The sword in the stone

My friend laughed, and I tried it again. My grip on the hilt was loose, and I shook my head. If it were to fall again, I might not recover. I tried to tighten my grip on the hilt and pull. Nothing happened. I tried again and again. Nothing. I groaned in frustration but then pulled on it once more. I could feel the stone moving. I pulled harder, harder, and harder. I couldn’t believe it. The sword was coming out! I continued to pull and pull, and it started to tilt out. My whole body clenched as I pulled. Harder, harder, and harder. I grunted and strained. My grip was slipping. Just as quickly as I started to pull the sword, it was going down again. I showed no emotion, and stated again. My hands were going numb, and I was on the verge of tears. It was as if my strength had left me. How could this be? I went to sleep angry. I tossed and turned all night. I didn't want to put any pressure on the sword anymore, and I covered it up with a towel, then went to sleep.

I woke up the next morning, and I had forgotten about the sword. I ate breakfast and sat at my computer for quite a while that morning. I didn't feel like doing anything. When I went for a walk, my mind started thinking about the sword again. All of the hours I had spent and the pain I had been through trying to pull that sword, and it was going to be impossible. I had not thought about how nothing in life is ever impossible, and when I thought about it, I felt that something was wrong. I retraced my steps, but I couldn't find the sword. That's when I realized that I had covered it up before I went to sleep. I thought it would give me an edge to see what it looked like, but it wasn't there. I yelled in frustration and kicked the tree, then started to walk. As I walked, I became more and more frustrated. I had felt that something was wrong, now I knew what it was. I had lost my chance to see the sword and I felt cheated. I made my way back home and the ride was long. My mind was reeling, and I still didn't know what to do. At home, I found the sword, and again, I yelled in frustration. I laid it down against the tree and looked at it. The stone was sticking out and I had no idea what it was. I grabbed the wooden hilt, waiting for that wonderful feeling again, but nothing. I felt pathetic, defeated, and angry. I slunk off to bed, literally, and laid there for hours.

I did not leave my room for three days. I read a lot, but I was bored. At night I would dream about the sword. I couldn’t wait for morning. I couldn't believe that I had actually breathed life into it. I had put so much into taking that sword, and I still had nothing. I went to bed angry, and then I had a dream that night. I dreamt that I was getting the sword back, but I still didn't know how. I was angry with myself, even if I did not know why. I hated my weakness, and I wanted the sword back. I wanted a chance to prove myself. I wanted to impress someone.

I awoke from my peaceful dream to something different than what I had the night before. It was a feeling. It was happy and joyous, and I recognized that feeling. It was the feeling I had never felt. I had become excited. I was filled with emotions I had never felt before. I had to know what that feeling was. I wondered what it was. I got out of bed and walked outside toward a neighbor's front porch as the sun was rising. Freedom! I was free! I stood in the shadows of the maple trees and I was filled with emotions. I felt like I was a ghost, without a soul. I felt the wind around me and I was full of life. I felt light, like a feather, like nothing mattered. That feeling was stronger than anything in the world, and I wanted to find more of it. Every feeling that I had ever had was surprising. I had slept for 40 years, but now I was living. I was almost uncontrollable. I ran. I ran through the front yard, gasped for breath and screamed in the middle of nowhere. I didn't know what I was doing, but I knew what I was feeling. I felt alive, and I couldn't stop. All I knew was that beeping sound. BEEP, BEEP, BEEP.

I woke up as fast as I could. I couldn't believe I was asleep. I didn't even know why I had fallen asleep. I was much more tired than what I had ever been.

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