The Prisoner

The boots made little noise as they touched the snow-covered ground. The fresh dewy snow didn't make a thick layer on the ground quite yet, but it was enough to leave his boot-prints for them to catch. If he continued on the roads, it would be quite easy to track him. As it is, he had been running long enough now- almost 4 straight miles. He had to stop and think of a better path. With fear still coursing through his veins, he paused to catch his breath.

The moon shimmered in the barren night-sky, half peeking through the few dark clouds shadowing it. The trees in front of him stood tall and proud almost as if mocking him. He looked around and realized both sides of the roads were covered with lush canopies so thick that they hardly let snow down on the ground. He tried to get his bearings straight and analyse which direction to go next. Did it really matter though? He shrugged and jumped right; into the ruddy ground of the woods.

Running in the woods was easier than the snow-covered roads. He was faster here, albeit a little noisier. It didn't matter though. He was so far out in the woods now, there was little chance of someone waking up from the noises. The pitch darkness that had swallowed him when he entered the woods seemed to be unending. The farther he went, the darker it got. Still, he ran. It wasn't the darkness that scared him. It was the noises in his head. He was trying his hardest to not focus on the noises on them. The rustle of the leaves, the sound of his boots hitting the ground and the occasional hooting of the owl somewhere around him. He urged himself to focus on these.

He had to pause yet again to catch his breath and to his left, saw darkness that was even more opaque. He had gotten accustomed to the night around him, but this seemed more denser than usual. Stupidly, he reached closer to investigate. With anticipation and anxiousness cloaking him, he walked closer, slowly until he realized it was just a tiny cave. He felt foolish and relieved simultaneously. After inspecting the tiny cave and finding it safe enough, he decided to sleep in for the remainder of the night. He would require all his strength tomorrow. He sat down resting his back on the cave wall and fished his pocket for the cigarette pack he had stolen earlier. There were only three left, the matches weren't in good number either. Still, he didn't just crave a smoke now, he needed it.

As he took a long drag in, he could feel the nicotine calming his mind and the soothing smoke filling his lungs. Resting his hands on his knees, he realized just how quiet it was in this little place. It didn't help. It just made the voices in his head clearer. He could not take it anymore. He slumped his head on his hands and before he knew it, he was crying- bawling really. He was crying so hard his vision had blurred. With tears running through his flustered cheeks he remembered. He remembered and he regretted. But what use was this lamenting now anyway? What happened- what he had done; couldn't be undone. There was nothing he could do except regret. And boy did he regret.

Regret- it engulfed him; it coiled around him slowly like a snake crushing him with its power. He never realized how strong the feeling of regret was until now when it was all he could feel. It was getting harder to breathe now, but he knew there was no cure for regret. He would just have to exist with this heaviness strangling his heart, slowly killing his soul within. He would just have to live with it.

This is just a short blurb that I had in mind. Do share your feedback for the same. Thanks for reading!