Who Have You Become?
“Morning smiles, like the fear of a newborn child, innocent unknowing. Winters’ end, promises of a long lost friend.” The haunting voice spills from the radio, reverberates inside my skull. My tongue feels swollen, sticking to the roof of my mouth as it chafes the sides of my cheeks. My head pounds mercilessly, beating in time to the rocky movements of the car. I pry my eyes open, the nerves screaming in pain and resentment. The world in front of me is out of focus, blurred around the edges, maintaining a dreamlike quality until I blink furiously. The dusty gray upholstery comes slowly into view. My arms ache, hands tied behind my back, the rope carving rings into my wrists. “Winter's end, promises of a long lost friend, speaks to me of comfort. But I fear, I have nothing to give. I have so much to lose.” A strangled moan escapes my lips, tears prickling my lifeless eyes. My legs, curled underneath my bound hands, cramp and burn with pain and sorrow. The haunting music turns to st