Blood of Desiderium by Ali Stuebbe

Author:Ali Stuebbe [Stuebbe, Ali]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Ali Stuebbe
Published: 2022-12-20T16:00:00+00:00

I lose track of days and nights as I’m left in the dark space of the box, only to drown in my own suffering. Hours blend with days, and at some point, the chains binding me together are gone when I wake. My skin is rubbed raw where they had tightly restrained me.

I feel delusional, having no idea what day it is. Still shrouded in darkness, my body craves the warmth of the sun, even as I still battle a fever. I’m so cold that the dampness of the floor keeps me shivering, seeping into my dress, chilling me to the bone.

I slip in and out of consciousness, and when I wake again, water and a stale piece of bread are left beside me, along with the flicker of a candle. Its the only glint of light around me, teasing me with hope, only until the flame snuffs out. My eyes struggle to adjust to the small fragment of light, making me squint. I can feel the open skin along my back still throbbing, an endless ache that begs to be healed.

I drink the water in small sips to gently soothe the soreness in my throat. My mouth is still so parched from dehydration that the thought of eating stale bread makes me wince. So, instead, I gently dip the corner of the bread into my drink, letting it soak before I chew down the soggy piece of food. It’s bland, but my body needs sustenance. Once I finish it all off, I lay my head back down and feel my eyes drift shut of their own accord.

When I come to again, I’m able to sit hunched over, with slow and careful movements. The burning of the wick eases some of the stenches that hang in the air, the smells that were beginning to cause bile to creep up my throat. My water has been refilled, and after drinking every drop, I force another piece of tasteless bread down my throat with a hard swallow, resting back on my side. I’m hoping to let sleep take over as my body heals more, because it's the only way time seems to go faster while I wait to be released from this cage.

Letting my eyes fall shut, I dream of standing aboard a ship at sea, staring up at the midnight sky that illuminates a full moon holding a crescent peacefully inside it. The sight brings a sense of calm over me as my mind falls into sleep.

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