define my terms—not once, but over and over again—because without constant reminders that darkness is not a synonym for mortal or spiritual danger, most people I know revert to the equation without even thinking about it. It is as if they have a default setting for darkness in their minds that automatically resets every time the sun comes up. In the full light of day, darkness becomes the most convenient place for them to store all their shadows: their fear of the unknown, their anxiety about the future, their loathing of their own helplessness, their bottomless dread of death.
