Free versus Confined

Brenda knew that the logical thing to do, would be to sob. Minutes ago she had seen a death. A young boy, about her age, had been running toward her , on the beach. Suddenly a sleek opal and silver arrow had perched his chest. There was a burst of light as it hit it's mark. The boy's body then disintegrated. It became a mound of sand. All that remained was the arrow., Which she now had in her purse.

She knew that according to the laws of science, what she had just seen, was impossible. There was no evidence but the arrow. It was better to go on with life, as if it never happened. Her self protection instinct was on.

She returned to the hotel- took a shower, and met her travel parter, April. April was all excited. "Did you see Tim?" she asked. "He was going to ask you for drinks and a dinner." April giggled. "I told him, your name was Bren. I know how you dislike Brenda." Brenda smiled, "Drinks , that would be nice, maybe he went to cleanup first." April looked confused. April knew Tim had gone immediatly. Brenda continued " Not to many people on the beach. If he had been there I would have seen him. Help me pick a outfit, one he would like.

April seemed content. Brenda wanted nothing other to get on the plane safely tomorrow. She wondered how many bodies she had been walking over in the sand.

The bar was not the usual flirtation spot. Tim had come with his soccor team. They were questioning all the guests. People had seen him heading to the beach. They approached Brenda. She told them that he had not asked. If he had she would have said yes.

Her heart was racing- no drinks,no small talk. She went and helped them look for the young man. As soon as the skies darkened, she began to breathe normally.

She wiped down the arrow with peroxide. She put it in a metal box. Which she wrapped,and put in her suitcase. It looked like a gift. She had bought several souvenirs, which she wrapped similarly. She would not carry her luggage on. Her suitcase packed, she arranged to be awoken at 5am. That night she dreamed of being in a room with senseless people. In her dreams she did sob. All she wanted to do was get away from the fear she felt. When Brenda awoke, Anita told her that she had been crying and shaking in her sleep. She said to her, "Don't worry. They will find him. It was not your fault."

On the flight Anita ,talked and talked. She showed Brenda photos of all her new friends. She even had addresses. Brenda had to laugh.

Brenda's package had gone through successfully. No guards approuched her as she picked up her luggage. She was singing when she walked into her apartment. She was halfway free.

Tim was on the news,but after a few weeks the story died. The police never called any of the guests. April soon stopped discussing it. April still called one of Tim's friends, but even he had moved on.

Months later she went to an antique store with her arrow. There had been one found before. It was opal and silver, just like this one. The owner of the arrow had been committed. He had told people that he had seen the arrow hit a young lady in the chest. In moments the body had disintegrated into the sand. His family had been concerned. "Bodies don't turn to sand in minutes," Brenda said to the shopkeeper. She continued " This must have been his. I didn't pay much for it though. Isn't it opal?" The storekeeper said it was. He asked if she wanted to sell it. Brenda pretended to contemplate his offer, She said "no, it was a souvenir of a great vacation with a dear friend." In reality is a piece of evidence to a unexplainable occurrence. A reality that only two people had seen. The other one had lost his freedom. She trusted no one. She had only one goal. She would never walk into a locked room again.