Breaking Free

I clenched my fists as I tried with all my might to break free. But it didn't work, my heart sank just as it did every time I realized just how trapped I was.

I wanted to fly again, I wanted to soar...how I missed that feeling, Being free.
                                                
But I knew I wouldn't be able to, never again. How could I fly if I had no way of leaving the ground?
Trapped, that's what I was, that's what I am.                                 

The heavy chains made a clinking sound as I collapsed onto my knees, a sound that made my stomach churn every time I heard it's sickening melody.

My wings hung low and dragged on the dirty cement as my hands clutched the sides of my head, running my cold fingers through my messy hair.

My face felt cold and wet as small beads of liquid streamed down my face and I realized I was crying again.

Why was I crying?
Shouldn't I be used to this by now? Shouldn't i be used to being caged?

That's what I have been my whole life. A caged bird, trapped by something that I couldn't control.

I couldn't stand it any longer!
I have to try, I have to try and break free!

You have tried so many times to escape, it didn't work then...what makes you think it will be any different this time? an ugly voice in my head said.

I hated that voice, I hated those words and more than ever I hated the chains that bound me to the walls of this wretched prison.

"What do I do?" I whispered as I curled up into a ball on the floor, I wrapped my broken and tattered wings around myself in an attempt to shield my eyes from the truth of what lay just outside my feathery barrier.

"What can I do?" I said as i hid my face in my hands. "Is there any light beyond these dark walls?"
If I somehow did break free would people except me with my dirty, clipped and broken wings? Or would they turn away in disgust at the state of my appearance...i am not pure white anymore.

You won't know until you try. A different voice in my head said gently.

How was it possible that those words could lift me up and bring me down all at the same time?  

There was something about those words made me stir, I slowly moved into a sitting position and I shakily forced my legs to support my weight and let me stand.

I lifted my wings, readying myself for what would happen next, and what that was I had no idea.

What am I doing? I questioned myself.

Your breaking free. the kind voice answered.

And with that a sudden surge of energy flowed through my body causing my chest to fill with courage. And this time I did something different than all the other times I tried to escape.

Stepping closer to the dark walls I lifted one of my legs up high so that the bottom of my foot faced vertically to it's cold surface.

Stop trying to break the chains, break the cage! I thought.

And with that I focused all my energy and soul into my leg and kicked as hard as I could at the wall.

Nothing.

I kicked again and again, each blow being harder than the last.

"I won't be trapped anymore!" I shouted.

And then it happened.

The wall cracked.

I stared at it in disbelief. I had actually made a crack in the wall!
It slowly started to expand a few inches little by little and then stopped.

But then it struck me.
Will this crack help me create an escape from this prison or cause this whole place to come crashing down on top of me?

I didn't know...