Monday, December 3, 2007

THE ROOM


She sat quite motionless on the wooden straight backed chair.

Her sit up and beg chair.
Gradually it dawned on her that she hadn’t heard the key turn in the lock.

She rose slowly; turning towards the door she took a few hesitant steps across the bare floor. She raised her hand and clutched the dull metal doorknob tightly, twisting it to the left she let out a small exclamation of surprise mixed with apprehension when the door swung effortlessly inwards revealing the impenetrable velvety blackness of the unknown yawning beyond her dimly lit world.

Four walls too close for comfort, a ceiling too low for stretching, and a floor solidly boring.

That chair, her place in this place.

A light bulb, dim, depressing.

Out there beckoned seductively and she yearned to step beyond the confines of the room.

She stood frozen in the portal between conformity and freedom.

It was so long since she had been outside. Why was it so dark? She wanted to see where she was going, what lay ahead.


Feeling the fear welling up inside her she started to panic.

What if…? What if…? What if…?

The inadequate glow of the light bulb called to her, little comfort, the four walls enclosing all that was familiar smirked knowingly as she backed into their embrace and sat on her chair. She left the door open, lacking the courage to step through but not quite willing to give up the dream of freedom.

13 comments:

lime said...

i very much understand that place of limbo

puerileuwaite said...

Hey, I'm not paying to heat the whole damned neighborhood! Do I look like I'm made of money?

Travis Cody said...

Excellent.

And I humbly apologize for the misleading title of my football post.

Unknown said...

You’ve presented a portrait of many folks. Including, too often, me.

Queenie said...

Your words express the feelings and thoughts of so many.

Cathy, can I be cheeky and ask if you would give your vote for Sherwood Forest, details are on my blog. I understand if your to busy or don't agree, but its close to my heart (and childhood), so I thought I'd ask!

Unknown said...

The most effective prisons are the ones inside our heads.

snowelf said...

Cathy, I love the way you put your thoughts together so poetically!!

--snow

Akelamalu said...

So many people have been there, you have put their feelings in words.
~Thanks for stopping by my blog and taking the time to comment.

Elaine Denning said...

You always make my heartstrings twang.

val said...

Lots to read into/get out of this, but agoraphobia springs to my mind.

Blancodeviosa said...

i feel quite lik an empty hallway myself..

Jocelyn said...

There can be so much richness in darkness, though, so sometimes it's worth pushing through the fear and stepping into nothingness. Once you feel around for awhile, you discover new textures.

AZZITIZZ said...

Hi Cathy,
I know it's only the 19th, but before the madness of the next few days sets in, I thought I would pop over to wish you a fantastic Christmas and a happy and healthy 2008.
Luv Azzy.