Silence

• Isla Fraser, Grade 6
• Short Story
• 2021

‘This is the start of our story’ the memory of you played in my head over and over. I knew silence was quiet, but this is suffocating. I sat by the pond and looked at the perfectly reflective, smooth surface in all its beauty. Others say this is meant to be a place of magic but it isn’t, because I’m stuck here, playing the same day over and over like a broken record. Her voice echoed through my mind, the reminder that I still have duties to attend to. ‘Life isn’t a fantasy Zen, in this world you have to work. You don’t get true love, you don’t get to run around in a princess dress.’ But I wanted true love, a love I have never known before. “It must be nice.” I sighed and laid back on the cool grass, staring up at the night sky as stars shone brightly. I closed my eyes tight trying to forget that this is the world I’m stuck in and that it’s so cold. I shivered as the night chill began to set in. I opened my eyes and sat up. The castle was in sight. I started to stand, but a wash of dread came over me, so heavy it brought me down to my knees. I fell onto my hands and sobbed into the grass. I heard soft footsteps and sat up, wiping my eyes. “Zen?” I looked up, my 6-year-old sister holding her teddy was wandering through the grass, scared. “Xena, what are you doing up?!” She looked at me, “I’m sorry Zen, I couldn’t sleep and you weren’t in your room so I-” I stopped her. “Shh, its okay, come give me a hug.” I opened my arms, she collapsed into them and hugged me tight. “Are you tired?” She nodded and yawned sleepily. “Let’s get you back to bed.” I stood up and put her on my shoulders. I turned towards the castle and began walking, I looked behind me for a moment feeling someone or something’s eyes fall upon me. Xena looked back as well, “What is it Zen?” She asked, I shook my head. “Nothing, don’t worry.” I turned my head back around and continued walking. As I entered the hall, I looked up to see a photo of our family when I was young, about 10, Xena was only a little girl. Little did we know three years later we would lose half of our family. I’d lost everyone after I lost them, I lost the person dearest to me, other than Xena. Tears came to my eyes and Xena looked over my head. “I don’t think you’re okay.” She mumbled. “No - no I’m fine I promise.” At that moment I realised, life may not be a fantasy but I’ve tried to make the best out of it and I guess I ran out of pages for our story.