The Silence of the Night

O.K. Mantz

The candle’s flame springs from wall to wall as though it hates its reflection. The light licks the stone before bursting into tears and dropping to the ground, perishing in a cloud of defeat. Where is hope in a place like this—where even fire gives up from exhaustion? Where is love—where even walls reject the light? Where life—when even i am gasping for some air?

Weakly illuminating the desk before me, the candle flickers for recognition. Yet my attention is entirely upon the pages beneath my trembling hands. i cannot see the words scrawled onto the yellowed paper—tears have filled my eyes and now blur all reality. The ocean in the crevices of my eyes suddenly attract and form a droplet, pushing itself from my skin and tumbling downward onto the page. In a tumultuous spray, the water dissipates and allows my vision to clear for only an instant. The words become clear, the ink assumes a boldness not present before. i read the script and my skin bristles:

Together, we stand strong.

An explosion issues from outside the window; the glass quivers out of angst and despair. No other presence fills the room besides my own, but i sense a violence approaching. Screams slip through the unsealed window pane and land breathless—helpless—on the dusty floor. Another boom, closer now, rattles the walls and forces me to twitch. my heart squirms within its cage, searching restlessly for an escape. Another scream pricks my ears and is promptly cut short—an eerie silence spreads through the night.

Footsteps resound through the mahogany door behind me: all in unison, as though one collective body steps along the corridors. Shouts echo through the stones, silenced by the taunting bullets that kiss each soul goodbye. i suddenly perceive my daughter’s voice, pleading for something unintelligible. Boom! Her body slumps to the ground in the room beside my own. my chin nestles itself on my collarbone, trembling profusely, and i shut my eyes, gasping for breath.

The door handle jolts, but does not open: the lock fearfully maintains its ground. A sharp voice bellows underneath the frame and several barks provide an answer.

Brech die Tür ein!

A body slams into the door and i crumple together in my seat. The frame holds fast a second time, but i bring my hands up to my ears and slide off my seat, collapsing on the floor beside the dust and dying light.

Together…no, it is only i. i, alone. And now alone, I must stand strong.

And then the lock gives way, the door flings open, and another explosion pierces the stillness of the night. Where is hope in a place like this—where the echoes of wings herald death? Where is love—when my daughter’s corpse is raped by these invaders? Where life—when even I must witness the extinction of My light?