." Anytime you need me princess, I will be there for you," he said bowing. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author's Note

The name is pronounced like raise-en by the way. Hope it turns out good. Open to any suggestions as well. Have since made some fixes.

Reviews

[Ern M. Yoshimoto]

it's such an intriguing premise, i just wished the story was longer.
the opening scene is a great meditation on modern-day loneliness. this feeling was expressed really well. but a saviour arrives! an... elk? i had to read that a couple of times. it's a great twist. it's surprising and makes you wonder. ithis is a great parable about finding the path to salvation, which sometimes requires leaving behind a lot of things.