Reflective Writing - The Butterfly Effect

It started with a simple word, harsh and uncaring, delivered without preconception to a vulnerable young girl. The word smarted at the time but was quickly shrugged off. Its effects subsided, sinking deep below the surface of her soul: a small, innocuous murmur that beat with the slow, shallow pulse of a poisoned heart at rest. Whenever he looked at her a certain way it would beat again. Another stab at her heart that reverberated through her soul like a drip in an echo chamber. When he raised his voice in anger. Another beat. Another drip. Another layer to the uncomfortable reverberation. Later, a tired, pressured teacher snaps in frustration. Another drip. A boyfriend makes a cruel, unthinking remark. Another drip. A friend’s betrayal. Another drip. A bad day at the office. Another drip. A screaming, inconsolable child. Drip. A dented bumper. Drip. An unfounded accusation. Drip. A sudden illness. Drip. A break up. A death. A redundancy. Drip. Drip. Drip. Until, eventually, the reverberations swirl into an uncontrollable hurricane that rips her soul apart.

It started with a simple uncaring word.

But even words can have the destructive power of a butterfly’s wings.