The Great Escape

(Sequel to "Into the Abyss We Go!")

That light. That shimmering light right ahead. The only light in this god forsaken wasteland. The only thing that shines the path for those who seek salvation. The only hope i see. For almost two years, I have marched across this desolate land; The Abyss. Chains bound to my hands and feet. Scars and bruises etched into the skin; a testament to the struggle for survival. For one reason and one reason only, these feet keep dragging on. And that is to get the hell out of here.

Finally after all the struggles, I have managed to come within a stone’s throw away from that light. Eager and excited, i let out a rallying cry to encourage my fellow brothers trudging along to push their hardest for our escape is imminent. I look around me and see the faces of my brethren, the few who have survived thus far. We have lost many along the way. The expression on their faces, one so full of hope that its finally coming to an end. The suffering and pain is coming to an end. Some had tears rolling down their faces, some biting their lips hard in determination for the final push. We have all learnt that no tear can get us out of here, no cry of frustration either. All we could do to defeat the abyss was to endure, endure the agony, the pain, the suffering, the affliction, the anguish, the misery, the torment that the abyss inflicts on us. All we could do was to march on. To never give up. And it seems, it is finally going to pay off.

Everyone trudging, limping, dragging, marching towards the light have had something or things taken away from them when they were placed here in the first place. Friends, Relationships, Family, Opportunities, Time and Life are amongst the few. But in that shimmering light they saw hope, a hope that all these can be reclaimed if not, salvaged, once they get out of here. And that pushed them on.

Once again, the pain surges through my body and i fall to my knees. But not now, not now when i’m so close. Nothing can stop me. No force in heaven or hell can prevent me from moving forward. On fours, i crawl my way towards the light. I feel its glow, i sense its hope. I reach out my trembling hand, my eyes closing, my world fading to black, i touch it. The chains break free. The weight dissappears as i hear the metal echoing from its fall. I smile, and everything turns black.

Freedom.The power to determine action without restraint.

Freedom has arrived.

I open my eyes. I’m standing up. I’m in a hallway, everything is white. I’m alone. There is a door ahead of me. Finally i am out of the abyss. And without hesitation, without looking back. I walk towards the door. There are words on the door.

"Welcome Back, son"

With a smile, i took a deep breath. Inhaled hard and turned the knob. And pushed with my eyes closed. Afraid of what i might see.

A breeze hits my face and i open my eyes. The door was gone. There is grass everywhere, lush green grass. Trees with flowers everywhere. The sun shines ever so brightly, white clouds hang above. The gentle breeze slapping my face. I took a deep breath again. But this time, i can finally breathe again. For so long i have not had fresh air. I can hear birds chirping in the distance. Is this paradise? i thought to myself as i started to walk down a stone gravel path. Soon enough i reached a cliff.

As i gazed down from the cliff, i saw wonders.

Not far below, there are many many paths that lead to many many different directions. But there was one which only started and ended a few metres ahead. Curious, i walked there to find out why.

And i did. I understood. The path did not end. I was to make my own way and leave a path for others to follow. The many paths i saw were paths of others who came before me. And so i planted my two feet firmly on the ground. This is my path. With a smirk and new found hope, i gazed ahead. And in the far distance i saw hills, valleys and mountains.

Nobody said it was going to be easy.

And with a deep breath, a huge smile, brimming with hope, I looked up in the sky and took my first stride forward.

Time is now.

-Juls