Realize.

Tara sat cross-legged in the middle of a dark, empty room.

She shifted her weight back and fourth, and from side to side.

Her eyes were glazed over, (though it was pitch black).

She stared deeply into the nothingness.

The silence of the room seemed so loud, so invasive.

Her thoughts were chaotic; Rushing so quickly around in her mind that none of them made sense.

Her breatheing got heavy; she became scared.

And that fear escalated.

Several long minutes passed,

Then,

A deep, wise-sounding voice spoke from all around her.

"Why is it that you are sitting in here all alone? Why aren't you out living your life?"

Tara's mind slowed down, until it came to be completely clear.

"I could answer you in so many ways. I wouldn't know where to begin."

Tara remained 100% focussed.

"Begin somewhere. Begin anywhere. Just do begin, for I am only willing to help you just this once."

"I'm in here because I'm afraid to leave. I'm afraid to walk out my front door. I'm afraid of what's outside. It's safe in here."

"Honestly, though, do you enjoy sitting in here by yourself? It apears as though you are doing nothing more than basking in your own fear and misary. Is this what you want?

"Well, no, of course it isn't what I want. This is mild contentment. But what you're getting at is indeed correct, I am not happy."

"I know you're not, Tara. I am wise, and I see many things; Many things beyond what you and your people can see, and I know you. I know who you are, where you've been, and all aspects about you that physical proof can prove. The only thing I do not know is your mind and your emotions. Not to a tee, that is. Though a lot does show."

"If you're so wise, then can't you just tell me what to do?"

"That would be cheating, Tara. Life is a game, and cheating brings about bad karma. I presume you wouldn't want that. By me directly telling you what to do, and how to do it, you would get what you want right off, but later down the road, karma would come back to bite you. I'm not about to let that happen. I'd like to help you search your own self, so that any of your attempts in life will be genuine, and you can remain on the up and up, rather than the up and down you currently exist in."

"Well, considering I don't know too much about my self, some soul searching doesn't sound like such a bad idea. I thought I knew myself. I always feel as if I do. Then something always happens, and I realize I know nothing."

"Always remember that you have choices, Tara. Options. And going with the same options over and over will keep you in your cycle. Going about situations in your same old ways will continue to backfire for as long as you continue to go that route."

"But I have nothing else. My ways are all I have, and all I know. I have no new bridges to cross."

"You are wrong, Tara. In fact, you have several other bridges, and they're all around you. They present themselves all the time. You just continue to set them to fire."

"Thank you, hallucination. I believe you have said all I need to hear. It just clicked in my head, and I now know what I must do."

"It was really that simple all along. I'm glad that I could help you. Happy trails, and no more arson!"

Tara stood up, turned the light on, and took a look in the mirror.

She smiled at her reflection, and walked out the door.

With a new mindset, Tara was ready to break free of the cycle.