Will I Ever Have Freedom?

• Chelsea Gray, Grade 9, Mt St Joseph Girls College
• Short Story
• 2015

Excellence Award in the 'The Write Track 2015' competition

Rocking, roughly against the ocean surface. My life, in my eyes, ended the moment I got on this so called vessel.

Nothing. Absolutely, nothing could have prepared me for this moment in my life. I realise that it was the last option my family would ever take, that is how desperate we have become. Like scared creatures we run away from our past to try and find a better future.

My parents have been preparing to take this chance for years. They gathered as much money as they could before it got bad. In my city there was no mercy. Not for anyone. Women, children, we were all treated the same. Almost like everyone of us, was completely and utterly disposable. As if our lives had no value. It has been like this for as long as I can remember but recently, people have began getting extremely agitated. No one knows when the next bomb will hit, then next gun shot will be fired. My dad, just one day, decided that it was time. After counting the money up, we still only had enough for my mother, brother and myself. We had to leave him behind. I still remember my dads face. I will probably never see him again and almost nothing makes me sadder.

I know though that my family is at major risk now, so I must be strong. Even though I am only 15, my little brother looks to me for guidance, for love. I am terrified on this leaky, old boat. We have been out on the water for days or maybe it’s been a week. I am not sure. What I am sure about though, is we are running out of food slowly and we are still very far away from where we want to be.

Many more days have passed by and I have come to notice the hungry eyes looking all around. Supplies are almost non-existent. My mother seems nervous and is always trying to shelter my brother and I. Then it dawns on me. There are a lot of men on this boat. I try not to think about the fact there are only a few women. This makes me scared.

No sleep. No sleep. How can I. It seems like we have been aboard this boat for weeks. My mother has been disappearing often. I must take care of my brother. He tells me he is starving but I have nothing to give him. He says he is thirsty, I have no water. The person who runs the boat tells us we are close.

We weren’t close.

My brother didn't make it. I cried many tears for him. That didn’t help. I promised him that we would be free. He didn’t get that chance.

Just as we near Australian borders, we see another boat. I am so relieved. They help us and I finally think we are free.

They want to send us back.

Will I ever have freedom?