One bright early morning a young teen shambled out of their bed, down some stairs and into a kitchen, they made themself breakfast and slumped down on their chair. No matter how many people tried talking to them no matter how much affection they were given they still felt alone, they sat there staring off into the darkness, a pitch-black wall no one else could see or understand. They stared blankly at the wall, if they weren't breathing they’d look like they were dead. Sometimes they would imagine things that make them happy, colours, life, joy, love a weak smile starts on their face, though it is only temporary as all their thoughts were swallowed by the darkness.

It may have been sad, but they were used to it. The fire of joy cannot last without someone to give it kindling and well, they had run out of kindling long, long ago. Their gaze stays on the wall, though it was more of a room, imagine being stranded in the depths of space, but unable to die, a void of darkness that plagues your vision eternally. They would call out for help but there was no point, no one could hear them. So they sat there in the darkness as they had done for the past several years, going through the same blankness that kept them there.

A spark flickers in the distance, barely visible from the chair, they did not know why but they had an urge, a strong urge, stronger than anything they’d ever felt. They slowly stand in the dark abyss their shadow trying to pull them back down, normally the darkness would succeed but today was different. Pulling away from their shadow's grasp they press on, strong winds of hatred push them back, sharp spikes of doubt rain down on them piercing their weak skin but they press on. Minutes, hours, maybe even days pass, they were exhausted, bleeding and starving but the spark flared again, much closer than before.

In a mad sprint, they run with all the energy they have left dashing through physical and mental pain of ever-increasing degrees. They see it, something in the distance, some physical object that wasn't that cursed chair, in a final leap they jump over the final obstacle and come upon the structure. It was a wall, a massive colourless brick wall spanning infinitely in all directions.

“W-wh” they stutter weakly before clutching their sore throat, going so long without using their voice had a negative toll on them. “N-no… NO!” they scream smashing their fist against the wall, all of it, all that work all that effort all for nothing. Tears fall from their eyes, their expression defeated. Colour drains from their skin as their shadow creeps back upon them.

They don’t struggle as it takes hold and starts dragging them back to the chair, tears falling as they start to lose sight of the wall, but something unexpected happens. The wall cracks, scars on the broken stone growing outward up the wall, they look up at the cracks, a spark of hope grows inside them, their eyes start regaining colour than their skin and clothes. Light begins to shine in from one of the many cracks, glowing like a beam burning away the darkness it touched, as the crack grows their shadow pulls harder, more cracks of light form as they stand their ground, the shadow clawing at them and pulling with all its might. They grab their shadow and walk towards a pool of light forming on a near-surface.

The beast’s claws dig deep in their arms as it tries to escape, but it was no use, for the first time in eternity they felt hope, they felt joy, they felt pure love. Shoving the shadow creature into the light it screams in pure agony, all that concentrated darkness and hatred slowly burning away. The beast shrivels into dust as the wall crumbles, colours flooding in from all directions, the light burning all the hatred and suffering away.

They stand up from their chair, place their bowl in the sink and smile with the purest joy anyone can imagine before skipping to the door, for the first time in ages they had a choice that wasn't rigged both ways, they did it they overcame the one thing stopping them from living, their self. Faced with her options they cry, not of sadness but joy. For once they looked outside they did something they never thought they’d do.

The teen turned around went upstairs and headed to bed, they accomplished something that felt impossible before they sat down that dull morning, they cared for themself. Resting their head down on a pillow it wasn’t long before they were fast asleep, experiencing the best snooze of their life, unaware that the darkness, was silenced for now but not yet vanquished.