FREE WRITE

Time moves at warp speed, and as always, I am standing still. Your minute hand moves across my face while I watch the sun. I swallowed my pride and said goodnight.

The water was shallow; this time, we waded in up to our knees. The salt soothed our burns, acquired by long hours praying to a god to save us. False idols, all of them. They make us cross the coals, splitting the sky and uniting the seas. There is no land here- little we can do to change the tide. Held tightly to your hand, we watched them wander aimlessly into the abyss.

One foot before the other. Never look back. Show no fear.

But I wont go that way. There’s more to life than to blindly follow in the hollow steps of another. I will sing, loud and clear, and hope that someone hears me. Never before has this rung more true. The bell screams liberty.

Our freedom is no illusion. It’s a journey to the tallest peak and a slope to the lowest hole. A wormhole that no one dares go through. I’ve thrown down a line or two in the vague hope that I hear a reply.

Tap. Tap. Tap. It echoes against the walls. They’re clawing their way out, searching for a breath of fresh air. These poor, hapless souls- they don’t know what’s up or what’s down. Their confusion is their condition. Their only hope now is to sit and wait.

Dash. Dash. Dash. They’ll sit at the bottom of the sea, listening to the voice caused by the fear in their hearts. They are ruled by it. They hear the evil. They see the evil. One by one, they close their minds to the evil. The truth, they know, will set them free.

Tap. Tap. Tap. Can’t you hear it? Why won’t you move? Save them! Go to their aid! They’re crying out for you! I will live to see the day when we think independently. When the curtain falls, I will take a bow at center stage.

This is your time. Speak now, or forever hold your beating heart in your hands and watch it slow. We are withering away and I keep reaching for you. Out-stretch your arm and let me help. I can pull you back off the ledge. You’ve done all you can do.

The chisels are blunt now, and this is so much bigger than you and me. We’re standing on a pin. One wrong move and we’re both gone for good. We’ve done all we can do. We’ve left behind the message for whoever comes. On the face of the only mountain, we’ve carved in stone one final hope:

S.O.S.