Shadows don’t speak often but when they do, they can’t be shut. I remember the day my shadow spoke to me.
‘Hey there. Sh sh” it called
I looked around. Finding nothing, I resumed on my book.
“I am here closest to you.”The voice called again
Concurrent concentration and distraction can drive you crazy. Irately, I snapped “Who is it?”
“My dear. You are missing me again like always. Look closely. I am here. I am your shadow.” The voice muttered.
“Are you kidding me? Shadows don’t speak.” I smirked
“But of course they do. “ It paused.” I would rather say people don’t listen. You just don’t know how to listen.”
“Now you talk like my mom. Go ahead. What do you want?” I leaned back on my rocking chair.
“I just wanted to know why you hate me so much.”
“I don’t even know you, how can I hate you?”My brows squeezed.
“That’s what you see. I have been there for you since the inception. I have grown with you, I move with you, eat with you and sleep with you and you, you say you don’t even know me.”
None likes to be defeated in arguments especially by his own shadow. “Can you come straight to the point?” I asked.
“OK. The bottom line is that I am sick of following you. You will have to free me now.” It reddened
“I never stopped you from going anywhere .You are on your own. Free to stay, free to leave.” I turned my head closing my eyes.
“Simply saying it won’t do. Because we belong together I want you to follow me for a few days and I will follow you for the rest of time. Trust me it is a fair deal.”It spoke again.
“Ha ha..What a joke? My shadow wants me to follow it. What a terrible day? Can you please leave me alone?”
“No. Enough is enough. I have to have an identity. We shadows have been following you forever and now it is our turn. We are not going to sit quietly this time.” It nudged
“Oh yeah.” I frowned.” Let’s see. What you can do? Go and do whatever you want. Get the hell outta here.”
It thumped its leg and left.
Sun felt good and relaxing. That evening I noticed my shadow wasn’t following me anymore. But who cares for a shadow?
Collecting groceries was a pain as always especially in summer. Sun sharpened and cut every corner edge to edge.
People gossiped. Children hid behind their mothers. Few laughed.
“Excuse me” A feeble voice echoed from behind.
I turned “Yes”
“Are you a ghost?” A young child, half of my length, asked.
“What makes you think of me as a ghost?” I tried to keep my voice low with pressure collecting in my chest.
“Because you don’t have a shadow following you.” The child replied pointing his finger to the ground.
“I don’t own a shadow and, I am no ghost either.” I continued.
“But only ghosts don’t have shadows.” The child followed.
“Why don’t you go and ask your parents?”
“They told me to keep away from you.” Child accompanied.
“So you better listen to them.” My voice was much louder than preceding conversation.
His face turned red and he left. I walked back home hurriedly.
“Just how stupid could people be? So much importance to a silly shadow.” I thought
Slowly, it was apparent that I was not myself without my shadow. So I decided to get it back one day.
I looked in the market, in the neighborhood and on the streets but, it was gone. I couldn’t believe it really disserted me.
My house turned into a self constrained prison
One afternoon I peeped through my window. A shadow appeared by my rocking chair.
I hate it when people occupy my space. Who the hell was it to rest in my garden on my rocking chair?
Covering myself with a silken shawl, I rushed to the garden and found my own shadow leaning fondly by my chair.
“What are you doing here?”I frowned collecting myself.
“I have been waiting for your answer on the deal.”The shadow replied.
“Which deal?” I said. Although it was all I thought about.
Its voice dimmed” But, I thought of it all the time and, I feel I cannot do without you.”
So we were together again, walking side by side. But unlike other shadows my shadow was a sad one.
Where every other shadow walked hand in hand, mine felt dragged.
Days later I met the same kid and, showed him my shadow with a leaning eye.
He smiled watching us together and raised his thumb but, lowered his lips sullenly at my shadow.
I looked back at my shadow and asked “why don’t you lead this time?”
The shadow brightened and tilted to the front.
We walked to the far neighborhood that evening and, my shadow was as happy as I was.
Little recognition on everybone's part can make the world a happier place. We are all reflections of each other. It doesn’t matter who follows whom. What matters is that together we move ahead and rejoice.
