“PLEASE!” my voice screeched, “Let me out of here.” My tiny fists pound the think wooden door.
“Be quiet, they might hear you.” My brother’s voice demands.
I do as he says. I take the time to look around. Mistake. Big Mistake. My fear of darkness overwhelms me. The crawl space seems much bigger than I remembered. I hunt for a corner to place myself in. Placing my back and side removes to angles that someone, or something, can pop out and scare me. My side bumps into a box. Fear runs through my body. I continue on.
Alas, I found my corner. My safe sweet corner that helps me focus on staying calm. I try closing my eyes and imagining all the happy things that could be in here with me. I think that maybe this door might open any second. I’m focused. My breathing calms down. I take myself to a safe place in my head. Somewhere open and filled with light. This place is so peaceful.
Whispers from the other side of the door bring me back to reality. The reality that I am trapped. I have no idea when I can be released. I have no sight because I’m blinded by the darkness. My mind is scattered and images of all the things that could be down here fill my head. It could be a murderer, coming to end my life. Or maybe, bugs that climb across my skin. I imagine their tiny legs tickling across mine. Anything could be down here. It could even be a ghost that will turn my life into a living hell while I’m trapped here in this crawl space.
I jump to the sound of the door being yanked at. I can tell that they are using all of their strength. The door didn’t move. I’m stuck here. I’m doomed. My life is going to end right here in this dark, smelly cellar. I’m going to end up dying of hunger. Lack of oxygen will slowly take over.
“We’ll be right back,” the sounds of my siblings feet scatter up the stairs. It’s the sound of hope running away from me. More tears stream down my cheeks. They are leaving me here for good. They no longer care about me. How could an innocent game of hide and seek turn into a death trap? There is no way in Hell that they would let my grandma know I was down here playing around in her stuff. If I don’t die in here she will probably kill me herself.
I was too lost in my mind to here footsteps running back down the stairs. The loud squeak of the wooden door captures my attention. The light beams from the opening in the door. I feel embarrassed for being so scared and giving up. My grandma’s arms appear and I crawl as fast as I can to them. She pulls me out and holds me close. Her warmth fells so welcoming. She wipes my tears off of my face then sets me up on my feet.
“Go wash your hands and get ready for lunch,” she says as she fixes my dress and brushes off my knees. I do as I’m told.