Redemption

Darting through the forest, heart racing, branches scraping and panic filling the air. "Are they still coming? What do they want?"

I check over my shoulder and can feel them. I cry out, but all that comes out is a shriek. I feel my freedom fade as they enclose around me. Caught, trapped, hopeless.

Why were they are after me?

That night I had been contemplating the past year. I watched the water flow over the rocks in the river and tried to let go of the year that had been. The balance of family and pressure to provide weighed heavily on me like a cloak of darkness. All my opportunities had run dry. I hoped desperately that the dawning of this new year, 2022, would bring some much-needed redemption.

I glanced back at home and could see the faces of my two baby boys sleeping peacefully in their beds, so innocent and unaware of the struggles their mother faced. I thought about plunging my head into the ice-cold water to see if it would wake me up from this nightmare.

I knew the worry and stress had taken their toll on the boys. Even though they were just young, their anxiety had grown. In the past months, they had become more fearful of little things, running to me pointing at the shadows. Clinging to my breast as if scared to let me go.

This was our third home in the same matter of months. Each place started with the hope of something better, then slowly we were chased away, no longer welcome.

Suddenly, I snapped from my thoughts. I noticed spotlights darting two and fro in the paddock and whispered voices as two men crept towards the barn. Who were they and what did they want? My babies were far enough away to be safe, but was this my chance to redeem myself? If I stopped the thieves maybe this time would be different and the owner would let us stay?

I puffed up my chest mustering all the courage I could. I silently snuck up from behind, watching... waiting.

"Pssssttt there's no one inside... Looks like we could take the tractor and all the feed."

"Anything else worth takin' in there?"

"I'll check them stalls, maybe some horses we can sell."

"How are we gonna get them outta here?"

"Maybe there's a horse float nearby- let me take a look."

As the door started to creak open and I could see them more clearly in the light. I picked up whatever I could find, took a deep breath, and charged. I flicked the light switch as I ran in and used the darkness as my friend. There were screams and shrieks, arms flailing in fear and confusion. I was able to knock one of them to the ground, retreating into a stall to hide as the other started shooting rounds into the sky as a warning.

"Back off you brute!" he yelled. Wiping blood from his mouth and feeling the ground to find his partner.

But the rounds had woken the main house and Mr. Raine was there in seconds, rifle in his hand calling out.

"Who the hell is in my barn and what do you want?"

"If you don't answer me, I'll be shooting first and asking second."

The men looked at each other in panic and scrambled to their feet. They were two-bit thieves, they hadn't robbed a place like this before and they had never shot a gun at someone.

Just as they were about to take off, one of them spotted me in the moonlight. His eyes narrowed and rage-filled them. I fled through the back door as fast as I could, but they were close behind me. Mr. Raine had burst into the barn too late, they had already taken off. I couldn't even tell him, it was because of me that his livelihood was safe.

Darting through the forest, heart racing, branches scraping and panic filling the air. "Are they still coming? What do they want?"

I check over my shoulder and can feel them. I cry out, but all that comes out is a shriek. I feel my freedom fade as they enclose around me. Caught, trapped, hopeless.

All I can see is black and I struggle, but the bag over me makes it impossible to move. I stop and listen, trying to hear their conversation over my heart pounding in my chest.

"What do you wanna do with her?"

"Bitch, cost us our payout!"

"Gave me a nasty bump on the head and scratched your face to bits too!"

My babies, what about my babies! They had no one else, they needed me. I couldn't give up. I just had to figure out how to get away.

"At least she's finally stopped strugglin"

I could hear their footsteps change from the crunching of twigs and leaves to the crackling of rocks underneath. They had reached the dirt road.

"Put her in the boot for now."

I coughed and gasped as the wind was knocked out of me thrown into the boot of the car." I felt the air get thinner and space close in as the boot clicked shut.

The car engine started rumbling and the men's voices were muffled...

All I could make out was a river... rocks... DROWN!!!!!

How long had we been driving? It took 20 minutes to get to the river. I had 20 minutes to get free. Desperately gnawing at the bag I tried to make a hole. I wiggled to try and loosen the rope tying me. Finally, a thread started to unravel, pulling on it as fast as I could I started to see flickers of light. The car was slowing, looking for a place to stop and the river was drumming like a death march outside. I struggled and twisted, contorting my body until I broke free, and just as I was tearing the bag away the boot opened and a flashlight shone straight into my eyes. Boof! Then it hit me over the head and the lights went out again.

When I woke up I felt ice-cold water starting to seep into the bag around me and the rocks weighing me down as the current pulled me over and over. I prayed for my babies to be safe, and loved and have a better life. Then I closed my eyes ready to give in to the silence.

All of sudden I was scooped up out of the water, as the bag was opened I lay scared, defenseless, and defeated in the cold. Mr. Raine's kind face looked down at me. He scooped me up, wrapped me in a warm dry towel, and gently stroked my head telling me it was alright. As he carefully lay me into the car seat next to him, I saw the blue and red flashing lights slowly fade down the road and knew I was finally safe.

As we arrived home, my boys rushed to my side, nuzzling and crying for their mama. I wrapped them up in an embrace, and let myself sob that it was all over.

Then Mr. Raine spoke:

"Thank you for protecting the barn, you saved my family and you saved our farm from ruin. Please make your home here, stay as long as you like. You are now family!"

As I sat on the rafters of the barn tears filled my eyes, I had found redemption. I glanced down at the water trough and finally saw a reflection that made me proud. A mother owl, arms around her babies, protecting her family in her welcoming home.