Caged

Infinity can usually be as big as you can make it. How far can your imagination extend the world around you is the real limit of the world. For a goldfish in a fishbowl, there are two possible worlds, it can be limited by the glass, or its mind can make it as big as it wants. Bigger even than whatever reality its senses can perceive.

What happens then when a world that is bigger than what you could imagine its suddenly reduced by force, and there’s no way of being free again? That may sound like a question for philosophers or thinkers more than a reality, but it is only so, for you humans. Because, for me, and many like me, is a very real thing.

I was born inside an infinite world. I didn’t matter what direction I chose, I could swim forever, and above me, beyond my own realm and even bigger one hovered. I could go deep until light could not find its way. I could find cold or warm places and I never had to look at the same place twice. My life was full-on adventure.

The world is now a fishing bowl for me. I am like the goldfish; my imagination is my only friend. And where does my imagination take me? Not to new places, or to magical ones. I have already been in my paradise and was taken away.

My imagination places games on me sometimes. I see things in the glass. I see fish and whales. I see turtles and rays. I see my lost world just there at my reach. I see those I knew, and I see new ones. But when I go to them, I just hit a glass. So, I’m hurt, I’m alone and I’m scared.

Some days, they make me do stuff for them. I jump and dance, I twist and splash, I pretend I’m free for a small reward. So, I’m without joy or dignity but my stomach is full so what does it matter? I play their games, or I’m punished. I pose for pictures as attention is all I have. No reality can be as cruel as having to pretend to have everything while having nothing.

I see the world’s end every day. I see a dark ceiling above and I see wall, both in reality and in my mind. A wall that is a curse on my freedom. I also see thousands of eyes, all pointing at me in wonder. What is it that they see? I’m full of loneliness and sadness. Is that what they seek? To feed on my suffering? But I see something in them. They are free to make their world as infinite as mine once was. But they are like me. They are sad and caged.

Oh, how I wish for all of us to be free. For all of us to shape the world in a way that is fitting to everyone. To make this reality a place for dreams and freedom. How I wish we can all swim free. Free of cages and chains. Free of suffering and loneliness. Free to let our imagination fly and found the infinite world we were supposed to live in.

How I wish humanity was no more. And all of us could find joy in the world. For them to be gone, wiped of the face of the earth. Their existence is just a nightmare to all of us. How could it be, that we committed such a sin, that deserves this punishment?

One day, we will find the end of this nightmare. One day, the sweet release of dead, will make us free again.