Linen
a metaphor of codependency
by
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A single candle
burned feebly, powerless to illuminate the heavy darkness of the chamber. The
old woman stood silent. Despair filled her heart, her bones felt heavy, useless
in helpless flesh within which they hung suspended in the stillness. She
watched with dead eyes as life faded from the valiant young girl. No herb or
healing ritual would save her now. The battle had been lost. “Where are you,
earth mother?” she whispered in defeat. There had been too many deaths.
The courageous young woman
lying prone upon the straw-filled mattress had been many hours in labor to
birth the squalling girl child. She lay as if asleep, but her benevolent
observer knew that, though her flesh was warm, she was without life. The before
uncontrollable gushing of blood had ceased. The birth of the child had marked
two entries: one to this earth, and the other to the unknown place of
mysteries. The old woman hoped — in fact, fervently understood — that there
existed another world of peace and light.
It was this intuitive sense that
afforded her tolerance to the ways of her people. Her certain knowledge that
the events of before would influence the happenings of afterward nurtured her
patience. She knew that the pain of the world ultimately brought forth love as
surely as she knew that a flower will bring forth fruit and that passion will
bring forth a child.
The old woman had true
awareness that the ways of the people of her existence were not the ways of all
people. She knew that even the ways of these people were an evolution, ever
changing, forming to what would be. This knowledge afforded her the ability to
practice and to share the ways of healing regardless of her beliefs concerning
the circumstances.
The desperate ignorance of the
people amongst whom she lived brought inevitable sorrow. The habit of some
masters to manhandle inferiors met, oft times, with dire consequences.
Particularly the women, the infirm and the weak, suffered. To the healing
woman, it seemed ever a waste of dear life. To these ignorant men, death simply
meant fewer mouths to feed. Those who could not work were of no purpose,
regardless of the manner in which they had become unable to labor.
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About the Book
Linen is a fairy tale including the
after following the “happily ever after” line. It is the story of a foundling
girl. Following a life of torment and little joy, she is rescued by the man of her
dreams.
For a period of time she is
blissfully asleep, conscious in an alternate reality where she experiences love
and sorrow to an unmitigated degree. Upon awakening, she becomes intimately
acquainted with both desperation and denial.
Although unable to resolve all troubles, she chooses to live life completely.
The novella's title, Linen, represents the fabric of one
life, all threads intimately woven into a perfect work. Linen literally winds
through the story serving the functions of comfort, cleanliness and concealment
for that which must not be seen. The word, linen, represents one complete life and
one life is completed with linen.
The story is a metaphor of
codependency. The primary character learns early that her survival is dependent
upon the approval of her benefactor. She clings to this illusion as proof of
her own worth. The metaphor parallels the lives of women who are unaware of
their personal greatness and live yearning for the approval of others.
Some live filled with sorrow, unable
to resolve their pain. Some are fortunate in their unconsciousness, ultimately
finding happiness in a prescription bottle. A blessed few confront unbearable
emotional pain, rip bandages from tender flesh and allow their wounds to heal.
It is my hope that you, dear reader,
are one of the few.
About the Author
Linen:
a metaphor of codependency is my first novella written to generate
awareness of our cultural plague of codependency. Many of us are victims of this
dependence on the persons of our imagination and fantasy circumstances for our feeling
of well being. This epidemic is killing us. I am compelled to reach out to
women who have been wounded. I want to assist in the achievement of awareness.
I want to take each by the hand and draw her into the circle of joy and
laughter that is my life.
I have a Bachelor’s of Science in psychology
and social work. After two additional years
of study I am a certified and licensed special and secondary educator. I am
currently working on a Master's of Social Work.
I have dreamed for many years of
having the career I have today. I am grateful to be part of the collective goal
to empower young women to succeed in choosing a new path for their
personal lives.
The next step for me is to create a
sanctuary for women with self-defeating behavior patterns. The sanctuary will
be a place of safety much as the sanctuary Quasimodo offered Esmeralda. At the
sanctuary, within the intimate warmth and enfolding protection, we will practice
choices that will reshape our futures.
I love to write stories, hike, grow plants
both indoors and out and go on adventures with my husband and four incredible
children. I have lived in the southern