Silent and Invisible

Story 1 - Silent and Invisible

I stood on the field of soft, swaying grass, looking up to the sky. This was the only place I could be myself and enjoy life while I could. I only felt like this because of how things were going around me. I was feeling alone and isolated in this world, like a wind dancing through the breeze unknown to any other.

So I come here every day and every night, spilling my fears and my emotions to the whispers of nature. I lay to see the stars and talk to the birds who rest on the bough. Being an orphan, it didn’t seem like I could be friends or even family with anyone, for I was very quiet, invisible. 

Days go by and I work on the fields and rest in the cabins. I feed the pigs and milk the cows and herd the sheep. I do this for a living. I do this for one pence a week. Orphanages weren’t very common in urban areas like this, even though I would have loved to live in one. My master was the most appalling person you could have ever met, and yet I was forced to work on his land. One thing I loved more than anything about the fields though, was that being alone had kept me safe and peaceful. 

After another day, I walked back to the small wooden cabin on the edge of a running river and opened the squealing door to a room. It wasn’t very fancy, but it was what I had. I walked toward the bed and sat there, looking at my hands. My thoughts drifted to one simple question, what was I supposed to be? Suddenly, I  heard a sharp knock on the door. I jumped. It was going to be my master. I just knew it. I knew I hadn’t worked long enough, that I forgot to do something. I stood still and silent. I dare not make a sound. If my master knew I wasn’t home, he would walk away. Maybe. “Harrison Williams! Open up this instant!” I heard it. I knew I heard it. I wouldn’t do anything about it though. “Harrison! I know you’re in there! Don’t make me break the door open!” His shouting gave me chills down my spine. The shrill voice was too much to handle. 

But I stood. I stood like a tree with strong roots and would not be upright for any storm. I stood like a strong bamboo stem, towering over whoever passed him. I stood like a confident person, even though I wasn’t. The banging on the door kept going, and it was getting louder. I didn’t care. I have been running away my whole life, but this time I wouldn’t. This time, I would run away from danger and find a better life. The banging stopped. 

I heard the grass shuffle beneath his large feet and then soften each time he walked away. I would stay silent until there was no sign of him anywhere. 

The next day, I ran to the farm and looked for Cindy Lu. She was my favorite cow because she made my work so much easier and she gave me happiness whenever and wherever I was around her. My life was just so much better with her. I smiled when I saw her sitting amongst the other cows, eating grass. “Cindy!” I called out. “Cindy Luu!” She looked up. I knew that calling would work. “Hi Cindy! How are you?” She put her head down. “Are you okay?” I asked. A farmer came out of the piglet barn and walked toward me. “She’s fine.” The farmer said. “She just gave birth yesterday and needs some time to recharge.” I smiled again. “Oh Cindy Lu! You’re a mother now!” She did look tired, so I gave her some space. 

 After that, I started working to the fields again, pulling out weeds and moving roots around. When I was walking north, I hit a hard wooden pole. I looked up and saw a sack of hay with a face and a hat. Master said it was a scarecrow, used to “scare off the ol’ darn birds’. I didn’t understand how though. It seemed like a useless toy on a stick. I went back to working when I heard a  voice. “Whatcha doin’ there? Get me out!” I looked around and saw nothing. Except that the scarecrow had disappeared. I stared at the naked pole for a second, then looked back around. I jumped with fright as I saw the yellow thing standing in front of me. “What?!” I yelled unexpectedly. The mouth of the scarecrow started moving. “It’s your imagination, doofus.” I shook my head and blinked twice. The scarecrow was gone. I looked behind me. It wasn’t there either. Was I really that alone that I was getting hallucinations now? I sat down with a thud. I put my hands on my face and crouched. I didn’t want to cry, but I did. I felt the streams of wet water run down my face and onto the grass as I closed my eyes and blanked my thoughts out. 

It felt like forever since I had that feeling, that feeling of sadness. I got up the night of the northern lights and the stars glistened the most. I stared at the sky again and was at peace. Again. Why did my life suck? Why was the sky and the leaves of the trees always there for me? I looked next to me and saw a light. The light was swaying left to right, and always pointing to the dark, so it could light the way for people who couldn’t see. I wanted to follow it. I wanted to see what it was, so I could finally figure something new. I would come back to Cindy Lu, and I would come back to nature and the wonderful sky, but for now, I wanted to see what was out there. I got up and walked with my bare feet and my torn shirt, and with my face hitting against the silent wind that danced in the breeze unknown looking for a better life.