The MazeA Story by Jeremy Hiles Ever feel like you were totally and completely lost with no hope of being found? It felt as if the maze was closing in around me, suffocating me. I was beginning to panic, desperately trying to escape, but the harder I tried to get out, the more it seemed that the maze tried to keep me in. I thought back to how I had gotten myself into this mess and shook my head at my stubbornness; my pride. The day had started off in a fairly normal way, I had woken up, eaten breakfast, dressed for the day and done some work around the house. As I was going through some newspapers, I saw that there was an old maze not too far away that had reopened recently. It was built much like the maze from the Greek myths about the Minotaur, and since I was fascinated by the myth, I decided I would go try the maze for myself. Upon my arrival, I noticed that there weren’t any other cars in the parking lot except for two which belonged to employees. My first thought was that maybe it wasn’t open yet, but as I walked closer to the entrance I could see the employees at the ticket booth waiting for visitors. I hesitantly walked up and asked if the maze was open. They told me that it was, but that business was going slow today. They asked if I would rather wait for a group to come so that I wouldn’t have to go through the maze alone. At this, my pride puffed up a bit. I told them I would be fine going alone and that I could handle it. I thinking how it would impress people to hear that I had gone through the maze without any help and completely on my own. When I was asked if I wanted a guide, or even a compass I refused to even consider it. I had faith in my ability to find a way out on my own. I headed confidently into the maze, which was made of high brick walls. I walked through the maze, turning left, right, right again, left. I was sure of myself, not even debating which direction to turn when I would come to forks in the maze. I would just choose a direction for myself immediately and go with it. As time went on, however, I began to get anxious. I had been in the maze for hours and yet was no closer to finding my way out than when I had first started. I began to run aimlessly through the maze, not even paying any attention to where I was going, just running. After a time, I leaned back against one of the walls and slumped to the ground out of sheer exhaustion. I sat there for several minutes, trying to think of a way out. I could call for help, but then people would laugh at me for being foolish enough to go in there by myself. That was something my pride would never allow. I couldn’t show weakness by calling for help, there had to be a way to figure this maze out, and I was going to do it on my own. Having determined once again to do this myself, with my own abilities, I set of through the maze, this time somewhat more carefully, but still with an air of self-assurance and a hint of pride. After a few minutes, I turned a corner and nearly ran into a kind looking man. He asked where I was off to in such a hurry. I told him I was working my way through the maze by myself. “Seems to me you could use some help going through this maze.” He said. “Thank you for the offer,” I replied, “but I can do this myself.” “OK then, I won’t force myself on you.” He said, with a hint of sadness in his voice. I left him there and continued on my way, confident that I was going the right way, and confident in my abilities. As more and more time passed, I began to get anxious again. I tried to push thoughts of doubt out of my mind, but they kept coming back. Worse, I began to feel extremely disoriented and lost. For the first time I realized I had no idea where I was going. The sun had gone down, and darkness had started to fall. The maze started closing in around me, suffocating me with fear. I couldn’t go on any further, and I knew that I was lost. I knew that I had opportunities to avoid this situation, to have help, but in my pride and arrogance I had cast them aside. I fell to the ground and wept, rocking back and forth, crying for help. Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder. Turning quickly and wiping my tear stained face I saw the kind man from earlier. “It’s ok,” He told me, “I am here. I have found you and everything will be ok.” I started crying again, this time from the shame of how my pride had gotten me lost and trapped. The man knelt down beside me. “Your pride may have caused you to get lost, but you overcame it and called out for help. You are safe now.” A knot tightened in my throat and I barely managed to force out a question, “Why didn’t you force yourself on me when I saw you earlier? Why didn’t you make me accept your help?” “I cannot force myself on anyone. Everyone has free will, a right to choose to accept my help or not, even when they need it. Because they have this choice I can’t make anyone accept my help, but I can offer it to anyone who will receive it.” I buried my face in my hands, thinking over what the man had just told me, still ashamed of my pride. After several minutes, I looked up and saw the man standing in front of me, watching me with his kind eyes. “Are you ready for my help now?” “Yes, please, I just want to be free of this maze, this trap for the proud.” I followed him as he guided me out of the maze, listening as he told me a little of his background. He told me that he had been helping people out of mazes for many years, but only when they called for his help. He never forced anyone to accept his help in anyway. As we reached the exit of the maze, I turned to him and asked why he would choose to help people out of mazes, and even resign himself to watching people try to get out using only their own abilities when they refused his help. His answer was this, “I am here to find and save those who are lost. When they realize they are lost, and that I am the only one who can help them to get out of their situation, their trap, that is when I step in and guide them in the way they should go to avoid getting lost again. Anyone who calls out to me, I will help.” © 2015 Jeremy HilesAuthor's Note
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Jeremy HilesKathleen, FLAboutI enjoy reading and writing most all genres. I have written several short stories and am currently working on two books, as well as another story that very well could end up becoming a book too. I l.. more..Writing
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