“Sanctuary”
Once, Jane stumbled upon a magical cabin. When she escaped the tower, she felt broken and had no one to talk to about her feelings; no one who would understand what went on inside her head. As she was wandering in the woods, she heard laughter and followed it to its source.
When she found it, a sense of peace washed over her, filling her with only the best memories she could recall. The ugly truths in her mind faded away into nothing. She felt compelled to enter the cabin. She couldn’t leave until she found out why she was drawn to this place. It must have been fate, leading her to healing.
As she searched in vain for the entrance, she began to lose hope. Then, she pressed her head against the side of the cabin and a door appeared. She didn’t know why, but soon the secret would be revealed.
She cautiously crossed the threshold into the cabin and several heads turned their attention to the doorway. They smiled in welcome, as if they had been expecting her.
They answered all of her questions. Who were they? A group of likeminded people, conversing about their traumas, healing their wounds, and discussing the shared experiences they had in towers and afterward. The door appeared for her because this environment was suited to her needs.
She laughed with them, cried with them, and contributed to the chores around the cabin they all shared. She washed dishes on some days, and on others she was the secretary. Sometimes she vacuumed. Everyone did their part to keep up the cabin.
Jane was so grateful to find friends who knew exactly what she was going through, having been there before. It was amazing! She made lasting friendships and worked through her issues. She became more comfortable in social settings, and less ashamed or embarrassed of her illness. She felt understood. She no longer felt alone, and that knowledge was priceless.
She realized that the magic of the cabin was not on the outside, but inside.
—SJB