Puppets

I woke with strings attached to my arms and legs. I was quite young when I first saw them on others, but when I mentioned it, nobody seemed to know what I was talking about. They dismissed it — as adults do with a lot of things children say they see. But no. Now I’m older, and they’ve appeared on me.

I never quite knew what the strings were for, but as I went through the day, I noticed they followed every movement I made — my arms, my legs, even my fingers. The strings moved and bent with me. If I moved too fast, without thinking, I found myself tangled in my own strings. Unable to move as smoothly as before. And when I wanted to do something drastic, it took a bit more of a tug.

I always feel them there. Sometimes, when I let them, the strings move me around on their own. I have nothing to do with it.

One morning, I began to wonder — does everyone have their own strings? I sat, legs crossed, on a wooden chair at the round kitchen table, staring at the black and white tiled floor. The smell of freshly made coffee filled my nose, and the strings attached to my arms started to flutter, in and out of existence. I can’t quite remember what I was thinking then. But I felt a piece of myself return.

That’s when I realized: I’m in control. I’ve been in control this whole time — regardless of who or what is holding the top of those strings. I can take that small wooden “X” back whenever I want.

And just like that, they disappeared.

I wasn’t sure how long it would last or if it was just a fluke. But the next morning, I felt no tug at my arms. When I moved too fast, I didn’t get tangled. I could move freely through the world.

Still, to this day, I see people with these strings attached to them. Some are thick ropes, some a thin thread. Everyone is different. Yet, they still aren’t quite able to see them. And if they do, I’m not sure how long it will be until they fade away — until they take back control.

Do you have control?