R
GLOBAL PUBLIC SCHOOL 2021
79
She was two years old . She was on her father ’ s shoulders , giggling with her pudgy hands wrapped around his head . Her eyes widened with childish wonder when she dared to glance down . She was so tall ! She thought , this is freedom .
She was five when she first rode a bicycle for the first time without those rickety training wheels . Her mother called her a natural , but she wasn ’ t sure of what that meant and so , she promptly dismissed it from her mind . Focus on here . Focus on now . Her hair flew with the wind and she hurtled down the lane . She resisted the urge to lift her arms from the handlebar . She was sure that if she did , she would fly . She was like a bird , desperate to spread her wings just a little bit more , but she forced that thought out . She thought , this is freedom .
She was 22 years old and found an apartment to call home , with her own money . She could do whatever she wanted , no strings attached , no rules . She thought , this is freedom .
She was 28 years old and went paragliding . For those glorious , windswept moments , her mind seemed again to be five . She was truly flying , soaring , tasting the sweet , cool air , and she watched the Earth below and thought , this is freedom .
She was 36 and she travelled the world . As she explored cultures and caves , toured ruins and museums , climbed mountains and towers , she thought , this is freedom .
She was 50 years old when her life began to slow down . She held her sweet grandchild for the first time . She looked at her tired , smiling daughter , her husband with his salt-and-pepper hair , and her wide-eyed overexcited sonin-law . A tug at her heart , a pull at her soul , stinging eyes , a sense of utter belonging . Her family . She thought , this … this is freedom .
She was 62 when she realized things were becoming too slow . She was supposed to be happy . She had lived a magnificent life , with all its ups-anddowns , all her laughs and tears , her hopes , her dreams , and most of all , her splendid adventures , one after the other . She had everything a woman could ever hope for . And yet … where is it ?
Freedom
Avanthika S Kartha [ 10C ]
She was 78 and suddenly things sped up . The doctors were telling her there was no hope , that they had tried their best . Her kin ’ s cries and worried eyes seemed to get farther and farther away . She closed her eyes and smiled . She knew now . She knew what to do .
She gave into the urge that had been pulling at her for so many years . She spread her wings and leapt , flying off into that dark , dark mist .
Freedom at last …