A Step Forward

In the eyes of another, it was only a single step. But to Shade, it felt like an eternity. Time felt like it had slowed down all for the purpose of moving his legs. The sound around him was drained and the heat from the lava below became as cool as a winter breeze.

It was only a single step forward but it was also stepping into the beginning of something new. Celia's inspirational words had captivated Shade and pushed him forward. Trust. That's what was required of him. Trusting others was like walking through a field of thorns. But Celia's words had numbed his flesh.

The memories of broken hearts and shattered dreams infiltrated Shade's mind. He remembered them all. All the times he had been let down and betrayed by those he once trusted. He remembered the pain and heartbreaks. The feelings of loneliness and betrayal. They all came back to him as if they were designed for this one moment. The moment his trust in others was renewed.