Darkness invades my heart like a cancer invading the precious cells. Morality and life slip away as the darkness takes hold, quickly multiplying and devouring what was at one time my eternal soul. Love, Kindness and Happiness are quickly replaced by the Evil Trio that have started so many wars the history books could not keep an accurate account. Jealousy, Hate and Despair replaced all that I was and without remorse or question they laid claim to me, and as their slave my actions were repugnant. My impulses and my outlook on life itself changed overnight and I no longer was the person my mother gave life to. A thousand lonely cries in the night was my banner, tears of weeping widows and parentless children were my battle cry. A thousand cities fell at my swords' edge. No one was safe from my rage. But then the day world had prayed for came!

As if the gods themselves reached down and plucked me from my downward spiral, a light appeared in the darkness. Small at first, like a pinhead shining on the belly of a rotting corps, but it was a light nonetheless. Slowly, like an angle rising toward heaven I walked, not knowing why nor caring, but I walked to the light. Glaring at this threat the Evil Trio that was my heart screamed for me to destroy it! To erase this interruption on their private party for they knew they would die. Then, like a blinding flash, it happened.

The light grew a voice and it spoke to me in the style of a goddess. The Trio screamed in agony and readied themselves inside me, preparing for the war they were about to fight. The first to attack the Trio was Excitement paired with Loneliness and Kindness. At first the Evil Trio were forced back, giving up precious ground in the battle for my heart. But they had been well skilled in the ways of war and knew precisely what to do. Fear, Worry, and Emptiness took up arms for their cause. It went back and forth that day until, finally, the Trio called in their trump card.

Despair took the battlefield with a cry of hatred. Slashing and hacking it looked as if the Evil ones would survive and I would remain in darkness. Happiness, Loneliness, Kindness, and even Love were battled down to one knee and their existence was threatened. Then the deciding factor took place.

Faith rode onto the battlefield on a white steed like a knight of old. Quickly, she picked up her comrades and placed them within her bosom. In a matter of seconds the Evil Trio was battled back and all but destroyed. Faith stood like a mighty warrior preparing to deal the deathblow. Before she got the chance the worst foe of all crept up behind her and the slash that was heard would make any man tremble in their mother's arms. Faith dropped to ground and lay there like a flower in a graveyard. Hope had betrayed her. Stabbed her in the back after making a deal with Selfishness.

For me, in the real world, tears welled up in my eyes and I was blinded by the war raging within me. My thoughts being controlled by the Trio, yet Faith set her shining source on my shoulder whispering in my ear like an unseen angel. Back inside my heart the Evil ones along with their new ally gathered around Faith, their swords drawn and their prayers to hell echoing through the night. Confidence begged to be the one to deal the final blow, to squash this Faith out of this man's heart. It was agreed.

She lifted her sword to the heavens and brought it halfway down when the stinging pain in her back brought her to her knees. Confidence's face writhed in pain and she shook and as she fell, looking behind her to see who had betrayed her. Hope stood and smiled as he watched Confidence slump to the ground. The Evil Trio was the next to fall, but by Faiths' sword, having their attention drawn away by this new foe. Their deaths were quick and painful, and neither Faith nor Hope felt any remorse as they murdered these demons.

Sitting alone in the battlefield, surrounded by the dead, Faith and Hope spoke in soft words. Curiously, she asked this new friend why he had chosen to save her. Hope smiled as he answered, his body still shaking from the fight. "Three words caused me to kill what I once sided with. Words that were as unexpected as a mid-summer rain, but just as welcomed." He grew silent sitting next to Faith and suddenly his expression changed to a grim one.

Faith knew what was happening so she placed one hand on her sword. "What were those words, Hope? What could have possibly changed you so that you would kill your own allies?"

A smile took his face as he proclaimed the words so loud God heard them. "You ask what were those words, Faith? I will tell you. Simply and sweetly, I Love You."

I was free!