Ten. The number ten now has special meaning to me that it never had before I left that place. It constantly reminds me of the ten whole years I spent at that somewhat magical and "deceiving" place. Ten whole years of walking on and off it's playground for about a thousand or more times as I grew up, I realized the joy of being there. It was a place that nurtured and fostered the softest and kindest of people. It seemed spectacular...that is until one day I found out that this "place" was not all it seemed to be.

I soon learnt of this places' dark secrets. Those dark secrets may have been hidden away from others prying eyes but not mine. Those dark secrets eventually found themselves burrowed deep within my mind allowing me to see the poison that had seeped deep with the very core and crevasses of the place that I called home. The poison had seeped so deep that it eventually found it's way to other people and had come to pass as the normalcy. It was as if the poison had controlled all those who were tainted and touched by it.

I too had been touched by this "poison" and fallen to my knees. I felt as if there was no way to escape this poison and make it vanish from the "tainted souls" of the those even younger and much older than I. So I eventually accepted it and made it a part of me.

About a year later when I entered the eighth grade I found a cure, one so simple and magical that it seemed as if it was impossible to obtain. it may have seemed that way for many but I eventually understood how to obtain it.

I had to be strong, yet kind, gentle, determined and willing to face anything that may have been thrown my way. And so I remained as that. I was the person who would smile in the face of darkness and try to lighten up a room by making those around me smile. I even tried to help those whom were shrouded in darkness and had their souls and hearts tainted by the "poison" seek the light that they had been desperately looking for.

Little did I ever pay any attention to myself and my needs and thus I had become vulnerable without ever realizing it. I became vulnerable to the darkness that I had first turned my back to and had slowly, but, eventually been swallowed and consumed by it. I had still been the same person but it was always there... lying in wait...getting ready to take over...and yet I eventually realized this but at what cost? Myself, my confidence, and my will to fight. I realized it far too late and yet still tried to face it and fight it. I had won for but a short time and I felt energized and thrilled to be able to have those I care about believe in me...but as I soon found out...everything isn't meant to last and thus my exuberance was put to an end.

I soon found myself being consumed and tainted by that same darkness that I had once beaten, and this time I didn't have the will nor the ones I truly loved besides me to help me fight it off. Once more I accepted defeat and let it take over. And ever since then I've remained that way.

~From yours truly, Layla.A

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you fellow readers out there liked this chapter and as always till next time my fellow readers!!!!!!~8)