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It was like a dream.
Drifting along the forest path, the moonlight illuminating the way. The woods were silent. The shadows present, and yet not oppressive, but enshrouding and protective. A comfort.
A mother’s embrace.
There was no fear to be found here. Why should there be? It was safe.
The darkness kept the monsters at bay.
The forest trees stretched out their arms to shield.
The stars twinkled up above, a silent companion.
It was beautiful.
It was everything she never realised she needed.
…And it wasn’t real.
She smiled sadly. Resigned.
And so here it was again.
Get up. Fit in. Be quiet. Obey the orders. Do not attract attention. Finish the work. Sleep. Rinse, repeat.
Do not trust. Do not speak. Keep your head down. Dance to their tunes. Rinse, repeat.
Freewill is not allowed. Individuality is cursed.
Every step dictated, every move controlled.
A marionette.
How she wishes to someday cut off her strings.
…Though maybe, that someday is near.
There was movement, coming from the horizon.
The wind caressing her face felt different.
The sounds reaching her ear were different.
The energy, the behaviour of the people around her were different.
It was the calm before the storm. The tension in a room filled with unspoken words.
Most importantly, it was an opportunity.
So she changed her tune. She toed the boundaries, dipping a finger here and there, slipping a foot just slightly past the line. They never noticed.
Emboldened, she reached further. Pushed more.
Until something changed.
She was still obeying their steps. Dancing the same waltz.
But it was off.
They never noticed.
Taking the risk, she leapt.
A different place.
A new reality.
It should have excited her. She was free.
Yet she didn’t feel free.
She had gotten rid of her chains. She had escaped. But she felt more scared than ever. Like something big was coming. Something she wouldn’t be able to handle.
Or that maybe her master …still held her strings.
Which was silly.
Her escapade was successful. No one noticed. Did they?
They did.
She refused to go back.
But she had no choice.
So here she was.
Back to the beginning. Right where she started.
Wake up. Dance to their tunes. A doll to her ventriloquist. Sleep. Rinse and repeat.
Chains tighter than ever.
Hopeless.
Watching the birds. She envied them.
The way they twirled and spun with the wind.
Free to go wherever they wanted.
Unbound and unfettered.
Maybe there was another way…
The Sun was shining. It was blinding, warm and soothing. A breath of fresh air for her stale lungs.
It wasn’t her forest, but it was hers.
And that was enough.
Skipping through the sunlit forest, listening to the cheerful songs of birds and the foraging of little woodland critters, she felt joy like never before blooming within her.
The trees were tall, huge trunks and multi-colored leaves all around her. The breeze brushed past her, skimming her hair, grazing her skin.
She welcomed it.
She sang and she danced.
She moved with the wind, letting it lead her wherever.
For once, nothing and no one controlled her. Nothing and no one had power over her. She was free, to be whatever, to do whatever.
Her laughter rang for what felt like the first time in her life.
Well, not in her life exactly.
Her laughter rang for the first time in a long time.
Or for the first time in never.
Matters not.
She’s here now.
At peace.
Unchained.
Free.
And she’ll stay this way.
For eternity.