If you looked at her, she would appear like any other teenager. Wherever she went, she was surrounded by people. Her hair was always perfect, her makeup flawless, her smile unwavering. She did her homework and brushed her teeth twice a day. She had friends far and wide and valued them above everything else.
But she felt as though she were held in a cage, within the confines of her life. She felt as if she could reach out and touch the cold iron of the bars, rattle at the door and curse the unyielding lock. The door wouldn't budge, she knew no release from the cage that surrounded her.
Her friends noticed no change. After all, surface emotions were left behind the invisible bars, and nobody must suspect a thing. Nobody else lived in a cage like she did.
And then...there was him. A key to one of the many locks on the door, popping an edge open so that she could stick her face out, or perhaps a leg. Together, they began to pry at the iron bars, the bars becoming like cotton candy in their combined hands. Iron was no match for them, it merely became spun sugar, delicate enough to be washed away on the breeze.
She was out of what had confined her for so long, she was past her doubts and fears and losses. She had found what mattered to her most in the world, and she wanted to be with him until eternity ended. And then, it was over, gone like feathers on the wind. Like him.
She closed herself in her cage willingly then, and the stark iron was there for everyone to see. It didn't conveniently turn into glass this time, into cellophane to be seen through. They could see that she wasn't the sweet glittery angel, the spun sugar princess that they thought her to be.
And so...there she was, in one of their favorite spots...her favorite spots, she reminded herself fiercely. There was no "they" anymore. Only her. Solitary. She looked out across the ocean, felt the cool breeze on her face, a tease through the bars.
She could suddenly see the latch, the door to her cage. It was there, as though it really were solid. She poked the door open, looked out. It was a wonderful feeling, to be free....but she wasn't yet. Unless she wanted to be shut away forever...she had to walk out.
She took three bold, quick steps, without a backward glance. She allowed herself one self-satisfied smile before she fell, making no noise whatsoever except for the faint splash that could be heard as she connected with the ocean. She was free, she wouldn't hurt anymore. She was free.
From the trees, another figure watched, bowing his head mournfully. "Don't you see?" he whispered, turning his face toward the blinding sun. "I'm caged, too."
But she felt as though she were held in a cage, within the confines of her life. She felt as if she could reach out and touch the cold iron of the bars, rattle at the door and curse the unyielding lock. The door wouldn't budge, she knew no release from the cage that surrounded her.
Her friends noticed no change. After all, surface emotions were left behind the invisible bars, and nobody must suspect a thing. Nobody else lived in a cage like she did.
And then...there was him. A key to one of the many locks on the door, popping an edge open so that she could stick her face out, or perhaps a leg. Together, they began to pry at the iron bars, the bars becoming like cotton candy in their combined hands. Iron was no match for them, it merely became spun sugar, delicate enough to be washed away on the breeze.
She was out of what had confined her for so long, she was past her doubts and fears and losses. She had found what mattered to her most in the world, and she wanted to be with him until eternity ended. And then, it was over, gone like feathers on the wind. Like him.
She closed herself in her cage willingly then, and the stark iron was there for everyone to see. It didn't conveniently turn into glass this time, into cellophane to be seen through. They could see that she wasn't the sweet glittery angel, the spun sugar princess that they thought her to be.
And so...there she was, in one of their favorite spots...her favorite spots, she reminded herself fiercely. There was no "they" anymore. Only her. Solitary. She looked out across the ocean, felt the cool breeze on her face, a tease through the bars.
She could suddenly see the latch, the door to her cage. It was there, as though it really were solid. She poked the door open, looked out. It was a wonderful feeling, to be free....but she wasn't yet. Unless she wanted to be shut away forever...she had to walk out.
She took three bold, quick steps, without a backward glance. She allowed herself one self-satisfied smile before she fell, making no noise whatsoever except for the faint splash that could be heard as she connected with the ocean. She was free, she wouldn't hurt anymore. She was free.
From the trees, another figure watched, bowing his head mournfully. "Don't you see?" he whispered, turning his face toward the blinding sun. "I'm caged, too."