Far Horizons: Tales of Sci-Fi, Fantasy and Horror. Issue #12 March 2015 | Page 49

Freedom
Ana Marija Meshkova
The air is stale and warm, and it’s getting harder to
breathe every second. The narrow space is taking its
toll; my muscles ache. I don’t know how long I’ve
been here, but it feels like forever. Everytime I hear
footsteps, I involuntarily clench my body, a move that
has started to hurt so much I have to stop myself from
wincing.
I was fine when I first got into the barrel. The straw
was soft, and light was streaming down on my face
from the air holes in the lid. But when I was moved
from the docks to the ship, they stacked something on
top, and now it’s just me. I managed to survive on the
bread and water I was able to steal from the bakers. I
could always deal with hunger.
It has probably been days; I can’t tell. All I know is
that every minute is spent in praying. Please God, let
me be free.
I hope I can get out of the barrel and hide someplace
dark before someone finds me.
I hear footsteps and laughter. Muff