Dimmer

Dimmer By: Shannon R. Giedieviells A chilly autumn night. Tolerable when the air is still, but as the wind blows it sends the feeling of a frozen metal spike into the spine. Her pace is steady. Her arms are crossed to keep the chill out of her body. Just ahead, an old, rusty lamppost is the only source of light. The candescence is surrounded by a dim ring, fading in the distance. She briskly walks to her destination as if she will soon find warmth and comfort there, wherever it may be. She is alone. But, she does not feel alone. Her pace is faster now. She wants to step into the center of the ring of expanding light as if she believed the illumination from the lamppost was some kind of heavenly body. A savior. She stops. Only for a second-- She looks over her shoulder. But, she only sees the radiance from the lamppost growing dimmer before leaking into the darkness. Her heartbeat resonates in her ears. Breathing in the crisp air numbs her chest. She reaches the lamppost and slowly exhales before continuing to her destination, wherever it may be. Into the dim, a dark figure slowly follows.