A Thin Ray Of Sunshine

Amelia woke up as the strong smell of pine trees and dirt became pungent in her nostrils. Slowly, she became aware she was starving and freezing, despite the long wool socks on her feet.The snow was falling thick covering the pine trees with white dust, all the while Amelia was in her comfortable bed, thick blanket on top. She stayed still, trying to recall her dream, but her growling stomach insistently reminded her it was hungry. It was still early, and only a thin ray on sunshine covered the isolated, agricultural village.

This is definitely the worst winter I’ve had, she thought, as she pushed the blanket away, shivering. 

It didn’t look good for anyone. The snow and ice would not begin to melt for another two months. Hunting was no longer an option, never mind the growing of crops. People were struggling and, in worst cases, fleeing to nearby towns. Amelia was starving and with her the whole village.

This morning in particular, Amelia was trying to stay positive, even though she knew it was part of her body’s automatic self defense mechanism of survival. She was terrified of dying and lately had been thinking way too much about death and loss of consciousness.

A loud banging on the door interrupted Amelia’s thoughts. Her father opened the door babbling about other village men practicing cannibalism out of desperation. Some cut flesh from other people’s cheeks and facial muscles, while others removed the tongue with a knife while others extracted the brain through a hole in the skull. 

Hunger brings the worst out of people. You need to be extra careful, he said as he closed the door.

After hearing this, she decided to go on an expedition to the nearby forest to look for something to eat. Maybe I'll get lucky, she hoped. She walked for hours until she saw a light. The light led to a wooden cabin with smoke coming out of its chimney. The door was slightly opened and Amelia entered without any hesitation whatsoever.

A tall and skinny old man with a long, black cloak was standing in the room with his back to her. He chose to completely ignore her, though it was clear he’d seen her standing there, frozen. He began gathering all sorts of spices like a wizard preparing the ingredients to make a potion.

The man suddenly turned towards Amelia and looked at her straight with his big brown eyes and said, I don’t think eating me is a good idea. 

She was trembling with fear and amazement for she had already considered different ways to kill this man who was looking so appetizing. He had read her mind. Then, in a blink of an eye she woke up in her comfortable bed. It was a sunny day in New York City and her mom was screaming breakfast is ready!  

By: Susana Toro