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I had gone out the door wishing you would set foot outside too.

I didn’t want you to follow me. Just get a glimpse of a better world than your own.

I’ve always worn a mask unseen by people.

I don’t know how or when it have come to my possession, but I just found it along the way and picked it up without hesitation.

Is it to conceal the real me you ask?

Maybe… I’m not quite sure.

Would you have believed me if I said I use the mask to conceal myself from something more malevolent? Would you have been scared of it, too?

What is it you say? The darkness that tries to consume me. Everyday.

You see I’m not trying to hide from people. I’m hiding from this darkness so it won’t recognize me. People would surely be terrified of it once it gets too close to me. I cannot let them see it so I hide behind my mask.

My old trusty mask that has never failed in concealing. Including my real self, not just from the darkness, but from people as well.

That’s the price I’ve paid for all this years.

Once in a while, I do gather the courage to remove it to show my real self. Without the fear of being recognized by the darkness.

But it takes a special kind of person to encourage me to do so. But I had met none in this world that can make me take it off for a long time because just as courage quickly arose, it immediately subsided with fear gradually creeping in at the opportunity.

I subconsciously put it back on without noticing.

That was until He came to me.

He didn’t force His way to me. I had invited Him when I felt the atmosphere of gentleness and kindness surrounding Him. I don’t know how He did it, but He disarmed me from all fears. I haven’t even realized how near He was to me. So close I could feel Him breathe life into my weary bones. I was tired from hiding and running, and He knew. He opened up Himself.

Then I realized I was in a safe place. I was secure.

He gently lifted my mask off to reveal what was underneath. The real me. He slowly unraveled me. First, my face.

How gently He spoke and said, “You are beautiful.”

From my exterior, He has gone to reveal my mind.

“Your mind is filled with colors, vibrant and alive. It tries to seep out from the seams, but the masked has closed any open path for the colors to burst out.”

Then finally He came to my soul. The epitome of who I am.

But He said, “You are not complete. This is only half of your true self. Take a look at the other part of you lying dead in the recesses of your existence.”

I was taken aback to see it. There it was, my spirit, dead for a long time among the truths I have only come to find out about today.

My whole body started trembling. I began to weep in sadness and in mourning. I have worn the mask for a long time. I did not see a part of myself was dead inside. With gentle hands, He lifted my spirit and awaken it with life. I marveled at the miracle that took place. Is this truly happening? Did my spirit come back to life at His touch?

I lifted my eyes to ask Him a question, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw it. Terror quickly gripped me for darkness was charging towards me. It had no signs of stopping. I saw in its eyes the desire to consume, to destroy, and to kill whatever lies in its path.

In a panicked state, I looked for the mask, but it was nowhere to be found. I froze in place and realized what was going to happen next. I’m about to die. There was no escaping it. My life was the aim of darkness. I didn’t have the power to stop it.

This was my fate all along.

“It may be. But I know a way to stop it,” He said.

Without hesitation, He stood in front of me. He put Himself in harm’s way. He took my place to receive the fatal blow.

I was so shocked I couldn’t do anything. How could He do this?

As if He had read my mind He answered, “Because I love you.”

How could You love me when You don’t even know me? Can’t You see? I’m filled with fears, with ugliness, and I’ve always hid behind a mask. Everybody says I’m not worthy of love! I don’t deserve Your love!

“But I saw the real you. The world hasn’t. I was there when the world was created. I knew who you were even before you were conceived. I was the One who made you. That’s why I love you. You can believe me or you don’t. That’s why I came here to save all of you because I saw how the darkness consumes you one by one. My heart was crushed and grieved at the sight of it. But only a few believed My Word. It was just not you who was wearing a mask. Some people recognize they are wearing one, but most of you can’t see it. All of you are behind a mask. The mask is the darkness. You are not concealed from it. You become the darkness when you wear it, and without you knowing, it kills you from the inside. It killed your spirit first, but I have restored it to life. You are now complete. Don’t hide behind a mask anymore. And if you see one, do not pick it up again.”

Suddenly, my eyes were opened. The eyes that see beyond the reality. I have seen the truth. Everything was vividly clear to me now.

Darkness slammed into Him with a defeaning sound of thunders. I closed my eyes at the collision. What had happened to Him? I was too scared to know, and all I can do was cry. My sobs echoed in the silence. Was He dead?

“Open your eyes.”

I was startled by the voice, so I carefully opened my eyes. When I saw Him standing there, unscathed by the impact, I jumped up and ran to embrace Him. As we were caught in our embrace, I couldn’t help but think of the demise that had befallen the darkness, and again as if to read my mind He said,