Words

Locked Inside Oneself

Locked Inside Oneself

By: Samantha Bruno

There was a girl who is trapped in the center of the forest with no one. How did she get there? Why is she in there? I do not know. But one thing is for sure; she has no one. She's trying to survive alone in a forest. She's afraid to find her way out. The forest is surrounded by gigantic trees. She's terrified that she might not get back the moment she left. So, she's waiting for someone to save her.

Freedom.

She wants to explore. She wants to take a glimpse of the outside world. What is it like to be in a world full of people like her? What is it like to be free? What is it like to be friends with someone... with anyone?

Pain. That's all she has been feeling since the day she was abandoned. Why abandon her? That, I do not know.

"Please," she whispered desperately, "is there someone who could help me? I can't take this anymore."

She gazed at the clear sky, so peaceful. Tears started building up. Fear. Loneliness. Heartache. All those emotions are lingering inside her heart. She came into a realization that there's no point of living anymore. "Is this what it means to be alive? If it really is, then I shouldn't have been born." She fell into her knees, crying. "Please, help me. Save me. Someone... anyone."

"Try," a voice whispered to her ears. "Try to step out of this forest. Try to conquer your fear."

She froze. She was terrified. "W-Who are you?!" she stuttered.

No answer.

She got up into her feet and eyed the overwhelming trees. Once again, the voice whispered. "You're the only one, dear. You're the only one who could leave this place. "

Her eyes widened with shock. That voice. She heard it somewhere. It seems familiar. She was dumbfounded and confused yet she followed the advice. It's terrifying. It's scary. What will she do if she got lost; unable to go back to where she came from? Afraid that she will only end up hurting herself, she hesitated. But she remembered what the voice whispered. She's the only one.

She started walking... slowly at first, pursuing the path she wasn't aware of. She does not want to look back anymore. If this is the only way, she will take the risk. Even if it will kill her, she'll pursue the path. "This is quite dangerous. What if I fail? What if I'm really done for? What will I do?" she thought but didn't dare to stop.

She gazed at the enormous trees. It's like something lies beneath them. Something-- monstrous. She shivered by the thought. She continued, leaving behind all. She moved forward, not looking back. This is the only way. She was the only one who could do it. She's still frightened but she wants to be free. Her heart is racing. She's sweating. She's breathing hard... trying to catch her breath. She has never felt this way before. Her blood boils with excitement and at the same time, fear.

"I'm the only one," she muttered breathlessly.

With her determination, she struggled. It's like a never ending passage. The trees seem boundless. All those broken branches beneath her feet, pressing against her sole are quite painful but she bears with it. Those pointed twigs are trying to cut through her skin but she ignored it.

"I'm halfway there... I guess," she convinced herself.

She's tired of being alone. She's tired of doing nothing. She's tired of waiting for someone who can help her. She can't take it anymore. She's hopeless. She's desperate.

"You're the only one, dear."

With that on her mind, she frantically pursues her path. Little by little, her speed increases. She darted, avoiding those massive trees. But nothing. She could not see anything but trees. Slowly, she stopped. For the first time, she looked over her shoulder. She could not go back anymore. Her knees wobbled because of frustration and exhaustion. She fell into the ground. She's been walking for hours but still, she's trapped inside the forest.

Regrets. She blamed herself for being so foolish. She's no genius. She's just an ordinary girl. There's no way she could reach the outside world. She didn't dare to ask why because she knew, she's alone. There's no one to answer. But inside her mind; Why? Why does it have to be her, anyway? What did she do? Why is she suffering when in fact, she didn't do anything?

"Are you giving up now, dear?" the voice asked softly.

She froze. Rage building up inside her. "Why am I following you anyway?! I don't know you! You don't even know me! If you actually knew me, you should know that I can't do this!" she fumed.

"If you're giving up now, why not lie down and die? You don't want that, do you? If you say you could not, then you could not," the voice replied, "but remember, dear, you can't go back now."

She was stunned. She recognized that voice. She is certain. Once again, she stood up to her feet and began walking. She realized that she started this... so she must finish it. This is her destiny. She has to accept it. There's no turning back now. She cannot go back.

Suddenly, a glimpse of light hurt her eyes. Her heart leaped. She could not understand how she felt now. She's here. She's finally here. She's free. Tears are now streaming down her cheeks. She rushed into the light, does not care about anything anymore.

She wandered her eyes as the outside world illuminated her skin. She could hear the humming of the birds. The cars. The voices of the people like her. Unexpectedly, time stopped. The ground began to rumble. Her eyes widened with shock. What's happening? She watched as everything vanished. She watched as everything turns white. She just stood there, couldn't feel anything anymore.

"See? I told you, you could do it," the voice beamed.

She mindlessly stared at the girl who suddenly appears in front of her. She covered her lips using the palm of her hand. It's her. "You're me," she pondered breathlessly.

The girl in front of her smiled. "Just believe in me, dear. I am you. You are me. We are one."

She could not believe her eyes. She embraced the girl who is in front of her.

"I was lost but I was able to find myself again. It's funny because the one who saved me from the darkness is myself."

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The meaning of this story is quite simple. The forest symbolizes herself. Those enormous trees are her fears and limitations. She is trapped inside herself; couldn't voice out her cries. So, yeah. When she grew tired of doing nothing, she tried to conquer her fear. The world she's living for quite a long time vanished as she came to a realization that she made it. Ang she was able to find herself again. She listened to the voice and made it out, only to find out that the voice is from her, too. Sucks, I know. :D I didn't even know where I've got this idea. Sorry if it's bad. ._.

This story was originally written in my notebook. I was so lazy to publish it here but I encoded it and decided to publish it. Yeah, weird.

SamanthaBruno