Alone
By philpye
- 719 reads
Alone
It was cold and dark and I was alone. The instant the metal door
crashed shut and the heavy bolt was driven securely home, my body began
to tremble. Every muscle from head to toe twitched before
reaching a peak of violent, uncontollable convulsions as the fear rose unbearably. The
thin coat I wore did little to offer protection from the biting cold that
penetrated every bone while the shivering and trembling
intensified. Through the putrid gloominess I could barely make out the four
walls that entrapped me but I knew that each one was no more than a
couple of strides away.
It was only my second night but already the vice-like grip of claustrophobia began to take control and
I wondered what other phobias were to be born here. How many times
would I have to face the demons of my own mind? The cacophony of noise
was deafening and confused me still further, but I knew that eventually
it would give way to a near silence that was just as eerie and
unnerving.
I settled down on the single blanket hoping to find a hint of comfort
and peace, but to no avail. Still trembling, I stared at the glint of
light that crept beneath the metal door and fanned out onto the cold,
damp floor. I watched some type of six-legged creature wander aimlessly
in the light before it scurried through the gap and escaped to freedom.
As I peered underneath to watch, a misty cloud of my own warm breath
followed and I knew that I was in fact still alive. I curled up once
more but was too tired to sleep ? too tired and too scared. If only I
hadn't run off, I told myself. If only I hadn't mixed with the wrong
crowd, I might never have been taken there. If only?
For hours I alternated between whimpering and full blown crying, before
I succumbed to tiredness and drifted off into a more pleasant, yet
distant world.
The short-lived peace was once again shattered as one by one the metal
doors slammed and crashed. My heart thumped into action as the
involuntary trembling took hold. The racket quickly rose to a crescendo
before slowly subsiding as some of the others began to realise they
were being allowed the luxury of a few minutes exercise outside. The
air filled with the overnight stench of excrement, urine and the sour
smell of vomit, and the cocktail unavoidably filled every pocket of my
lungs. I prayed that I might be let out to fresher air and a brief
respite from the solitary existence between those four walls. I
listened for footsteps approaching. I'd quickly learnt that 'The Tall
One', whose footsteps were quick and light, was the more friendly of
the two and I trusted him, but 'The Fat One' I didn't like, and his
slow and heavy footsteps unnerved me. They were both there to reform us
and return us to society but I didn't trust 'The Fat One', and my heart
sank as he stopped by my door and threw open the bolt. I thought of
making a run for it as he opened the door but didn't know where I would
run. Instead I cowered in the corner and looked up at him nervously as
he tethered me to himself as a precaution and led me firmly along the
corridor. Some inmates stared at me threateningly while others looked
on as frightened as me. I quickly realised that I was not going for
exercise and this fear of the unknown set me panicking yet again. My
heart beat faster and I just wanted to die. Why is this happening to
me? Where are we going? Is it going to be good or bad?
He pushed the next door open with such a force that it rebounded and
struck me in the side before slamming shut behind us. His slow and
heavy footsteps took us into a shorter but equally frightening
corridor. I dared not look up, but curiosity got the better of me and I
forced a quick glance ahead. There was something about what lay ahead
that stirred in me. Wherever 'The Fat One' was taking me, I sensed that
I was nearly there. Behind the door only a few strides away was
somewhere I'd been before. I couldn't recall what lay behind there but
I knew I'd been there. I was still in one piece so it couldn't have
been all that bad. I just wanted to get it over with, whatever my fate
may be. He slowed us down further before opening the door to the
unknown, and I hid behind him frightened and shaking. I wanted to run
back, back to the four walls and darkness. Back to the loneliness and
even the cold, damp floor ? I'd soon get accustomed to it! But he
dragged me through the doorway ? and instantly my heartbeat shifted up
another gear as I saw what lay ahead.
'Jake!' called my Master as tears rolled down his cheeks, 'Jake, Jake,
Jake!'
I let out a yelp that would compete with any of the dogs in the
shelter, my tail whipped from side to side like it had never done
before and I leapt up at my Master with a force that almost knocked him
off balance. I let out more uncontrollable yelps and howls as 'The Fat
One' quietly walked away, smiling.
I've never run too far away from my Master since! And I savour every
moment in my rightful spot on the rug, in front of a roaring
fire.
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