September Writing Challenge — Day 14: I See You

I’m challenging myself to a daily writing prompt through September. Instead of finding a pre-prepared list, this year, I’m going with a Writing Prompt Generator. The prompt for the day will be added to the story in quote format.

“I can’t believe I didn’t see it until now.”

Taking a break from sitting in my emotions through fictionalized characters — sometimes, I wish this prompt for the day was more my experience. Sometimes, I wish I could claim the victimhood of, “Well, shit. I didn’t see that coming.”

I see you.

I see, very easily and very quickly, what people are doing and why, I see who they are. And, right now, I’m in a place of needing to put distance between myself and other people’s maneuvering through the world. Because I’m worn down by being caught up in other people’s self-centered manipulations for their own advancement while having no regard for its impact on me.

“You’ll know a Libra is broken when they don’t want to be around anyone.”

I’m broken right now.

When I’m whole, I can maintain a sort of safe distance from and rational view of the fact that I see what’s behind the way others are moving. I can move myself to healthy and useful positions to elicit a better outcome for all of us without being drawn into the things that aren’t healthy.

“Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.” Matthew 10:16

I feel surrounded by wolves. And I need a break from having to be as wise as a serpent and gentle as a dove.

I’m wired to be as wise as a serpent. I’m never not going to see and understand who the people around me are and what’s moving them.

I just need a break from having to be as gentle as a dove in response. I need a break from the burden of having to put myself aside, rise above what I see, and having to move in ways that create the best outcome for everyone.

I need to lie down for a minute in some green pastures and beside some still waters. I need my soul restored.

So, I’m sheltering myself for a bit to do things that restore my soul.

The rest of the world can go about its bumbling maneuvering and its fevered toiling. I’m tapping out for a hot minute, and I’m going to the green pastures and still waters.

I still have my responsibilities and the people who I need to show up for, but other than those,