Under the deep onyx of the new moon, she curled into the shadows – a void within the void. She bent her knees to her chest and embraced them firmly against her breast. Her face was tight with dried tears, her breathing strained and halted.

Fear emerged – a long known friend and foe to her. They sat close to one another, Fear mirroring her posture exactly. Fear reached for her hand and held it tight until their fingers entwined.

“I have brought you here to say goodbye,” she said.

“You don’t want to do that, my love,” Fear replied. “There are things you don’t understand.”

“I am ready to say goodbye.”

Then, Fear spoke quietly to her, lovingly so. “My dearest, I have seen you on every journey of your soul,” Fear explained. “I have seen the lives of heartbreak, of war, of humiliation and despair. I have seen your body writhe in agony. I have seen you awash in tears and blood. I have seen the grief and the bone breaking loss.” Fear paused. “That, dear one, is why I came to you so long ago.”

Fear squeezed her hand in pulses as she began to shake. “I came to protect you, my love. I came to warn you of dangers and to keep you quiet and disguised. I came to shield you from those who wished you harm. I came to you because I could no longer bear to see you suffer.” Fear took a deep inhale. “And I succeeded. Not always, but many times, I did succeed. I kept you hidden so they would not see you. If they didn’t see you, hear you, then you were safe.”

Fear released the hand and waited for her to speak.

“You have done me a great service, dear Fear. This I know,” she said softly. “I know the suffering you speak of very well. At times, the memories well up within me and nearly break the fibers of my heart, my very being.”

She turned to Fear now and stared directly. “I thank you, dear Fear, for your warnings, for your whispers and shrieks of protection. But I wish to be free now. I wish to say goodbye.”

Fear cried, “Who will protect you if I go?”

“I am safe.”

“Who will warn you of dangers?”

“I am safe.”

“Who will keep the pain away?”

“I am safe.”

And within the stillness and silence of that deep new moon, Fear finally stood and nodded. “You have been brave, my dear. You have faced me without doubt.” Fear smiled calmly and with sudden pride. “Now, you are safe.” Fear let the truth sink in and became bright. “Indeed, my love, you are safe. And, you are free.”

Fear blew a kiss to his beloved. A final kiss. A final gift as he left her beneath the glow of a million twinkling stars.