NoreenAhmed303

ABeautiful4:45BreathofFreedom

Smiling,Ipartwithmyfriendsyellingmyadieuandwavingatthemfrommyshort
distance.Istandstillastheywalkdownthesidewalk.Hesitantly,Ilookaroundslowlycomingto
realizetheabsenceofmyparentscarsoranyofmyrelativesforthatmatter.

ConfusionentersmymindlikeaswiftbirdasIlookaround,wonderingwheretheywere.
Myparentshaveneverletmewalkhomeduringthewinter.Thepossibilityofmegettinghurtin
thedeepdarknessofthecoldseasonistoofrighteningofathreattoeverletmewalkhomeasI
normallydo.

Igrinnedasmymindcaughttheideaofanewadventure.WiththeideainmindItooka
fewslowstepsforward.WithanexhaleofwhiteairItookanotherstep.Iwasatoddler,notused
tosomethingtonewandunfamiliar,butatthesametime,itexcitedmegreatly.ThoughsoonI
walkedinanormalstride,findingtheChristmaslightssurroundingmetobeabsolutely
gorgeous.Theredsandgreensbeamedatmefromallthehousestheystoodwithin.

Asmyfeetreachedthecorner,Istoppedandlistenedtothesoundofcarspassingby.It
soundedthesameasitalwaysdid,apleasantrumblingaccompaniedwiththesoundoftires
smoothlygoingdownthenowstreet.Potholefreeitappeared.Despitethenormalcyofthe
sound,theabsenceofchatteringstudentsandtheallureofthenewfounddarknesstherewasa
hintoffearinmyslowsteps.NooneisaroundtohelpmeifIgettroubled.Withthelackofa
phone,Icouldnotevencallforhelpifneedbe.Theworldturnedanevildark,forcingmyheart
tobeatfasterandfastertofollowmyquickstepsacrossthepavement.Evennowmyshadows
frightenedme.Fourshadowsbathedinthestrongmoonlightfollowingmyeverystep.Agroup
whocanhurt,perhaps,oronethatcouldhelp

IslowmystepsasIreachedthestoplight.Abigorangehandglaredatmefromacross
thestreet,itdaredmetojust
try
andcrossthestreet.Battlefate,perchance,anddiscover
somethingnew.Courage,possibly?Pride?No,mostlikelystupidityanddeath.

Withtheturnofthehead,awhitewalkingmanbeamedatme.
You'resafenow,
itwould
sayifitwereabletospeak.
Ipromiseyoursafety.

Whataboutdrunkdriversandspeeddemons?
Iargued.
Youtrulycannotguarantee
mysafety.
Evenso,Itookquick,calculatedstepsacrossthetarredstreet.

Andyouaresafenow,i
twhisperedintothecoldwind.

No,thereisanotherstreettocross,
Itoldit,watchingastheorangehandturnedintoa
walkingman,beckoningmeasthoughitwereasiren.Thoughitsangtotheeye,showingits

beautythatcouldeasilyturnintoaneviltrap.Icontinuedon,standingproudlyasIwalked
acrossthestreet.

AsIturnedtodescenduponthepavement,asweetsongfilledmymind.Itsmelodyas
delicateasitsname,Butterfly.Siganeulmeomchullae?/Isunganijinamyeon/Eobseodeonirri
doelkanalirheulka/Geobnageobnageobna~Asilveryvoicesanginmyhead.Thesong
warmedmeupbutleftmyrosycheeksintact.Itcarriedmehomewithpeacelacedintoevery
whitebreath,everystrongstep.Thoughtsdarednottoentermymindtotroubleme,theirfight
notwonagainstthepeace.Itwasatranceasubtleeuphoriathatmademysmileseemso
sweetandmyeyesglowintheirdarkbrownlight.Homecame,followingthesongstwominutes
andthirtytwoseconds.Thecloudofpeacedissipatedjustasmyfeetenteredmyhome,leaving
meinitspleasantwake.

Willyoustopthetime?
Imafraidthatifthismomentpasses
Thismightnothavehappened
Youllflyaway,youllshatter