Saving Grace by Akubuo Pamella Onyinyechi

DISCLAIMER: This story was revised using AI tools to improve grammer and clarity. However, the ideas, plot, and characters remain the author’s (my) original work

A
 person floating in a black sea. Eyes fixated on the surface, deep in thought, when suddenly a school of fish swam past them. Distracted from their train of thoughts as they chased after the shoal of fish.
They caught one in their palms and paused to examine it. Then suddenly the forgotten thoughts resurfaced – the weight of their loneliness. They gently let go of the fish but it didn’t swim away.
Instead, the fish began to circle round them playfully, as if inviting them to continue the chase. What was once playful turned excessive and panic sets in. The person desperately tried to chase it away, but the struggle was leaving them gasping for breath – they were suffocating.
Just as the person was about to give up, through half closed eyes, they saw a bright light approaching from the surface, cutting through the darkness. As the light grew closer, it brought with it, relief and warmth. The fish gone and the suffocating pressure lifted.
As the light reaches them, it transforms into a glowing, warm rope. It gently wrapped itself around the person’s wrist. The person actually felt physical warmth and it made them realize that what they were witnessing was not a dream.
In curiosity, they reached out with their other hand to touch the rope, to inspect it. It was beautiful and its radiance came with a comforting warmth. For the first time, they held something that seemed steadfast, different from the fleeting fish whose relevance faded away once caught.
As they were in thought, the rope gently tugged them towards the surface. Confusion etched on their face as they glanced between the rope and the surface. Then realization came in. Still tentatively, they pointed to the surface as if asking the question, “Me? Go up where?” As an answer, the rope gently tugged them once more.
Fear took hold. They turned their head from side to side, trying to remove the rope from their wrist. As the rope let go of their wrist, they shut their eyes tightly. Covered their ears, and curled into a ball shape. As if shutting out the thought of going to the surface. They thought to themselves, “We’re fine just where we are. Why do we have to move? It promised to stay by my side, right? Yes, because it hasn’t left yet. So, we’re not going anywhere. There’s no need to leave. We are fine just where we are.”
“Are we?” The person is shocked by this line of thought but it presses on.
“Look around you. You know what this place does to people. What it did to us and what it’s doing to us right now. Place of comfort? Funny how our comfort zone serves as the duvet for our deathbed.” “It’s only a matter of time before the light will fade away. I know change is hard but we can’t keep living like this. We are not fine just where we are.”
“I know, but will everything be okay? How do I know if the surface is dangerous or not? How sure am I of my wellbeing? I want to get out of here, but this is the only place I’ve known.” “I am afraid”, the person said out loud with a voice barely above a whisper, and the rope heard. It understood their struggles and knew they needed it more than ever.
So, it gently wrapped itself around them, offering comfort. The person was startled because the rope pulled them out of their spiraling thoughts. Strangely, the person heard a whisper that said,
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways submit to Him,
And He would make your path straight.”
T
aking these words of comfort, they uncurled themselves as the rope let go. They looked up at the surface, then looked at the rope. Uncertainties played around in their mind, but the possibilities overshadowed them.
They too a deep breath, took the rope into their palm, letting its warmth comfort them. They were scared, but determined and ready to trust. The rope as if happy, shined brighter, wrapped itself around the person’s wrist, and pulled them towards the surface.
As the person was ascending, they looked down into the darkness and that was when they realized the dark depths they were in. They couldn’t see the school of fish anymore, just an endless void. This made them hold on tighter to the rope.
Breaking through the surface, on top solid ground and under a shade, the person was greeted by a bright light ahead. The person marveled at its beauty and took in its radiance. While they were occupied with the serenity, the rope gently tugged them towards the light, but the person did not move. They looked at themselves as if telling the rope, “Look at how filthy I am.” Truly they were covered in filth and they felt ashamed.
But the rope still tugged, as if telling the person to trust it. Gathering up courage, the person stepped into the light and was instantly cleaned of their filth. They felt free and clean for the first time in their lives.
The person slumped to their knees as painful memories swelled up in their mind, and the only way to let them out was through their tears. They wept. They didn’t know why the rope chose someone like them, but they still said “thank you” to the rope. The rope stayed beside them and comforted them.
When their sobbing had subsided, they lifted their head. With their eyes closed, they breathed in the fresh air, their salvation, breathed out as if that breath was taking away all the pain inside of them, took in the warmth of the light as if accepting their new fate, then smiled.
They opened their eyes and looked at the rope, and said, “Take me closer.” The rope continued to pull them towards the light and this time they did not resist. They followed the rope, trusting that it would not lead them into harm.

The End