Literary Relief

Saturday night I was sitting on my bed contemplating how I was doomed: Voldemort was going to kill me. As I anxiously watched my bedroom door I saw it open and close but could not see anyone enter the room—meaning that He Who Must Not Be Named had entered wearing an invisibility cloak. I sat on my bed in silence, not knowing where Voldemort stood or why he was waiting to act, but fully aware that I was trapped.

I had no idea how I got into this situation and so desperately wished there was anything I could do to save my own life—but I realized it was pointless: the most powerful evil wizard of all time was standing—invisibly—feet away from me, intent on my death. I only had one option: to pray. I knelt beside my bed and expressed my problem in prayer, seeking guidance. And I received an immediate answer to that prayer: “Rachel, sometimes you have really elaborate dreams.”

I shot awake, completely relieved that I was still alive!! I had to get out my phone and check my email to verify that I was, indeed, awake and no longer facing death by the dark lord.

Harry Potter isn't the only book to bring anxiety to my life. Last month I read Frankenstein and would daily stress out during my metro ride because this monster had ruined everything beautiful in my life. Before that the Scarlett Letter made me regret that one transgression that had led to a life of ostracism. And previously Crime and Punishment left me in a constant state of paranoia that someone would discover my secret. (is that an odd trifecta of books to read in a row?)

Of course, each time I arrive at my metro stop, awakened to the fact that I did not do any of those things! I am free to go to work and have the whole world open to me! What a relief!!!!

So here is my new life mantra: maybe life is rough sometimes, but at least the monster I created isn’t killing all of my loved ones.