"She hasn't talked since it happened," Mom said to her best friend. Though it had been about a month, I still couldn't get things past my mouth and out of it.
They said I was molested. They said I was left for dead. They also say it's a miracle that I survived, but it doesn't feel like a miracle right now. I can't remember what happened. Maybe I don't want to? I also can't seem to talk. I'm on the couch, just close enough to hear things that people are saying. We've had many visitors lately. I wonder if they're just curious or if they actually care? I hurt, inside and out. I can't tell anyone. That terrifies me.
From listening to others, some that seemed to think that since I can't talk, I must be deaf too, I got the details of what happened. Apparently, from what I heard, I'd been walking home from my friends house not far away, when I was grabbed, beat up, stabbed and left for dead. I don't remember. That's just what I've heard, so far. I listen closely, trying to hear more and trying not to cry. It upsets Mom, these silent tears of mine.
I'm so afraid. What if I can never speak again and am trapped in my mind of silent sentences forever? I don't know if I can stand that. I silently wonder if I'll ever stop hurting and wish I could ask someone.
I don't know why I can't talk. Why can't I talk? I want to. The silent sentence of "Why can't I talk?" goes through my head over and over, till exhausted again, sleep claims me.
mn - 2007


Comments: 18
I wasn't going to comment until you said it was fiction,I thought my God I don't know what to say to you. This was very good writing Marilin my heart poured out to the girl, and I was full of rage at what had happened to her, very powerful little story and a very good two word challenge.
Darcey D.
a great take on and use of the TWC words, thank you. you are right about inspiring others being a great complement, double cool on you for that.
one thought occurs to me. i'd like to see the first sentence, about what mom says to her friend, stand alone at the beginning as a paragraph by itself.
the line that starts:
(taken from text):
Though it had been about a month, ...
(end of text)
could be the next paragraph on it's own or it could be made a part of the following paragraph. everything that follows the first sentence takes place in the mind of the girl. that's why i'd make that first sentence a paragraph by itself, it is the only outside-of-mind reference in the story. i think it's important to be there because it gives validity to what is going on in the mind of the girl so that it is not just imagining that she is going through.
way cool on your writing in this short story and great use of the TWC words. cool.