"Ok, this is the tale of my most traumatic experience. ... The wind that spring afternoon was howling like the end of the world was nigh at hand. Earlier in the day, there hadn't been a cloud in sight and the sky was so blue it hurt your eyes to even look at it. Suddenly a crack of angry thunderbolts yanked me out of my fragile sense of security. Ugly, blackened 'cotton' looming above foreshadowing the dire events soon to take place. I peered out my picture window and witnessed the unmistakable outline of a funnel developing in the distance. By the time I accepted the harsh reality brewing outside, the tornado was almost upon the threshold. The most bitter pill of all to swallow was that my normal haven from the dangers of life wasn't immune from the utter devastation approaching rapidly. Everything in its path was strewn about with no concern or discrimination. In a flash, I was about to be cast aside like an unwanted rag doll as my prayers for salvation went unanswered."
"Very compelling! I enjoyed that as I'm sure everyone else in attendance did."; The Therapist said. "Now, who's next?"
"I'll go next but I warn everyone in advance, my paltry story isn't nearly as interesting as hers is! Still, it was just as terrifying to me at the time; although now it's just embarrassing. It all happened so suddenly that I didn't even have time to prepare for it. None of us did. I was riding in a car with a couple pals of mine. We were on the way to a new downtown nightclub in hopes of meeting some sexy ladies. All of us were clowning around and not paying attention to where we were going; and that's when the trouble started. Everyone was bragging about how their their 'pick up lines' were the best. To tell the truth, we just hoped to get the chance to use them! At the top of a small hillside, the car's headlights cut though the darkness and revealed an unexpected obstruction in the middle of the street. My friend swerved violently at the last minute to avoid a large dog that had apparently taken up residence at the centerline. At least I think it was a dog, I never actually found out. Whatever it was, we managed to miss it but the car collided with a large oak tree beside the highway. Naturally, adrenaline poured into my bloodstream but it was all over in the blink of an eye and then all went black.
"I think all these experiences have certain things in common besides the obvious."; She offered. "Your story of tragedy is no less important than anyone else's. Thank you for sharing it with the rest of us! I could visualize the surprised look on all your faces as the headlights revealed the delinquent K-9 guarding it's territory on the highway. It was a strong, visual event that you shared with us. Now, who else haven't we heard from yet? How about you? What event brought you to be with us?"
"I hadn't been home long and forgot to lock the front door. It was a common habit of mine but in my defense, I never expected someone to come to my home with deliberate intentions to do me harm. Certainly if someone did have dark intent in mind, a locked door wouldn't have stopped them probably. At least that is what I comfort myself with now. I can scarcely bring myself to dredge up those painful memories... and I hope all of you will be patient with me. Experiencing something so traumatic often takes a long time to overcome and I'm still struggling with it. The first thing I remember, a set of powerful hands pulled me out of the bathtub and dragged me to the bedroom floor. I knew I was about to be sexually assaulted but my mind wouldn't comprehend it was really happening and not some sinister dream that I hoped to wake up from. Unfortunately the man.. rapist was terrifyingly real and I was going to be subject to whatever he desired. The fear made me go numb but I still felt everything."
All those assembled at the meeting were held in rapt attention as the current story was being told. It was clear that her epic tale was both horrific and excruciating to relay to strangers. Because of this, even the most silent in the ensemble gave encouragement in various vocal and non vocal ways.
"Some people instinctually fight back while others choose to cooperate in hopes of appeasing an attacker and therefore gaining their sympathy. The rebel inside me felt that there probably was no sympathy to gain and that I wasn't going to make it easy for him to abuse me! The more I struggled and fought back however, the tighter his arm constricted around my throat. I kicked, scratched, clawed and bit him in any way that I could but it was having almost no effect. I began to panic and regretted my decision to fight him... but realized that it was too late to turn back and stop resisting because I had angered him. The sense of powerlessness I felt will remain with me forever but it is nothing in comparison to the hell of not knowing what he did to me once I passed out. I am filled with rage, disgust, nausea, emptiness, and despair and I fear it will never end."
"In time you will be able to let go of those heavy chains and be free of them! The more you discuss those binding feelings with the group, the more we can all help you. That is why we are all here! All of us have unresolved issues and traumatic experiences and by sharing them with others, the pain and frustration will slowly float away. Who else hasn't shared with us yet? Only through this therapy can we all grow together."
"I'm ready to share with everyone."; a previously silent spectator offered. "My story takes place when I was in my late 70's. My doctor gave me a physical and explained that I was nearing the 'winter' of my life. He wanted me to understand that death would come for me one day and that I should make the best of my life and enjoy my remaining time, to the fullest. I decided to take a cruise to Alaska and a senior tour of America while I still had the energy. I can honestly say that the last 2 years were the best of my life.. and when the white light came... I had no regrets."
A hushed silence befell the group until the therapist spoke angrily. "Clairvoyant imposter! Who do you think you are? There is no 'white light' at the end of life and no one who dies content ever needs to come here and be among the restless dead! What do you hope to gain from trying to fool us? Soothsayers, Spiritualists and necromancers who pretend to be dead like us are playing a dangerous game. Return back to your seance and warn the others still yet living that there is no 'white light'. We are a tortured lot and struggle to overcome the pain we experienced when alive and we do not take kindly to your intrusions. Do not meddle in the affairs of the dead, lest you become one of us before you time! Begone!"
The End
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