In the Dark
by Bethany Sherer
Listening. Waiting. Thinking. Crying. I live in the dark. I sit here every second of every minute of every hour of every day. It’s been years since I’ve seen the light, and I’m not sure I remember what the sun feels like on my face. I’m lonely. I have not seen one single face since I got here. I’m being pushed to my limit. I hear things that aren’t there, see things that aren’t really there. I’m starting to go insane.
“What shall we do today, Aiko?” my mind asks with laughter. I cringe at the evil voice in my head. I tell it to go away, but nothing happens. “I’m not sure I like your attitude. What do you say we do something bad?”
I grip my head with both hands and squeeze my eyes shut, starting to sob.
“Stop! Just stop! Go away!” I yell at the voice. I allow myself to cry just a little longer before settling down.
This time, the voice to speak isn't the one in my head telling me to do evil things. It whispers, “My dear, Aiko. You’ve waited so long. But your moment has finally come.” I look around but see no one.
“Who are you?” I cry.
“I am your new mother. My name is Kotomi,” the kind voice replied. It was nothing like the one that I constantly hear telling me hurtful things.
“You’ve spent too much time in the dark. Lonely. Nobody to talk to. I came here to give you a new life, sweetheart.” The woman is tempting. How can I be sure, though. Maybe the voice from before was using a different tone, trying to trick me?
“I don’t know where I am. Who I am. I don’t know if I can trust anyone or anything,” I reply, tears starting to form in my eyes. I feel something on both of my shoulders. What is this? I'm not touching myself. Is it Kotomi? I've never felt the touch of another person.
“You are Aiko Fujioka. Fifteen years old. Born in a small town that, soon after your birth, was destroyed. You were found and brought here for testing.” I can'ttell for sure, but this time when she talked, I thought I heard pain. Like the way I sound when I cry.
“I’m not sure what you mean,” I reply to Kotomi.
“Some scientists brought you here to this lab to test the development of a human in isolation,” she says. “It’s cruel. But I’ll take care of you now.” By this time I am sobbing. Why is she nice to me?
A few moments pass, and we both stop crying. “Let’s go, Aiko.” she says and grabs my hands, pulling me to my feet.
“Absolutely!” I smile then pause.
“What is it, dear?” she asks.
“Could you turn the lights on?” I reply. There is a long pause, and then a sob escapes Kotomi’s lips. I cock my head.
“The lights are on, Aiko.”