Her rasping breath echoed endlessly in the cell she sat, huddled in the driest corner. With no recollection of how she had got here, and images hypnotizing her will to live, fear gripped her, panic froze her, paranoia kept her awake, hour upon hour. Through the hovering, intimidating darkness she made out writing on the wall, scratched into the grey, anemic stone. Flashes of desperation punctured her fragile mind, tainting the hope that remained. Who had written these? How long had they been sat in the very place she now hugged her emaciated frame, before writing their final words? How ironic it was that the only people who would read the haunting words are the helpless beings who had been forced here, through the same scarring ordeals, and who could never tell these messages to the people intended. Loosing track of time, she was blending into insignificance. Dehydrated, her throat was as rough as sand. No saliva remained in her colourless mouth for her to swallow, to revive her windpipes, to call for help. Adrenaline rushed through her constantly, but she was too weak, too frail to move. She had no willpower left to keep her eyes open. Don’t close them. Her heart was beating faster and slower, faster and slower, faster and… faster. Faster. Footsteps. Screeching cell doors opened. No light shone through and she flailed her hands round in the undying darkness. Reaching out, her hands rested on a cracked, brittle skull lying nearby. A silent scream came from her throat as pain exploded through her body with the sharp, desperate movements. Hands grabbed her skeletal shoulders, dragging her towards the wall. She couldn’t support her body and her neck flung backwards, smashing her face into the bricks. Sticky, hot liquid dripped from her eye sockets, clouding her vision. No tears remained for her to cry, to wash away the blood that burned her eyes. The terrifying sound of hoarse, hard breathing rebounded off the walls, claustrophobia causing her heart to go into overdrive. She could feel rough hands gripping her waist, forcing her pathetic, twisting body down to the ground. His face was close to hers now; she could taste his sweat in her mouth. Still he pinned her to the uneven ground, scattered with fragments of glass piercing her back. She had no energy left to struggle. Suddenly, he spoke: “You’re safe. You’re safe” But she could not reply. He sheltered her, picking her undernourished body up. Oh God, his touch flooded her mind with memories. Her love for this man was undeniable, and although her senses were dulled her recognition of his body told her all she needed to know for hope to remain. Her arm swung at her side, her neck bent backwards over his biceps. The swaying movement of being carried nauseated her but she could not vomit on an empty stomach. Sharp glimmers of light highlighted his olive skin tone and she screwed her eyes closed as the brightness burned her retinas. Please Lord, let me live, let me see one more day to be with him.