Sunday 1 March 2015

Prose 500 2015 Longlist, Anila Mathew

 Escape

Apertures opened slowly, it was floating in a fluid like substance. Dark walls closed in on all sides. It tried to move, but to no avail. Exhaustion creeped in. Sounds drifted in from far away. The apertures closed…

The next time it awoke to a feeling of energy. There was a cord connected to one of the walls to the middle of its curved shape. Strangely it seemed to be gaining more strength from the cord. It tried to push against the walls of captivity, but soon tiredness crept in…

At times there was prodding and an invasion seemed imminent, but yet nothing happened.

Sounds could be heard more clearly. All types of noises assailed its senses but the struggle against the walls yielded no result. It could feel a tingling sensation at times. When the walls were pushed the sounds grew louder and the tingling was more frequent.

Then when it had gathered enough energy and strength, it started pushing with all its might. Strangely, the walls seemed to help now. It pushed, struggled, fought…the walls wanted to get rid of it…there were louder voices and more unbearable clamour…

It pushed its way through a narrow opening…And then light hit…the blinding light drew a sound of happiness, anticipation and excitement…free at last…

“Congratulations ! you have delivered a baby girl…”

“Oh look at her flailing fists…isn’t she a darling…”

“She takes after me…”

The welcoming voices, the caresses, the kisses…

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