I Stepped Onto the Balcony One Morning and Saw Something Moving Inside the Wall — What I Discovered Filled Me With Fear, Then Something Else Entirely

Later that day, once my nerves had settled, I looked up what kind of animal it was.

Skinks, it turns out, are harmless to people.

They are not aggressive. They are not venomous. They don’t seek out human contact. In fact, they tend to avoid it whenever possible. They only bite if they feel severely threatened or handled roughly.

Most of the time, they are simply afraid and looking for a place to hide.

That knowledge didn’t erase the fear I felt in the moment — but it gave it context.

A Different Kind of Calm

Strangely enough, after everything, I felt calm.

Not the calm of relief alone, but something deeper. A sense that I had done the right thing, even though I was scared. Even though my first instinct had been to run.

That morning didn’t go the way I expected. It didn’t start gently or quietly.

But it reminded me of something important.

Fear often arrives before understanding.

And sometimes, when we pause long enough to really see what’s in front of us, horror gives way to compassion — and compassion leaves us feeling steadier than fear ever could