All is lost, gone, destroyed.

You stand. No!

You sink!

Down, down, down.

Succumbing to the indomitable pull of despair.

Despair!

O such despair!

Misery unknown, darkness unfathomable, desolation of the spirit!

O Despair, how it consumes you!

But then, she is there.

She, that wondrous gift.

Now, even now, she has not left you.

From the vast depths of your pit, you see her beckoning.

Elpis!

A fire has been kindled, but she will not descend.

No! You must rise!

Rise to meet her!

Rise to seize her gift!

So you climb!

Toil!

Such toil has never been known!

But there she stands!

Her face smiling, warm, it spurs you on!

Light! Light, you see it!

And you climb!

You climb to her!

You ascend that last fateful distance!

And she receives you!

With joyous laughter, an enveloping embrace,

She receives you!

Even as you stand, above the darkness of your despair, she enters you!

She overwhelms you!

You see the sun shining!

You hear a chorus singing!

You smell a dinner cooking!

You taste a spring’s fresh water!

You feel a child’s hand entwined with your own!

And so she remains in you!

Even as she drifts away, with a smile that you return,

She remains.