The incessant din of muffled voices grated against her agitated nerves. She retreated deeper into the cave, into the safe silence and dark. It did not welcome her like before. The silence was deafening, mocking, echoing the distant shouts and laughter etched deep into her memory.

Once there was something more than this. A deep, radiating warmth. Excitement. Pounding rhythms and bodies twirling in ecstasy. Open hands on outstretched arms. Voices in unison. Scattered images and flashes of emotion flitted around in her mind.

Her trepidation faded into the background where it remained as nothing but a distant whisper lost behind the quickened pounding of her heart. She looked down at the still, lonely pool of water and saw no reflection for lack of light.

She tried to remember Before, tugging at threads of memories asking herself what the danger had been. What had she barricaded herself away from, and why?

A flash of fire, words spoken in anger, fists raised in fury…so distant. She could no longer find the scars upon her heart and her hands.

The pain of hiding overcame the fear of exposure. She put all of her weight into the boulder at the opening, pushing it aside. Squinting at the bright unknown, she stepped out into the light.