Solace (Short Story)

Solace (Part 1/1)

The young boy sat rigid with anxiety on the stone cold, concrete patio of his garden, tears threatening to make a much unwanted appearance as his young mind was filled with skin-prickling images of each single detail of every, little or big, beyond overwhelming thing that could possibly go wrong. Whether it be starting his new school only to have all his hopes and dreams crushed when he gets cruelly thrown back into a life of sneering, teeth-baring, cackling monsters of human form forever taunting him with the fact that he is not and will never be enough, or even just something as small and innocent as forgetting his water bottle. Every tiny snippet of potential disasters swarmed through his brain like nothing more than those awful, freakish monsters with stingers that every child is afraid of.

He dragged his knees into his chest and nearly strangled them at the sensation of his own air being choked out of him, his head falling limp into his knees as he tried desperately to breathe, in and out, in and out, in and out.

Infact, he was so overwhelmed with all the possibilities that he didn't even hear his mother shouting his name, until her arms were wrapped tightly around him, tighter than his own were around his knees, and he was forced to sink into them in a desperate fit of tears as she wondered, terrified, what was wrong with her son.

That was a couple of days ago now. His parents have since wondered what they could do to help their son with his anxiety.

So they decided on an animal.

A new puppy, to be exact.

"Mum, Dad, are we nearby there yet?" He asks as they drive, his mind drunk and giddy with the prospect of a new loving companion.

What would he name them?

Would they be a boy or a girl?

And most importantly, will they help him to feel safe?

"Nearly, sweetie," his Mum turns her head to look at him, her lips spread into a warm, reassuring smile, however also filled with hope for her loved one's new found comfort. "Are you excited?"

"Yes!" He cries excitedly, grinning bashfully and his eyes shining with joy.

"Good." She chuckles softly.

They arrive at the pet shelter, and without a second thought he flings open his door and bolts towards the entrance, only grinning more when his parents laugh at him to slow down or he'll trip.

When they enter, a warm looking woman kindly leads them over to the puppies, and his eyes instantly light up as he locks eyes with one. It wags its tail and grins at him playfully, its ears flopping adorably over its eyes as it bounds into his arms as if having known him forever, and he laughs and crouches down to stroke it lovingly, and he doesn't even need to look at any more.

He already knows.

He's found solace.