The Body is Nothing

The gray sinks into the body’s bones as clouds consume the sky. Heavily shadowed walls cast a starkness to the emptiness inside, as the clock ticks slowly in the quiet. Deep breaths from a lack of breathing, chest rising and falling on a leaden body. The void of the universe gently swirls behind its eyes, and a flash of a familiar eye breaks through the peaceful nothingness.

“His eye.”

Staring into the gray, the walls white and varying shades of soot, a black shadow, flickering, stands in the dark hallway. A friend — an old friend. One no longer feared, now a comfort. The shadow merely watches as the eye flickers within the body again — his eye. Greasy, dark, staring. Staring as he always did.

“My eyes burn.”

A burn that warned of the seeping emotions, forbidden ones. The seeping that hurt always gave a warning, but soon, the burn disappeared as the flood gates opened and trickled down the body. The body that had never belonged to it. The body that was often subject to others’ whims.

The body that had lost its soul that afternoon.

Bleak memories chased the soul away. Perhaps bloodletting the toxins would call it back, the scent of the body’s blood a warning that without a soul, there may not be a body to return to. It had better return home soon.

The seeping continued. The leaden body remained without expression, like stone, as the flood came quietly. The dark shadow remained in the hallway, flickering hands had risen to grasp the edge of the pale wall. Only capable of observing from afar, the flickering visitor stabilized as small white eyes recognized the body without a soul. The shadow only knew to come when the soul was missing.

“Take me away from here. In dark dreams.”

Void-like tendrils spread around the body, the darkness feathering out from them eating up any last bit of light. They grew in number, twisting and writhing to claim the body. The seeping ceased, and the gray dimmed.

“Home. I am home. I am safe.”

The body’s eyes closed once more, and behind them, the void of the universe returned, swirling slowly like the milky way.

“I come from this void, and it is a part of me.”

Inside, swirling like galaxies, cold and drifting among nothingness. The stars are shimmering pinpricks, just barely able to pierce the blanket of heavy, crushing black. A return to the beginning, when all that existed was

Nothing.

Just as the body continued to be, leaden and draped over the covered chair.

“Nothing.”

©2025 Shane Blackheart