Anastasia Koutsivitis '25 I took a bite of my bread as his head thumped against the table, the glass cup in his hand shattering on the floor. Great. One more thing I have to clean up, I thought, rolling my eyes at the littered shards.
We sat on opposite ends of the long table, the glazed mahogany wood glinting in moonlight that streamed through the windows. The light seemed to illuminate him also, as if placing a spotlight on the main event. Faintly, quick shallow breaths sounded, like someone was desperately gasping for air they couldn’t keep down. “Petra… call… help…” he panted, words trailing off. These symptoms indicated that this was the initial stage of the poison. The stage when ache seizes your lungs and throat so terribly you can barely move. His face turned red as blue veins popped out of his neck and forehead. I remained calmly chewing, my eyes hard on him. “I don’t think I’m gonna do that,” I responded coldly. His wide, bloodshot eyes met mine, pleading and scared. Refreshing to finally see him in pain, I pondered to myself. The silence was heavy as I stared daggers at him, dinner knife clutched in hand, head tilted, as if contemplating ending him now. I wrinkled my nose, the stench of his terror forcing me to slightly feel bad for this creature, helpless and now writhing in his seat. Wow he’s on stage two already, I mused in my head. I set my knife down neatly on the place mat before me, like a judge eliciting the final verdict. Standing up from my seat, his eyes followed as I walked toward him. This is my chance, my chance to reveal my true nature, I thought. The weak girl he knew died a long time ago. Bending my head down to whisper in his ear, I murmured, “What you’re feeling right now are the effects of strychnine poison. After the writhing subsides, the fire sensation will spread across your whole body, and you’ll scream until the pain makes you numb. Then you'll feel a prickling against your skin until you’re paralyzed and your heart beat slows down, each breath turning agonizing. The last breath will be the hardest and longest- you’ll desperately struggle for air even when you know you’re out of time. I want you to feel the same pain that you put me through, each day, each month. I let you hurt me but I’m done being the prey- it’s time I became the predator. Every gasp for air and burn of your lungs will remind you of the long scars on my skin. Remember. Always. ” I straightened and watched his mouth gape open, the seizing stopping but head still lying on the surface. With a gentle stroke to his cheek I sat back down opposite him. My expression was one of neutrality and nonchalance, but inside me a light grew. My future became clear- one of happiness. This called for celebration. I reached in front of me to where my champagne glass remained untouched. Pouring myself a bubbling glass, I swished the enthralling liquid before cruelly smirking, and raised it high -a toast. Looking into his tear stained face and coal black eyes I drawled, “Cheers to a new chapter, one that begins in hell."
1 Comment
Armani Mezza '22 Cold and lonely
But they did not fear A guiding light to signal what is near For they are about to bear the One The stars brightly behold a beautiful story has begun With no place to stay, They turn to God and pray, “Oh lord, to our knees we shall drop tonight, wherever this baby lay” And He showed them the way They found a manger of hay We hear the cries of a savior made flesh, God has arrived on earth, He is here Divine birth Angels praise and ox and camel worship A sweet sleeping baby tucked, may we not interrupt, For we know what His future beholds, Peace on earth, may nothing disrupt, This moment so miraculous, transcendence unfolds The prince of peace was born Human yet divine Amidst the darkness of this night, Mary and Joseph perfectly chosen A night like no other In the history of humankind by Faith Breslin 22'The air is crisp and cool. The trees are turning a fiery auburn red shade mixed with a lively yellow. The leaves are falling to the ground. November has rolled in and the first quarter is rolling out. As a senior, this means one thing but holds two emotions - we’re closer to graduating! I can’t wait to get out of here… but I wish I could stay one more year. For Bonnie… she was feeling the sad part more than the happy. She wished she could spend one more year here in the great halls of Fontbonne Hall.
|