Towards Freedom

The shadow arrived suddenly and stretched, slowly engulfing the city streets. Darkness can do all kinds of things to the human brain and body. It can increase our propensity to lie, to deceive, to make mistakes and even see things that may not be there but as this grey-blue shadow continued its slow sprawl, the community stepped on to the darkened streets and smiled. Days prior the city had been abuzz. Only three sleeps until huge ships arrived. It was rumoured their billowing funnels were the size of small countries, wide enough to block the sea and tall enough to block the sun. Flyers had been printed and plastered in each community enough times to supply each inhabitant with multiple copies. The flyers flickered in the wind commanding attention. The lead lines differed but the block letters at the bottom read the same:

$20K PRIZE AND CRUISE.

PICK YOUR FLYER.

MIDNIGHT MEET AT THE PIER.

That text’s consistency paired with the inconsistency of the flyers’ opening lines struck Olinda as odd. Not many things appeal to both the artisans and the athletes in town but everyone was enchanted by these flyers. Add in the enthralled alderwomen, sex workers and youth and it quickly became a conundrum. Olinda’s curiosity was peaked when she finally saw a flyer that spoke to her. She folded it in half then halved it a thousand times more stuffing it so deep in her pocket that she was sure the stiff cotton would tear. When she got home and to her room, she opened the flyer laying it gingerly in the centre of her desk to the right of her pen and to the left of her little black book. Her little black book wasn’t so little anymore. As she flipped and palmed the pages she reread the top line of flyers she’d collected days prior.

“Crafting Your Life into a Work of Art”

“I'm stronger than I think”

“Yes We Can”

“You Are More Than Who You Were”

Gently, she closed the book. The cover bent from where it was bound engorged with motivation. As she read and reread her chosen sermon she barely felt the final 48 hours pass or her feet move and carry her to the ship locked marina. The place was packed. Thousands of people stood like spoons with their backs to chests, buttocks unintentionally denting the stomachs behind, and arms jutting out at every awkward angle that the tight spacing would allow. As the crowd fought for comfort, a tangle of limbs and shared air, 9 megaphones raised and spoke in unison.

“Don’t let bad days trick you in to thinking it’s a bad life”

A small boy shrieked. The crowd parted as he elbowed and edged to the illuminated dock and boarded, his miniature frame casting a deceivingly long and lanky shadow.

The megaphones lowered. The crowd’s breathing shallowed and unified and time stood still. The hope and promise of prosperity and a richly lived life couldn’t be had by one boy alone. Olinda felt water gather in her tear ducts heating her face and neck but before the water worked the microphones raised.

“Forgive and let live”

Someone’s grandmother laughed gayly, frustration morphing into hope and audible joy. This time, people held her hand and touched her back, softly repeating her words in the hope that her good fortune may transfer before she made her way to the illuminated dock and boarded.

This process continued for a fortnight. By then, the crowd had thinned and people were standing watch on shifts. Watchers spread megaphone messages through the community, so even if the winners weren’t there, they’d arrive to claim their cash prize and cruise. But Olinda did not move. She sat in a trance as time melted and washed over her until her quote was read. To hear her words and feel the rush was better than she could have imagined. Reawakening she staggered towards the ships beaming and finally she boarded. She smelled it almost before she saw it. The stench hit her nostrils with force forcing her to her knees. As her tears flowed Olinda heaved heavy with realization and grew sick.