My latest writing assignment ended up being based on a real story. The assignment was "Pick
a day that didn’t end that way you wanted it to and rewrite the ending".
Megan had x-rays 3 weeks ago and we are seeing the specialist on 8th August 2012.
Body and Soul
The
shock of seeing the x-ray crashes over me like a tsunami. I drag air into my
lungs doing my best to mask the panic that is rapidly swelling within. My heart thumps its way right into my throat
and my eyes burn with unshed tears. I swallow down the barbed urchin that has invaded
my throat. “Dear God, no…”
Inside, my inner goddess is
annihilated. Her limbs flail, thrashing
in the darkness. Consumed with agony and
terror, she is rips out clumps of hair while bleating out animalistic cry of
devastation.
Hidden within my stricken mind rage surges
and desperation mounts, “No, no, no!
This cannot be my daughter’s spine?
This cannot be! There must be
some mistake. Please!”
My soul tries to claw her way out of my
chest and decimate the radiology rooms.
She is a fierce warrior that lies within. We are
both fully prepared to fight, but reason overcomes resentment. Impotent, her arms fall to her sides as she
crumples to the floor, a convulsing blob of misery.
I
take a deep, shuddering breath that stutters in and out like a scratched CD. Replacing my grief wracked face with a mask
of serenity; I calmly walk back into the room.
Megan’s eyes meet mine with a curiosity that begs for explanation. For a second the mask slips but I quickly
force it back and aim for a reassuring smile. Uncertainty flickers across her
face but she remains pliant as the radiographer moves her into the next
position. I step back outside.
In the flick of a switch, my goddess has
struck a bargain, we shall not accept this.
Her knowledge passes to me is a single breath and I understand. “No, we shall not,” I agree and the surreal
quality of my world expands. “I have the
power to undo this, to change what is?” I ask with wonder. My goddess nods
sadly, the price is high. There is no
need for consideration. The deal is struck
- the terms are readily accepted and agreed to.
Body
and soul collide as my metaphysical world interweaves with reality. With determined
resolve I focus on the deformed s-bend that is my daughter’s spine. With immovable concentration, I stare until
my eyes burn, until I find the tremble.
The world flickers and time distorts.
With every ounce of inner strength, I focus.
Pressure builds and my head threatens to implode; but I will not stop now. The thumping in my ears is like a jackhammer
that has found my eardrums and had babies.
For each degree that the spine on the screen straightens, I feel the pop,
rip and tear. Bit by bit her curves are bartered
for my own straighter alignment. My body
screams in agony, but I make no sound, “I don’t care, I can take it. For my child I will take anything!”
The world wobbles once more and the warp
shreds like gladwrap that has pulled too tight.
Energy surges from me with the force of a tidal wave and I collapse into
a nearby chair. Slowly the room comes
back into focus.
No comments:
Post a Comment