"We all have our demons, don't we?"
Everyone thinks Rowan is fine. Healthy and happy. Normal, even. But they have no idea about the silent battle she wages. Can't see what she sees hovering over her shoulder. Can't feel what she feels, caught in its grip. Can't hear the poison spewing from the creature's lips.
Rowan is anything but safe. Her worst nightmare is always there. The unseen shadow haunts her every step, weighing her down and threatening to squeeze the life out of her with each passing moment.
Alone even though she's surrounded by friends and family, every day is a struggle to survive. Her armor is cracking and her will is weakening by the second. How long can she fight the shadow before it drags her down when she's already holding on by her fingertips?
*Previously published with the author's consent in See Me As I Am, the Friday Night Writes charity anthology.
"Forever My Shadow" (Signed)
Paperback Edition: 4 x 6 inches, 80 pages (44 pages of story content)
Reviews
My honest Review on:
Forever My Shadow
Samantha Moran
Wow, this short story blew me away. I have to say Samantha can really suck you into her stories and make you want more.
Forever my Shadow was no different. This story talks bout living with your demons and about one woman named Rowan and her struggle with the voices in her head from the demon/creature that attaches itself to her, making her completely miserable with life and wanting to disappear so her husband doesn’t have to witness it.
This one was heavy, both emotionally and mentally, but so beautifully done for being a short story, as well as the reassurance of never being alone. Samantha's personification for depression felt so spot on that it struck a chord with me in a way I didn't realize I needed. Seeing the struggle of the main character absolutely broke my heart and seeing the way her husband just wanted to be there to help, even when he didn't know how...that was so real. Check the trigger warning & mental health ❤️
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is a supernatural horror short story so please check all trigger warnings before reading. This book dives into a struggle between the darkness of mental health and what others see on the outside. It shows that not everyone is okay all the time but there is hope and help. This was written so respectfully and I enjoyed reading it. This book will tug at your emotions so please prepare. The author also included a list of mental health resources at the end 💕
I've really gotten into short stories in the last few years, and my metric for a good one is that it leaves you satiated but with a desire to revisit the world at a later point. This tale definitely fits that bill! What started off as a fairly straight-forward story about depression finished with a teaser into what could be a much larger set of tales about the demons we face as we travel through the world. This tale is definitely a heavy read but is well worth it.
4.25
This book is heavy as it depicts a woman suffering from depression with her demon literally torturing her. It's a short story and in that short story your heart will break for all that this woman is suffering just trying to make it through the day and present as "normal" for those around her, so she is not a burden to them until it becomes too much for her to bear. Check your triggers bc even though it's a short story its packs a punch.