It had always been a comfort to me knowing that as long as
I was near the sea, I was never far from home. Gently closing my eyes, I
listened softly to the steady rhythm of the waves. A wave smoothly broke as it
graced my feet, crackling over each tiny pebble, sizzling as each tiny salt
droplet kissed the shoreline and that one unique wave travelled back towards
the vast ocean. Carefully timing the break of each roll, it was no surprise when
the water once again came rushing over my feet, allowing me to sink further
into the sand. I was lost in my own imagination for the first time in several
months. Concentrating on my shallow breathing, I began to mimic the breath of
the ocean. The sound of seagulls suddenly crashed through the serenity,
destroying the sound of silence. Although a strong hatred remained embedded
within me for these horrific birds, their sharp shriek surprisingly made me
giggle, as I reminisced summers spent chasing them down the beach. The warmth
of the breeze graced my ankles, billowed my skirt upwards and I quickly held it
down before any attention was drawn towards my legs. Although the beach was
sparse, the high cliffs were a constant threat. It was hard to imagine how a
country plagued by such hardships, could have this one sheltered paradise.
Pulling my hood back over my head I grabbed my backpack and ran towards the
safety of the cliff face. The salt had eaten into the deep gashes along my calves
and feet, feeling the sting I began to hop about in pain. This was the first form of treatment I had
received, and it couldn't have come sooner. The damage had been done and there
was no doubt I'd be left with severe scars.
Leaving
the beach and traipsing along a dusty path, I wearily made my way back towards
the dense forest. There was simply no time to feel sorry for myself, there was
no time to weep or mourn for the losses. If I allowed my feelings to crash
through the barrier I had built, I know I simply wouldn't survive. That was a
definite fact. I had spent months building a barrier against my emotions until
I was now at the point of feeling numb. The pain in my legs had subsided,
making it easier to trudge through the low hanging branches and thick thorn
bushes. I had only managed to grab a very limited amount of supplies as I
escaped, and fortunately a map had been caught up within a notebook. I had
quickly established my whereabouts before entering out into the piercing
African sun. I had little knowledge as to where I had been kept, so that one
piece of paper aided my escape greatly. Without which I would be completely
blind on my trek towards freedom.
Each step
pulled me further away from that dark hole of burning hell. Stabs of regret pierced
my weak heart as I was drawn back to the frail faces of the young girls. Their
expressions completely blank, too drugged to feel any sort of emotion. I
understood I couldn't save any of them, but I still felt remorse leaving them
behind to face death. Alone in the world without any form of sanity, their
brain fried by deep internal bleeding. Shivers rocketed across my back as I was
sent back to their sharp deathly clutch, the steel bars attached to my wrists,
the frozen metal slab burning my body. I didn't realise I had blacked-out until
I awoke shivering in a pool of my own sweat, my hands gripped around my own
throat, lying on the damp forest floor. Detangling myself from my own tight
grip I lay on the ground, staring up at the canopy of trees. Allowing my heart
beat to drop, I established my location on the map. Walking on foot to the
boarder would take an extensive amount of time, but I couldn't risk hitching
along the open road. I couldn't allow myself to free my emotions again, risking
myself to discovery.
Nightfall
was dropping as I reached the edges of the forest, the perfect time to travel
across open space. The sun burned the horizon, and I stood contently watching
the heat waves rise above the ground; a moment of absolute bliss. This vast area
once housed an entire village but had been wiped out not so long ago. I traced
the path of the main road along the row of foundations, gracing my hand across
the fallen walls. Before I had managed to reach the end of the road, I heard a
slight rustle on the dusty ground. Stock still, I didn't dare to take a breath.
My heart pounded in my ears, sending shock waves around my fragile frame. Maybe
it was just my imagination, after all I was certainly already insane from
months spent cooped up in a dark hole. Allowing myself to edge forward a few
steps, my ears burned as they strained to recognise any unusual movement. There
it was again, only louder and closer this time. Spinning sharply around I came
face to face with a young girl. We both froze, neither one of us moving like an
animal in front of their predator. Without any warning she reached her hand
towards my face and I slapped it away instinctively. Regretting it straight
away, I reached into my pocket and produced a token of my apology: an orange.
Handing it to her I could feel her gratitude as she slowly curled her bony
fingers around the fruit. I had little to share, but this simple act of
kindness made me feel human again. Sitting on the dusty ground we silently
peeled the orange, savouring each droplet of juice not allowing any to escape
our parched mouths. That moment of solitude would be one I'd never forget.
Getting
ready to leave, I motioned for her to join me. Her face turned pale as I
suggested this outrageous concept. No words had yet been exchanged between us
so I had no knowledge of her nationality; I thought it was best to remain speechless.
