A Short Story On… Being Afraid of the Dark

No one is immune to fear. Fear is an innate part of the human condition; an evolutionary gift meant to ensure our survival. Even the strongest person you know possesses a fear that shakes them to their core. For some, this fear manifests itself when peering over a ledge. For others, we might find it while flying, speaking publicly, or a spider crawling up your living room wall. These fears can often be irrational, but we can also ground them in real-world experiences.

I write this essay as a 38-year-old man who has an irrational fear of the dark. The absence of light itself is not what terrifies me. What scares me is the unseen. My overactive imagination fills these ambiguous spaces with intent. Every noise, shadow, or eerie silence is an invitation to let my mind roam. I fill these voids with nonexistent monsters, threats, and scenarios pulled from popular culture.

As a young kid, I first noticed my fear when being asked to take out the trash after dinner. In the darkness of winter, I slowly made my way toward the alley. With each step, I would quietly scan my surroundings. Each movement of my head found me assessing the threats hiding in the shadows. The smallest rustle would send me sprinting for the garbage can and then back into the safe confines of my family’s home.