And The Shadow Steps Back

We all have our moments – young or old – when that dark green shadow threatens to overwhelm. And we choose if it wins.
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Liora could bring everything on her canvas to life—the deer on the lawn, the dogs breaking into a run by the lake, or the oranges in a food bowl.
Her brushstrokes made everything too real.
But her skill meant nothing.
Not to everyone who treated her sister, Selene, as if she were God’s gift to the art world.
Liora was nondescript—plain, always underdressed and preferred jeans to the floral dresses Selene always wore.
She seemed to grow dim in her sister’s light, no matter the certainty of her talent.
Whispers and glances—all about the trendiness of Selene’s latest dress.
All eyes were always on the eye-catching colour of her hair or the portraits that put Rembrandt to shame.
The list was endless, and she was never on it.
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Liora was decluttering the attic one afternoon—one of the many tasks her mother assigned, since she hardly received party invitations.
Selene was far too busy organising her party schedule.
While heaving boxes up a rickety ladder, Liora’s head bumped the ceiling.
And there were too many bumps along its surface to be just plasterboard.
Intrigued, she forgot the pain and groped the plasterboard with her fingers.
It lifted—too easily.
Her usually inactive limbs took her up the ladder and into a room—one she’d never seen before.
Dust-caked windows greeted her as she stepped into what was an undiscovered attic, along with a heavily musty odor.
Cobwebs, along with their residents, danced at every corner.
But she wasn’t alone.
Something followed.
A shadow.
Over time, Liora realised that its quest was selective.
It came when Liora came to the attic to cry.
When she felt that Selene got more attention.
It lurked, waiting for acknowledgement—like her.
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The shadow stepped into the attic, large.
Almost tangible.
Over the next days, windows banged, furniture flew across the floor—in tandem with Liora’s sadness or jealousy.
Liora’s heart—fully alive.
Selene’s birthday party was the next day—as usual, a party marked her elevated teen social status.
Liora stayed in her room—she and Selene’s iffy clique didn’t move at the same pace.
The Shadow decided to attend on Liora’s behalf.
It moved with Liora’s emotions, tossing decorations, turning the volume knob of the stereo, and flipping objects.
It crept into the party, responding to the green colour of Liora’s T-shirt.
And the guests knew.
Lights flickered, and the boombox boomed—really boomed—much to the chagrin of the guests.
Then, it hit Liora.
She had to control it—before it controlled everything else.
Her sister’s attention.
Her own reputation.
“Get out.”
Her voice sudden.
Loud.
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The shadow froze at Liora’s outburst, taken aback.
It shrunk.
Liora caught her breath.
It only moved – when she faltered.
Grew-when she shrank.
She centred herself and eyed it firmly.
The room reverted—the lights steadied. Objects returned to their places.
And it didn’t escape her sister’s notice.
She put her hand on Liora’s shoulder.
Liora merely nodded, but didn’t look at her.
With her eyes on the Shadow, she spoke.
“It’s my turn.”
It stepped back. And without a word, returned to the attic.
Calm.
No longer forbidding.
Selene stood next to her and nodded.
Liora had faced her mirror.
And thwarted it.
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An awkward stillness filled the room—then faded.
An exchange of glances confused murmurs among the guests.
But all was in place.
Liora breathed deeply, coming into her own strength.
Her shadow—gone.
Only present if Liora refused to be.
Selene patted her shoulder and turned to her guests.
She walked into the hall, strides purposeful.
The shadow waited in the attic.
Answering—only if she failed to remember.
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