The Dark Side of Light

What do you see when you close your eyes? Do you perhaps see a few squiggly lines casually dancing? Do you see an orangish hue provided by the depth of sunlight? Do you perhaps see a somewhat bright silhouette created by your television or phone’s light? 

Now, go into a dark room and close your eyes. Don’t cheat; don’t keep a watchful eye for any hint of light. Now, that’s closer to true darkness. Now, you can have a slight sensation of what nothing truly feels like. Now, you can maybe, potentially start to understand what Buddy had gone through for so very long. Total darkness.

But your perception of what darkness truly feels rather skewed, as you have a lifetime of experiences which can aid in keeping the shadows away. True darkness is much worse than you’d ever be able to imagine. True darkness stings and bites. True darkness consumes all light, and many within the universe feel darkness is more powerful than even light.

What you were seeing with your eyes closed was still incredibly brighter than the place Buddy had spent most of his life. In truth, Buddy hadn't had a single memory other than the darkness. In many ways, he thrived in the darkness, for it was his home, and always had been. As your brain— especially if you’re a visual thinker— could add elements to that darkness, you truly don't have anything remotely as empty as what Buddy endured. Those idle memories you have of better times grants you a means for escape. Well, for Buddy, there wasn’t even a glimmer of hope. Buddy had never had anything, however, so he truly didn't know what he was actually missing. And perhaps that begs the question whether it's better to have nothing.

All Buddy could really do was play with his genitals as if they were this coveted toy. No, Buddy wasn’t masturbating; he hadn’t even the slightest idea as to what that even meant, and he was far too young to even have an orgasm, as he had been trapped in the body of a very young child. Never to be spoken to. Rarely to even be seen.

Buddy may have had a few caregivers, in which were expertly trained by the man who had made this become his reality. Buddy yearned for his feeding times, for he could perhaps slightly experience another human interacting with him. The caregivers were trained to treat Buddy with malice, however. And their prime objective was to feed the deranged young boy, as well as offer him several lashing to train him feeding was a bad time, but the effects were contrary. Buddy welcomed the beatings to break up the overall monotony of his day. He welcomed pain, for it meant he wasn't alone. 

The darkness was all Buddy knew. You may have been molded by the darkness if you’ve ever experienced it, but Buddy was born in it. He understood what true pain was. He understood the nipping winds of cruelty that lacerated his skin. He understood what true cold was, not like a winter day in Greenland in which more layers could be added for warmth. Buddy was the darkness! And while he may have been young in appearance, he was frozen in time, much like the frigid-ness the darkness brings.

One must ask, why was this Buddy’s fate? Why must he endure some of the harshest conditions ever known? Why was Buddy trapped in… well, a living hell? Buddy did nothing to deserve such a fate, and the situation was rather precarious, as all that was required was the hijacking of a young boy. Buddy easily could’ve been a girl, but he was simple at the wrong place, with the wrong parents, at the wrong time. 

Buddy’s somewhat the unknown martyr. Few know his punishment stems from the reason those up above have peace. Through a mystic and powerful spell casted by one of the few White Order wizards to have ever lived, Buddy became the whipping boy of an entire society. For Utopia seemed to exist, but few knew the horrid sacrifice Buddy had made in order for society to be perfect.

The truth was that some people were aware of why the city was so very prosperous; most of them loved their lives enough not to worry about it. After all, the young boy knew nothing else, so he’d never yearn for more. After all, what’s the harm in letting one boy suffer for eternity if it meant the prosperity of one of the biggest, booming metropolises in the entire universe. People from far and wide would travel to this city, claiming all their struggles eased when they were there, but they had no idea their happiness was contingent on Buddy’s suffering.

Buddy will remain in the dark, playing with his genitals, unbeknownst to the world. Buddy suffered all the cruelties of the world. He had every terrible disease; he endured every sniffle, cough, bloody nose. He endured darkness so others may have light. After all, Utopia truly can’t exist without sacrifice, and the price to pay for light is eternal darkness.