Copyright Liz Young
It’s dark and safe here.
But these strands are flourishing, encroaching daily… strands of consciousness that must be avoided at all costs.
And it’s becoming difficult to move around them.
Brushing against one particularly robust strand, she’s swiftly hurtling to the surface.
Can you hear me? I know you’re in there.
Sarah recognises that voice.
Who did this? Do you remember anything?
She forces herself to remain immobile, ignoring the iron grip on her arm.
Soon she drifts to the depths again.
There will be another strand tomorrow, and possibly a different voice at her side.
The truth can wait.
Click on the froggie to join the 100 word story party. Many thanks to Rochelle for her leadership of Friday Fictioneers.
castelsarrasin 
Oh, yikes..
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🙂 Thanks for reading, Sue.
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Brilliantly composed to go with that image, trapped as metaphor and trapped emotionally
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I love your idea here. Very inventive
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Many thanks, Neil.
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Speechless.
Well, nearly.
I love how you tease this out, one word, one clue, at a time.
And when the picture is clear there are more questions than ever.
I’m almost out of chapeaux.
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Oh don’t say that! 🙂 Where will I go for my chapeaux in the future? Thanks for reading, CE.
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Poor girl. Sad that she had & has to go through this. Hope she gets respite.
Hope the truth will be out.
Time is an enemy in such cases. The sooner the better.
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Thanks for reading, Anita.
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Dear Sandra,
I read this twice and was duly impressed both times. In few words I felt the tension, fear and confusion. I’m sure there’s a reason Sarah prefers to remain in her safe subconscious. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks for reading, Rochelle. It must be terrifying waking from a coma with the person you don’t want to meet right next to you. 🙂
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A great use of the prompt, however it was a challenging read, as I saw someone on a ventilator due to Covid.
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Could be construed that way. I intended that the main character was a victim of the person sitting by her bedside, but I’m always open to different constructions. Thanks for reading.
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I likes it. There’s a mysterious quality to this. A drifting in and out of consciousness perhaps that leads to causality. Enjoyable.
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Thanks for reading.
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I feel like I want more. Haunting! Fantastic atmosphere.
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Many thanks, Tanille.
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Took a few readings to get this one, Sandra, but it was worth the effort. I love the depth of the imagery and the idea of being safer trapped.
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Thanks for persevering Jen. 🙂
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Haunting. I had to go back and read it again.
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Thanks for reading, Linda.
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Something horrible must have happened for her not to want to live yet.
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Something that put her in a coma. By someone not too far away. Thanks for reading.
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Stark, brutal. very dark. A story cloaked in mataphors. Brilliant to the core, Sandra.
Here’s my story https://neelwritesblog.wordpress.com/2021/03/17/neelwrites-shortstory-ff-100words-17-03-21/
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Many thanks, Neel.
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I read it more than once too, but not because I needed to! I’m left wondering how much longer she can remain in her immobile state.
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Yes, I’m sure the medical staff will begin to notice. Thanks for reading, Keith.
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A tangled web you’ve weaved. Expertly done as always.
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Thanks for reading.
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What a powerful story, revealed bit by bit. ‘Do you remember what happened?’ And the ‘iron grip’ on her arm. I find myself hoping she does have a different voice by her bed the next day. And that it’s safe for her to come up. Just great.
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Thanks for rading Jenne. Glad you liked it.
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Surrealism at its finest. I like the metaphor for truth you’ve built with your story.
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Many thanks 🙂
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You’re welcome.
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I read it three times. Do I get a ribbon? This is definitely one case where the truth may not set you free.
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Only dealing in medals this week, gave out ribbons earlier. 🙂 Thanks for reading.
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Terrifying and very well-imagined. Let’s hope the person at her side next time will be someone she can talk to. I love the imagery of strands of consciousness. A great read, Sandra.
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Thanks for reading, Dora.
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you’re such an expert in using metaphors and this story doesn’t disappoint. well done.
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Many thanks.
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Wow! There’s a lot going on here. I hope the woman in a coma manages to deceive the threatening consciousness. It’s a brilliant take on the prompt.
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Many thanks, Penny. 🙂
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I hope she finds the inner strength to come back to consciousness. Nice take on the photo!
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It was a spectacular prompt, wasn’t it?
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Oh my… I wonder what (if anything) will convince her to escape her self-imposed prison? Wonderful write!
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Many thanks, Dale.
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This brought the youth novel The Giver to mind! The truth in painful slivers…
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I’m not familiar with that one. Thanks for reading.
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At this rate, doesn’t look like it has much time.
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Thanks for reading.
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I think the truth is too unbearable to face and she feels safe where she is. It will take time, and maybe the right person beside her. So much story here. Amazing writing, Sandra!
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Many thanks, Brenda.
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A powerful story that testifies to the tangled forest of mental illness. Well written, Sandra.
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Thanks for reading.
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Great story. I like the mystery of it.
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Many thanks.
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I had to read this a couple of times to dig into the surreal metaphor. Nicely done.
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Thanks for persisting. 🙂
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I feel trapped in and out of a coma while reading this. There is a drift of frustration seeking the truth.
Nicely done.
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Many thanks for reading.
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Great writing as always but I confess that I had to read it a few times before I could understand what was going on. But perhaps that’s just me.
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Thanks for persisting 🙂
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Outstanding! I hope there is someone who really loves her left to lure her out next time. I don’t want to imagine what would have happened if she’d admitted that she remembers.
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Lovely to hear from you again. Thanks for reading.
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We can get into a mighty mess while Truth is hidden.
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Thanks for reading.
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Reblogged this on Ed;s Site..
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