Short Words

Every Single Detail

Genre: Realistic Fiction

Author's Note: When you realize you have no idea how to classify your own writings into genres! This piece was a pretty quick, short project and unfortunately I did not get the grade that I was hoping for. Please prove my teacher wrong!

I remember every single detail. I had been in confinement for 2 years, but this was not because I was a prisoner. Plus, for your information, this is not some "Rapunzel" tale; I was definitely not waiting in this stinky cabin for a prince to save me. I hadn't had any human contact from anyone. The no human contact situation was not my idea; it was not in my best interest to be stuck in this cabin in the darkest place in the forest. It was my mother's. She was convinced that I, her only daughter out of 4 older brothers, was being tracked by the FBI. Saying that my mother was off her rocker was an understatement. She believed in ghosts, aliens, the government spying on everyone, and unicorns. She even cut off all of her long, black hair, the only thing that we had in common, because she had a dream about aliens wanting her hair. I know, she's crazy. Anyway, back to my story.

It was the first day of spring and I had my window open; it was as if the Earth took a big sigh of relief after the long winter. I was making my morning coffee and listening to the news. The news was my only way to have a taste of the outside world. I huddled myself in the corner of the couch, it was easy to fit in small spaces because I was small. I turned up the volume of the TV when I heard a knock, just one single knock. Was it from the TV? Then I heard a

I peered my head around the corner of the living room, and on the floor in front of my front door was an envelope. I was terrified and intrigued at the same time. My morning coffee would have to wait.

I picked up and opened the envelope in one swift movement. One piece of lined paper sat in the paper compartment. Written with such ease was the words "We miss your black hair and blue eyes." Remember, no human contact for 2 years; no phone, no computer, and certainly no letters. My cabin sat in NoMan's Land; it was so hidden, if I were to wander outside of the cabin too far I would never be able to find my way back, even if I dropped breadcrumbs.

Another envelope slid under the door to my feet.

Again, in one sweep of my hands the envelope was open. This time the letters of the words were hastily written. "We remember how thoughtful and sweet you were. We want you to come out." They were outside of my door as I read this; I heard them whisper. Who is this "We" they keep writing about? I quickly thought of the possibilities. It could be my mother. They could be my brothers letting me know it is okay to come out. It could be my grandparents, they were the only other people that knew of my location. It could be the FBI, they could have really been tracking me. It could be aliens. Now I'm sounding like my mother.

I grabbed a piece of paper and pencil from the nearby desk. I write quickly "Who are you?" and slip it under the door. I hear whispering again.

I was tired of this letter passing under my door.

"Hello, do I know you? Can I help you?"

The doorknob began to slowly turn, this was impossible. The front door to this cabin has never been opened since the last time I saw my mother and she put me in here. All I remember from what happened next was that the door flung open and I didn't run, I was frozen even though winter was over. My eyes were covered with a black bag. They, who I still don't know the identity to, picked me up easily and threw me into the trunk of a car.

The trunk of the car is where I am now. I ripped the bag off of my face and found this paper and pen stashed in the corner. I'm terrified; my hands are shaking. For the first time in my life I realize that I would rather be in that stinky cabin than outside of it. I'm hoping by writing this and leaving it in the trunk someday someone might find it. The car has stopped. I hear them. The car doors are opening and shutting. They're coming. I will remember every single detail.