Raging Bull

It's 8:00 A.M. The day starts off quiet. The sun rises over head, casting harsh light below. Everyone around you keeps their head down, not daring to make eye contact in or make too much noise. People silently curse the sun for shining so brightly today - no one wants to be seen. Not wanting to draw any attention to themselves.

The bull has been awake for a few minutes. Although, it's quiet right now. It grunts every now and then, huffing back and forth. Everyone shuffles around, not one person daring to even whisper.

It's now 10:00 A.M. The bull kept to itself most of the morning, but every now and then it would slam its fat body against the cage. Your neighbor practically jumped the first time it happened, sending mini vibrations pulsing through the floor. Tensions became heavier with each pant, each grunt, each charge of the cage. You do your work as quietly as you can.

11:30 A.M. The bull is getting angrier. It's roared twice within the past ten minutes. It's getting restless. Panting back and forth. Everyone feels the heat coming off of its body. People are looking down, looking away from the cage. People do their work as quietly as possible, desperately trying to ignore the bull's rage. Living under the tyranny of the bull and its raging hunger has caused your entire community to live like mice. Small, quiet, and constantly scurrying out of its way.

12:00. The clock starts to ring twelve times. Ding. Ding. Ding.

You feel a sigh of relief, the time of waiting is over. Ding. Ding. Ding. But you still have to face the most difficult part.

You steady yourself. Breathe in deeply. Everyone around you tenses, staying as still as possible. One wrong move and you could be chewed out. Literally. Ding. Ding. Ding.

It's time. Ding. Ding. Ding.

The bull storms out of its cage. Its eyes only on one thing, charging towards its escape. Not one person dares to look at it, staying as still as statues. You are also looking down, at your hands. You're sensing out the bull, seeing it without seeing. You can feel it run past you, the heavy steps shaking you to your core. Finally it's out of sight.

You breathe a sigh of relief. Everyone around you collectively releases the tension they've been holding for the past few hours.

You take out your sack of lunch. Pull out an orange and some almonds. You chew and chew and chew. Everyone silently enjoying their meals, knowing that for the next few minutes, there will be peace.

You see the bull in the distance, hooves morphing into feet, hands. Snout morphing into a mouth, food already hanging down the side of its face. His face, now. The dark, soulless eyes of the bull now taken over by bright, human eyes.

You smile as it heads towards you. Although you live under this oppressive atmosphere, you can't help but feel a small heaviness in your heart. No one's ever told you how this man became cursed by bull's hunger. You don't think anyone knows. It seems as if this curse has gone on for centuries.

You see the man with a load of food, walking back into the cage. You've been the victim of his rage once before, scars reminding you not to get in the way.

You go back to eating your almonds, hearing the smacking of food from a far. Realizing there will be no cure for this curse, you plot your plan of escape.