Points of View

© Ayr/Gray

The Unicorn Challenge.

A magical new weekly writing opportunity from him – C. E. Ayr – and me.
The rules are
Maximum of 250 words.
Based on photo prompt.
That’s it.

Click here to read other stories from the prompt: Unicorn Challenge 12/01/24

Points of view

It’s a strange place you find yourself in – and at an in-between time.
The sky is losing its rosy glow, as the sun finally appears.
In the silence that surrounds you, you hear the sounds of life wakening, rustlings and scufflings – the undergrowth is alive with its own heartbeat.
Insects buzz and birds chirp.
Butterflies dance in the light.
A young deer steps delicately out from among the trees and onto the bridge, warms itself in the sun.
Then, somehow warned, it raises its head and listens…
Abruptly and swiftly it flees back into the trees.
Could it be your presence that it catches, alien here?
And yet – and in spite of the beauty of your surroundings – as you wander along the sunlit path, a sense of unease rises in you.
Gradually.
Very gradually.
There’s no other trace of human life here – none at all.
You stumble, look around.
Far off to your right you catch sight of high mesh fencing hidden among the trees.
Razor wire runs along the top.
You realise that you’re not surprised.
You discover you’ve always known – ever since you were aware of the world around you – that this fence was there, bordering the path you’re on.
And finally you’re face to face with the question you’ve always avoided: are you on the outside looking in through the fence?
Or are you on the inside, looking out?
You know the answer.
And it saddens you…