I read a quote tonight from Bram Stoker (author of DRACULA). It said, “I will not let you go into the unknown alone”.
I realized that since this was said in the late 1800’s, when so much was either unknown, or misunderstood, that the world *should* have become a less frightening place. Because of science and technology, we now understand more about things than ever before.
But the world is not a safer place. We may have less fear of what lurks in the shadows now, but any learned person will understand that it was never the shadows that brought us fear. If anything, there is a certain calm to be found in the cool darkness of night. No, the real thing to fear, the real ‘unknown’, lies in the hearts and minds of mankind. Within those walls, you will find greater selfishness, anger, violence, and outright hatred than you will ever see in the natural world. Even the most vicious animal kills only for food. Man kills for fun. There is no need to look to supernatural horrors, when the black heart of Man fulfills the bill on your greatest fears.
Although the offer falls too often on deaf ears, I’ll not abandon those I care for to face that darkness on their own. So no – I will not let you go into the unknown alone. But I will make the leap with you, if you are bold enough to try.
So far, I’ve found no takers.
