Road To Nowhere
by Sameera Ansari
It was all over. There was nothing to live for, nothing to hope for anymore. She kept walking aimlessly on the hillside. The stars were shining so brightly but it seemed like doomsday to her. The full moon was menacing, laughing at her pain in all its glory. How cruel could nature get?, she thought.
One could not blame her state of mind. The earthquake had taken away all her family and friends. She had miraculously escaped but it only seemed like a bane to her. She had no means of making it all alone through the tough road that lay ahead and at the risk of being remembered as a coward, had taken this decision.
On second thoughts, who would be there to remember her? Life could be so cynical and harsh. She, who had been the strength and hope for many and had averted hundreds of suicides in her successful counseling career, was on the verge of committing one herself.
There, the cliff was not far now. Very soon she would be with her loved ones and free of this misery. There was a single deciduous tree and beyond that a ledge from where she would descend into the inviting clutches of death. How alone that tree was, just like her. How harsh a season it had withstood and yet it survived. Not a living thing in sight and yet it swayed, full of life. She stopped in her tracks, suddenly ashamed of herself, uncertain...
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11 comments:
The tree as savior. I really liked that. You did a nice job of describing her torment here.
Very well written, too!
When I learned she was a counselor (as my hubby is) I wondered at her own state of heart at considering suicide, so I really, really like the end in which she hesitates. Even if she proceeds, there's that little bit of who she is that pulls her the other way. Love it!
Wow. A living thing (besides a human) saves a human life! Very well done.
A difficult subject, skillfully handled.
Very good.
Beautiful, poignant and ultimately hopeful writing. Very well handled, Sameera, it's a very uplifting piece.
every time i read it i like it even more. I like this rain of hope in the end :)
Beautiful as always :)
A painful first part with the hopeful end, where the change to the character feels realistic.
A sad and touchy subject for people yet you grasped the meaning of finding hope in a least expected way.. For one never knows what will inspire them and change the course of their path.
Loneliness and pain...a powerful pull. I, too, love how the tree reminds her that there are many seasons to weather. At the end, I like how you've made her uncertainty paradoxically hopeful. Nicely crafted piece!
A nice take on the suicide theme. I like the indecision. The changing of her mind.
I'm glad that she was able to pay attention to the tree, despite her state of mind. I hope that she learned to see everything from a different perspective, and found a way to live in peace.
Very unique use of the tree. Good job!
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