Thank you, I'm glad the hook worked. It's a very hard part of the story to get just right. How to start? What words, what effect, what mood, and where to lead it? I think if you can get the opening hook right then the rest of the story thanks you by flowing so much better.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this story. I really enjoy reading other people's perspective, and what they get from the words I have written.

Darkness has a place in a lot of what I write, but i try (or hope I do) to soften it, whether stylistically, or with other layers of concepts. Life is multi dimensional, to me at least, with all sorts and degrees of light and shade. I'm just looking (as an author) for that soft spot that helps it start to make sense.