The Task Ahead

• Jaime D'cruz, Grade 10, Queensland Academy For Health Sciences
• Short Story
• 2014

Excellence Award in the 'Write As Rain 2014' competition

The slow, painful torture was creeping up to her.
She knew that she mustn’t give in to the pain. She must fight. It would be worth it in the end, she reminded herself.
Her hands began to cramp from being held up for so long; bands dug into her skin.
She must fight.
Her legs ached from standing; her hair began to pull. She cried out and tilted her head to rid herself of the nasty feeling. She let out a soft sigh of relief as the tiny strand of her ivory hair fell back into place.
It would be okay in the end. Just a little longer. Just hold on a little longer and she would survive. She was a survivor. She would make it.
Just a little longer.
Suddenly, her nose began to itch.
She groaned in annoyance. Her hands were tied in a wrangle of knots. She twisted her body so that her elbow was in front of her eyes. She pathetically scratched her nose with her covered shoulder. Ah but now her neck was sore; her muscles were pulled.
Maybe she should never have started this. She should never have thought she could handle such a gruelling task. She couldn’t very well turn back now though. She was in it for the long haul.
Almost there….
Ah.
Her hands relaxed and dropped to her sides. She let out a sigh as she finished it off.
A perfect braid.
She tied it up with one of her bands.
Maybe the torture was worth it after all.