WEP 2021 Continues the Artistic Inspiration- FREEDOM OF SPEECH! Sign up here
https://writeeditpublishnow.blogspot.com/2021/08/wep-2021-continues-artistic-inspiration.html
In the beginning
Her
eyes shot open and slowly things began to come in to focus. She was aware of moving shapes above her head
slowly twirling and glinting as sunlight started to stream in through a net
curtained window.
She moved her arms and flexed her fingers in front
of her face and gave a little murmur as she tried kicking her legs out from
underneath covers that wrapped around her.
Her head turned and she glimpsed the cream-coloured
bars. She reached out her hand to grab
on to the wooden pole, grunting and groaning, she pulled her weight across the
softness she was lying on, using her left hand to steady herself.
Gradually she managed to move in to a crouching
position. As her strength grew, her muscles responding, she stretched further
forwards - up into a standing position.
She began to pull against the bars that had kept
her enclosed all night. she opened her mouth and started calling out.
‘Mmmm, mmmm.’
The door swung open, standing in the threshold she
saw a huge, shadowy figure advancing quickly towards her. She stretched out her
arms, jumping up and down in eager anticipation.
‘Mum, mum, mum!’
‘It’s about time you learnt to say Daddy,’ the
loving voice said picking her up enveloping her against his strong body.
She smiled sweetly.
‘Da, da, dad, dad!’
Years later:
SHE SAID, NO
I love you, he said
I love you too, she
replied
So, let’s do it, he
said
But why? she said
Because I want to, he
said
I want to wait, she
said
Then you don't love me,
he said
I do love you, she
said
Then you’d let me, he
huffed
But I’m only 15, she
said
But you’re old enough,
he said
No, she said.
Yes, he said.
No, she said.
Come on, he said.
You know you want to.
No, I don't.
Then you don't love
me, he said.
Yes, I do, she said.
Then come on, let me,
let me, let me.
No.
Yes, yes, yes.
No, no, no, please no.
Yessssss.
Nooooo.
You must - you can't
lead me on like this.
I didn’t.
You did. I can't stop.
Please stop.
I love you.
Please, please stop.
Oh dear God, please
stop.
PLEASE
STOP.
Stop,
stop, stop.
Why are you crying?
Please stop crying.
What did I do that was
so wrong?
OK I’ll take you home
now.
See you.
Word count: 406
Wow - what a heart punch! You pulled me in so many directions. We wish they all could stay sweet and innocent. The latter part is heartbreaking and far too common. Well written
ReplyDeleteHi Sally - what an amazing piece of writing ... so well done - and as Jemi says ... desperately sadly so true, often more forcefully I'd expect too. Well done - you've rumpled my heart-thoughts ... Regards Hilary
ReplyDeleteI've no words that could say it better than Jemi or Hilary. Except to repeat - WOW - what a heart punch!
ReplyDeleteWell done!
This was splendid. You brought it out terrifically well.
ReplyDelete-Sonia from https://soniadogra.com
A strong and thoughtful story.
ReplyDeleteWow, Sally...that poem. Cut right to the heart of the 'he said' 'she said' defence. Oh I feel for her in the aftermath of this done to her against her will. 'See you.' So casual.
ReplyDeleteJust beyond gut wrenching! Both parts done masterfully with such economy of words. The poem was particularly hard hitting and cuts to the core. Brilliant job!
ReplyDeleteSally - this is brilliant. The juxtaposition of the two experiences had me gasping. I was already smitten by the first half and loved the unspoken reference to freedom of speech. The second half was stifling in its honesty.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this twice, I saw a little girl growing up loving her dad and her daddy using perverse love to win her trust. Then in the second poem I saw him finally taking her at fifteen. It was a very sad story for many fifteen year old girls and younger go through such an experience.
ReplyDeleteShalom aleichem
Oh, that wasn't what I had in mind, rather that she grew up with a loving family, a protective, loving and respectful father figure but then was let down when not all men show her the same respect. I can see why you might have seen something I didn't though now you have mentioned it.
DeleteThis really spoke to so many feelings. The first half is sweet and adorable, a little girl reaching out for her daddy. Sweet innocence. Then to see what happened to her at 15. She did everything she could to say no, but he wouldn't listen. I'm heartbroken for her.
ReplyDeleteWell done!
Gut wrenching.
ReplyDeleteThe "Because I want to, he said
I want to wait, she said"
really hit home for me. Then the flippant "See you" at the end! Talk about freedom of speech - I'm speechless at this take on the prompt. Well done.
Carole
Terribly anxious rendering of what should be a simple NO, but is heard as a yes …. with the consequences attached… We’ll done Sally.
ReplyDelete😢😤
ReplyDeleteVery powerful and distressing. The speech is free, but unheard by such villains.
The beginning was came to an unexpected end, before switching to tense future as the consequences of begin. Well done.
ReplyDeleteSuch terrible darkness.
ReplyDeleteIt would be so nice to live in a world where we all read this and had no idea what was happening. Yet, here we are, just these few words, and we all know exactly what's going on. It's that common.
It shouldn't be.