Breaking Free

Ibani watched the farm animals each day from her hospital bed. She had lost count of how many agonizing days she had been trapped here and wondered if the poor creatures felt the same cooped up in their little pens. She felt the most empathy for the bull, so much wild strength held back in the smallest pen of them all.

Ibani’s eyelids grew heavy. She sighed leaning her head against the double pain window. Unwilling to fight the urge to drift off. Why bother? Nothing better to do. She dreamt of a wide open field full of wildflowers. The scene literally buzzed with life and for a moment Ibani’s heart was full of serenity and peace. She knew she was dreaming, but still swore she could smell the flowers and... Rain?

CRASH!

A bolt of lightning touched down directly in front of Ibani blinding her for a moment. As her vision returned she saw large rain drops dancing across the window before her. Beyond that she couldn’t believe... the bull’s pen had been splintered to pieces leaving a large gap and parts of the logs lie burning on the ground. The bull himself... was nowhere to be seen. Ibani watched in amazement and giggled to herself as the farmer stomped around raging mad. Perhaps he was the one who ought to be in a pen she thought.

A light knock came to the door. Ibani turned her attention away from the window "Come in." Her dear friend Liza entered the room carrying a beautiful bouquet of flowers much like the ones from her dream. "I’ve missed you so much!" Liza exclaimed embracing Ibani before handing her the gift. She then glanced over her shoulder to be sure no one else was around before reaching into her bag. "I know you’re not to have them, but I brought us a treat too." She said as she handed over a giant bag of Swedish fish. "My favorite!" Ibani whimpered embracing her friend again.

The girls snacked and chatted. Ibani showed Liza what had happened just outside her prison walls. "I’m glad he got away. Even if it’s only for a little while he gets to experience some freedom." She looked on in dismay. "Do you envy him?" Asked Liza. "Very much." Ibani sighed. "You won’t be here forever." Her friend reassured her.

Just then another knock on the door. Liza quickly slid their treat into the drawer of the bedside table. "Come in." Ibani said. A nurse entered "Are you ready Ibani?"

"It’s time already?" She moaned. "Afraid so." Said the nurse. Liza hugged her friend once more "You’ve got this, I’ll come see you again soon I promise." She left the room and the nurse brought in her tray of torture devices to run Ibani’s tests before another grueling 2 hours of treatment.

When she got back to her room Ibani collapsed on the bed in exhaustion. Her entire body ached and despite it only being three in the afternoon she once again drifted off to sleep. This time her dreams took a dark turn. She was in her room, but the windows and door had been barred and tall shadows loomed over Ibani as she hugged her knees on the floor. The shadows moved in closer and began to poke and prod at her. For a moment She struggled to find her voice, but then "NOOO!" she screamed and another thunderous crash.

Ibani looked up to see the shadows had gone and it hadn’t been lightning this time. Instead a massive black bull had barreled through the wall and now stood over her. He snorted ferociously, but despite his intimidating demeanor Ibani jumped to her feet, ran to him, and hugged him tightly. "Thank you." She whispered. The sun trickled in through the window, together they left the room and little by little the dream began to dissolve around them to become a distant memory.

Ibani awoke to the warm sun on her skin. "Still imprisoned." She whispered under her breath. She glanced out the window, after almost a week it seemed the bull had not been found. "At least you got away." She smiled then slinked off to the shower. The cool water was refreshing as it spilled over her tender muscles. The image of the bull and all his power played over and over in her mind "I wish I could be like you." She thought.

Someone tapped on the door. "Ibani it’s me." Her mother’s voice rang through as she cracked the door "I’m going to put a new gown on the counter for you".

"Okay, I’ll be right out." As she exited the shower Ibani quickly realized that her mother had indeed left her a new gown, but not the ugly pale green hospital gown she had anticipated. Instead there was a beautiful blue sundress draped over the sink. She put it on. It fit perfectly. For the first time in quite some time Ibani smiled at herself in the mirror.

She walked out looking down at herself "Thank you so much Mom I l- what’s going on?" Ibani stopped dead in her tracks as she realized at least twenty people were standing in her room. Friends and family several of them with tears rolling down their cheeks.

"Your tests came back," her father said... "negative."

Ibani’s heart pounded in her chest with all the forced of a bull bursting through a wall. "W-what?" She stuttered. He offered her a paper, but she was frozen in space "I get to come home?" Both her mother and father nodded as tears spilled over their cheeks.

"I GET TO COME HOME!" Ibani screeched in delight as she leaped into their arms then the whole room erupted into hoots and hollers and congratulations. Ibani sobbed hysterically as everyone moved in for hugs and in her heart she thanked the bull for sharing with her his strength and power.