Losing balance
The cottage sat, as always, tucked into the protective cover of the surrounding oaks, ablaze with light and appearing as the quintessential picture of coziness. Christine opened the brightly painted gate and walked through the moonlight to the front door, breathing in the night jasmine that arched over the entrance. It was early in the evening, so it was still warm enough for a window beside the door to be open, and she heard sweet and cheerful singing coming from within. Knocking firmly on the door, Christine thought to herself how Mrs. Smith was her favorite shut-in.
Most of the elderly patients that Christine visited were in terrible shape, both physically and mentally. It was a sad fact that the pain and loss suffered by senior citizens often gave them a negative outlook on life in their remaining years. Geraldine Smith however was the image of vitality, and neither illness nor dementia plagued her days. Her attitude was positive and upbeat, and Christine suspected that the only reason she had been hired was for the occasional companionship she provided.
The front door opened smoothly on well oiled hinges, and Christine was greeted with the smiling face she had come to love.
"Good evening my dear, thank you for agreeing to see me tonight. I know you have been terribly busy, and I appreciate you taking the time." The old woman stood in the entrance, wearing a short sleeved summer dress and sandals.
Christine was somewhat taken aback by her attire, which seemed a bit incongruous for the occasion.
"If you don't mind, I'd like to go for a little moonlit walk." She stood there expectantly until Christine shook her head in agreement. "Good. There is something that I need to talk to you about. It will be just another minute while I get my hat."
She disappeared into the back for a short time, humming a pleasant tune, and then reappeared wearing a wide brimmed straw hat, which was adorned with colorful cloth flowers. Closing the door behind her, Mrs. Smith took the younger woman's arm and offered the most sincere smile Christine had ever seen.
"There is a bench that overlooks the town just a short walk from here, which has a glorious view. As we walk, some of what I say may startle you, but please bear with me. I haven't much time. You see, I have decided to end my life tonight."
Christine jerked her arm away with the mention of suicide. She opened her mouth to speak, but the old woman held up her hand to silence her.
"Don't worry dear, I won't be killing myself. The moonlight will do that for me. The reason you've never seen me in the evening is because I normally lock myself away at night, protecting my body from its effects. I must say, it certainly is beautiful. Look at the way it lights our path, and filters through the oak trees. How delightful. It's hard to believe that I've denied myself this pleasure for what seems an eternity."
Christine had seen this before. The sudden onset of Alzheimer's disease was rare but it did happen. It was best just to placate Mrs. Smith and allow her to keep talking.
"Let me explain as we walk. I have always been as you see me now; a woman of about eighty, unremarkable in appearance, pleasant enough, but private in my dealings with others. I chose you to befriend so that someone would know who I was, and that I did my very best to persevere. If nothing else, I have been faithful to the task. It's just lately that this crushing weariness has come over me."
"What I will tell you now will seem unreal, and perhaps more so when told under the light of this magnificent moon, but the proof of my words will become apparent soon enough. Promise that you will stay and hear me out. Humor an old fool. Yes? Well then, let's start with a big one. I was born in The Beginning."
Christine stopped and looked into Geraldine's face. Dementia was one thing, but this was bordering on delusional. "You mean, The Beginning?"
"I know I sound crazy, but yes, I'm talking about that Beginning. I was created to be The Balance. You know, the balance between good and evil. Evil has such an advantage in our world, don't you think? There are so many that prefer the darkness to the light, and there is only me to protect against them."
This is beyond bizarre, thought Christine, but she knew better than to argue at this point.
"I'm the small voice that speaks to people when they are tempted to do something wrong. I am the strong but subtle influence that holds back the tide of wickedness that is constantly working to entice the world into its foul embrace. You know me as Geraldine Smith, but you wouldn't be able to pronounce my real name, and if you were able to pronounce it, all that you know would shatter from its utterance. Words have vastly more power than most mortals realize."
This had gone on long enough. "Look, Mrs. Smith, I think you need to calm down a bit. Why don't we go back to your cottage and talk for awhile."
Christine reached out to take Geraldine's arm once more in the dappled moonlight, and felt a sticky wetness under her hand. She looked down in disbelief and saw the old woman's skin peeling and curling up in places where the moonlight struck it.
"Don't worry dear, I was expecting my skin to blister and peel. It almost looks like frying bacon doesn't it? That would be the effects of the moonlight. Don't worry, it doesn't really hurt that much. I've lived my life absorbing pain after all. The evil that men do to one another and all manner of darkness must be balanced by goodness and light. That has been my role. Unfortunately, the process is rather painful. I see we've arrived at the bench already."
Christine watched as the old woman sat down on the bench and then motioned for her to sit also. It was as if she had entered another reality, where logic had no foothold, and where her years of training meant very little. She plopped down on the bench, her mouth hanging open, staring at what used to be Mrs. Smith as she continued to dissolve in the light of the full moon.
"Oh look, you can see my wrist bones already. Don't be alarmed dear, it will be over soon, and when it is, what a tale you will have to tell your grandchildren. My Goodness, I see that I'm losing some hair now. Oh well, I was getting tired of the same old style anyway. Did I tell you that my hair doesn't grow? No? Well, it doesn't matter now."
"Gracious Me, don't I look peculiar with my bones sticking out all over and my face almost intact? I wore the hat so that I could continue speaking as long as possible while the flesh melted off of my body. I suppose you're wondering why moonlight affects me in this way. I am the antithesis of darkness, and true evil. I've always liked that word. Antithesis. Antithesis. Lovely. Evil thrives in the dark you know, and moonlight signals its time of dominance. It is evil that works on me now, its strength concentrated on my destruction. Moonlight is its companion, and one of its strongest weapons against me."
"All in all, I have not been without my own triumphs though. I have had some small part in everything positive that has ever happened in your life, or anyone else's life, as far as that is concerned. I don't wish to take credit for that of course, because doing so would be prideful, and pride is a child of evil. But evil has many children. I think you may know them as the seven deadly sins."
"I must say that this dress has never fit me better. It was always a bit snug before tonight. It's a wonder what a little moonlight will do. But enough of that."
"My only regret is that after I'm gone I am afraid that evil will have its way with the world. It has been waiting for a very long time. It's kind of hard to put eons into perspective. It's a shame really that I have no one to pass this burden on to. You wouldn't be interested would you? It would mean eternal life, but you'd have to get used to your hair never growing again, and the nearly constant pain."
"No...I couldn't. I mean, I should...but I'm just not..." Christine stammered out her refusal, horrified to realize that this was the reason she had been summoned that evening.
"No? Well, no harm in asking. Don't be surprised though when the wars, famine, and genocide begin. Please don't cry, I didn't mean to make you feel responsible. I imagine that things will eventually work themselves out. They usually do."
"I'm getting rather tired now. Do you mind if I take off my hat and lay my head in your lap? Thank you dear, sorry for the mess. I don't regret this one bit. It was a splendid evening for a moonlit walk, but it seems that there are some clouds forming in the distance. It looks like you may be in for a storm. Goodbye dear."
Roiling black clouds filled the sky over the once serene landscape, and the darkness deepened as the moon turned a sickly crimson shade. Christine stood and reverently lowered the old woman's skull to the surface of the bench, while out of the gathering gloom came a howling and the gnashing of teeth.