Carefully she began to inch towards me as I held my hand out to her. Before she
had even taken two steps, a low rumble sent the ground into a deep quiver. I
lashed around as three U.S fighter jets appeared on the horizon, travelling
faster than sound. This was my only chance and I knew it, reaching into my bag I
set off the only flare I had managed to escape with. Red light shot into the
sky leaving a trail of smoke behind it. I began frantically waving my arms
screaming. But what happened next I would never have anticipated. Screeching
noises deafened me as millions of bullets raged fiercely towards us. I stood
frozen, speechless, until the young girl scratched my arm. I grabbed her hand
quickly and raced towards the woods, using the last bit of energy I possessed.
Tripping over rocks, we dragged each other towards the trees. I could feel the
power of the bullets rip past me, the heavy planes towered overhead and they
watched two physically and mentally destroyed girls struggle for their life. Reaching
the safety of the trees gave us little comfort. The attack continued, pellets
bouncing off the trees. Suddenly, I stopped and yanked the young girl into the
hollow of a tree. The planes raged overhead and continued their onslaught
through the trees. Sweat poured down my forehead and flashes of horror streaked
across my eyes. Flaying wildly I whimpered and cried as I attempted to rid the
images from my mind. A soft hand touched my face and began to stroke my cheek.
Slowly my vision returned and I could clearly see her now, panting in the
darkness. A soft feeling of warmth spread slowly through my icy veins, as I
felt love, an emotion I had long ago forgotten.
Extracting
ourselves from the tree some time later, I assessed the damage. Neither of us
had been injured thankfully. Figuring it was best to stay hidden for the night,
I settled myself down on a soft patch of grass. This was the moment I had feared
the most; the nightmares. However much I tried to fight sleep, it soon washed
over me like the devil ready for feast. Falling into unconsciousness, I dreamt
of fire and ash, absolute destruction. Pain streaked through my body as the girls
I left behind flashed before my eyes. Then it came, the icy cold tight grip
around my throat, tightening. The other hand lashed across my body, no sense of
humanity in his piercing red eyes. Hours passed and I remained trapped within
my own memories. My body heated up and suddenly flames danced on my eyelids. It
wasn't until I could feel the heat lashing against my skin that I awoke. Realising I was no longer trapped in a nightmare,
the flames were real and they were licking against my skin. Feeling the heat on
my skin I sat up quickly and stared into the roaring flames. Choking on the
black smoke I hit the ground and gasped for air. The girl was absolutely
nowhere to be seen, not that I could actually see much anyway. My eyes burned
as I desperately tried to search for a gap in the fire. Never before had I
witnessed such horror yet such beauty. The colours of the flames hypnotised me,
and the heat radiating from them heated the scars embedded into my legs. I
dragged myself along the thick forest floor as I spotted an opening in the
trees. Thorns sank deep into my palms and I wrenched them out without a second
thought. Pulling my hood over my head I tried to block out the oncoming smoke.
My lungs screamed in pain and I knew they wouldn't hold up much longer. I
whipped my head from side to side in hope of seeing the young girl. Yet she
remained invisible, already lost to the flames or escaped alone. What had
happened while I slept? How could I have missed the slaughter of these flames?
Reaching
the gap, I pulled myself up. The flames were kissing my feet viciously, hungry
for more attention. Collapsing through the trees I noticed the young girl lying
face down on the ground her clothes completely torn off. I dragged myself
towards her, tears cascading down my cheeks. Collapsing on top of her I
carefully turned her over. Despite the furnace surrounding us, her skin was
frozen in time. Her tiny frame slashed by the stroke of a knife. Her deep green
eyes stared back at me as my tears washed the dirt from her face. I could feel
the flames around me once again. Yet I didn't move. Instead I protectively
covered her with my own body. Laying there I finally let out the pain. I
screamed and yelled until my lungs could no longer handle the pressure. Shaking
wildly I could feel the flames touching my skin, but I couldn't feel the pain.
With my eyes shut, I tried to imagine the sea once more. The slow roll of the
waves the sizzling of the pebbles over the rocks. I would reach the sea someday
again, but for now I had to sleep. Before I had reached unconsciousness, a
clammy hand gripped my waist and pulled me from the ground. My mind slowly
slipped away before I had a chance to look at them. Drifting away from pain,
and fire and ash.
A statement which was roared across O'Connell Street from The GPO yesterday, as tens of thousands protested against the water charges across the entire country. Attending the protest with my dad, I was overwhelmed by the passion and determination displayed by the people around me. Surrounded by people of all ages; from newborns in prams to elderly couples struggling to hold up their banners, there was definitely no shortage of water as we slogged through the pouring rain.
As we walked, I listened to the various chants "Power to the People," "From the river to the sea, Irish water will be free," "Look up high and see the water falling from the sky," I was curious to discover the various reasons people had for marching. In general the responses were the same - the Irish people have had enough, the Government take and take and take but we've nothing left to give! The household charge, the property tax and the income tax were all supposed to include taxes on water, yet now they want us to pay for it again. When will it end?
