I seek silence, I search within myself, I take the time to understand, it's that simple

And between the opposite of noise, company, and conversation, there was that small but not insignificant difference of silence, solitude, and peace. I was there, in that last one, resting peacefully inside a bottle that was hidden in a drawer in the garage. It was all so quiet, and even though others could only see, I could see my light slowly coming on.

Then suddenly someone came in urgently looking for a bottle. They needed it for a game that many were going to participate in. So interviews, jokes, and a forced invitation to participate in the activity as a reward stripped me of the bottle I had, and I was forced to leave. I had to cover my ears tightly because the noise around me felt deafening. While I saw everyone shining as brightly as they could, I was losing my shine, my battery was draining quickly.

I tried to get up slowly and quietly to return to that box that seemed so comfortable, but they quickly noticed and, with big smiles, told me not to leave, that they were sure I would have a good time with a different game and finally start shining again. So I held on a little longer and stayed a little longer, while it grew darker and darker inside me, and I couldn't stop it.

When I had almost no battery left, I ran with all my strength and, so they wouldn't find me, I slid under the carpet and there, curled up with my knees on my face, I stayed thinking about life and light in my mind, and after a while, I shone again. I was ready to see the others shine, to live together and smile, aware that the opposite of me is not bad, but that I can be myself without the burden of staying where my light disappears.

Everyone thought that being in the dark would leave me blind, that I wouldn't be able to see what was happening around me. But I told them very confidently that the less I see, the less I carry in my mind, the more time and space I will have to take in what recharges me, what, among colors, freshness, and landscapes, helps me breathe more deeply and keep in my mind what I want to carry with me. Because yes, being in the dark, alone with myself, helps me reflect, be aware, and be better equipped to face the world.