Battle Worn

An ordinary girl. An ordinary life. Late nights, early mornings; caffeine and sugar alternating with inspired bursts of healthy eating. Final year of high school--life would be easier if you didn't binge-watch TV and stayed off social media. But teens will be teens.
Graduation flies by in a flurry of photos and friends. First job, first car--a world of possibilities spread out before her, riddled with hopes and fears.
A good life, a clean life: a role model for our children. Look to her, daughters, look and learn.

Be not deceived.

A crushing blow, a shattered shield--an ambush in another realm. Oh, you who think you stand! Cast down, thrown to the earth; the gentle path beneath her feet is vanished. A stinging blow from her oldest foe: the other one. The other her. The one they killed. Its wounds gape, bloodless and blackened. The eyes are glazed with death, and yet from its throat rises a hollow laugh.
"You are dead! Return from whence you came!" She strikes out at it with her blade. O fool, to fight the foe alone! It has it's minions--they rise up to its defense and her destruction. One she has never seen before seizes her by the throat, lifting her to dangle, struggling, inches above the ground.

Beware lest you fall

A sudden falter. We pause and look once more. Perhaps we should seek another role model. Or was it just--Oh! Coldness, deadness, fear and failure--was this the one we praised so highly? What has she done? Where has she gone? Why this distance--why the silence?

If they but knew

Heaven preserve; hell, do not rise! The second realm is bleeding through. The falls, the blows, the fierce attack--she feels it even here. Hiding away, cloaking the truth, slowly takes its toll. Weariness, pain, grief and despair--must this be endured?
At last, in struggle long and fierce, the minion falls. Crumpled, gasping, thanking the Glory for this sword, she lies exhausted on the earth. To weary to rise--silent surrender. Just where her enemy would have her be. It lifts her unresistant form, carries her down, far down below. She wakes in a silent cell. Alone, imprisoned, and yet... At least she is not being beaten. At least here, she is not hurt. The way of escape cannot been seen, nor yet the will to seek it.

This cannot touch the other realm

She's looking better--not what she was, but certainly improving. A cleaner life, a brighter smile--who cares what it might hide? We will not send our daughters to her, yet we approve her parents' pride. Moving on, growing older. Working, living, planning, dreaming--she is doing well. So we move on and soon forget her faltering. She is a good girl, is she not?

Hidden things must come to light

A young man, handsome, good and kind. Another role model. A rising leader. Acquaintances, friends--whispered rumors, quiet laughs. Smiles, chatting, then a question. Stirring her hopes, yet raising her fears. If he but knew of the prison cell! He lives in both realms, as does she, yet she lies rotting while he lives free. Unworthy, defeated--I fell before my foe! He cannot know, and yet he must--for his sake and for hers.

Know the truth

War weary, rising slowly from the dust. His foes have fallen back from his last onslaught. Sword unsheathed, he leaves the field. A captive's cry has reached his ears. One who surrendered to the foe--his friend from the other realm. He enters the unguarded prison. None in this realm expect a rescue. The foes does not foresee friends meeting in this realm. All wander alone and fight alone. But not this time. A clang, a crash--the heavy iron door swings wide.

This is freedom

Arise, friend, do not give up the war! You are free--we can escape. He speaks to her of his own foes, and lets her tell of hers. He knows defeat as well as she, yet strives on to the promised victory. Side by side, they leave the prison, armed and aware. To harm her, her foes must get through him, and likewise, her sword is turned against his enemies. The journey's long, the foes are many, but by the Glory's grace, they are ready. Where one may fall, two will yet stand. We will fight this war together.

"Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!"

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10