Trapped
By Amethyst Turner
A window stands open
A woman stands looking out
She is trapped
She sees families and animals
She sees food and water
She sees sunshine and green
She is trapped
She sees help on the other side
She sees safety
She sees love
She sees infinity in space
She sees promises above
But she is trapped
She is never leaving
XXX
The weight of Elizabeth Turner's sorrow grew so heavy so quickly that Annie could hardly stand to stay inside the house.
The ceiling seemed to press down, every wall putting pressure on her head. It might crush her if she remained here any longer. She didn't like this, didn't like the torn up couch and the mildew-ridden walls and the mangy, torn cardboard box in the corner of the room. She didn't like the open bureau drawer or Libby kneeling beside it, sobbing.
"Elizabeth?" she said. "Libby? Maybe we should step outside for a moment. A bit of fresh air might do you some good."
At this, Elizabeth gave her head an emphatic shake. "You need to see," she murmured into her hands. "Someone needs to see."
I see! Annie wanted to scream. I see! Let me go, now.
The cookies were in the kitchen, long forgotten. I need to show you something, Libby had said to her. She had led her into the living room, led her here to the chest of drawers, and opened this one. This is where I tried to kill her, she had said. This is the drawer I closed.
Annie wanted out, but found that Elizabeth was right: she needed to see. She needed to see the misery that was the life of the Turners, the torment that made up the days of Elizabeth's existence. The walls that would shape Amethyst if she ever did return here. "Okay," she said. "Show me, then."
XXX
Amethyst awoke to find her new friend leaning over her, waiting for her eyes to open. She could tell Sophie had something to say, but Aimee wasn't quite sure she wanted to hear it.
She had been talking to Sophie during the past days (hours? Weeks?) for long stretches of time and felt that she knew her fairly well by now. Well enough to say that her strong convictions and plans tended to be brash and often dangerous. Attack him, she had urged. We ought to gang up on him, then we'll run. She had also proposed that they tunneled out of the basement with a spoon, tie Leafy up with his own ropes, and try to build a transistor radio and intercept police frequencies.
All fanciful plans, but none of them plausible.
Not to mention, Amethyst was awfully tired. She held her eyes shut, hoping Sophie hadn't seen them flutter open a moment ago.
YOU ARE READING
The Catharsis
General FictionIt gets better. Isn't that what they say? Amethyst Turner isn't so sure. She waits and waits, but things only get worse. She sees happy families on TV, with a father and mother that love each other and their kids. They have a dog, and a nice house...
