Basement

I sit once again on the cold concrete floor of the basement. I breathe softly, but quickly. After having searched the entire basement once again for a way to get out, I am unsuccessful.

I listen to the sounds of him walking around and doing normal human things upstairs. Trapped down here, I long to once again do those things I had previously taken for granted. Simple things such as making my own dinner and going to the bathroom whenever I felt never seemed as much a privilege as they seem now.

I pull my legs up to my body and wrap my arms around them, looking down at my toes. There's dirt underneath my toenails and spots of dirt cover my feet. The same is on my hands. My hair is greasy and, although I can't see my face because there is no mirror down here, I know that my face is covered in dirt and my teeth are yellowing. I haven't been allowed to wash or brush my teeth for weeks.

My stomach growls and I pull my legs in tighter. I haven't had steady meals coming in since I was trapped down here—only small meals once or, if I'm lucky, twice a day.

I look at my clothes—well, what is left of them, that is. All he has allowed me to keep is my, now dirty, underwear. My shirt and jeans were taken when I was put down here. Sometimes, I don't even get what I still have.

I lean back against the wall, loosening my grip on my legs, and close my eyes. I daydream about being free once again and taking a nice long hot shower—feeling the water and soap run off the dirt and wash away any sign of this basement. I daydream about putting whitening toothpaste on my toothbrush and brushing my teeth for ten minutes and then flossing and using mouthwash—allowing my mouth to look and feel clean and healthy once again. I daydream about going to a buffet and eating all the delicious things they have available: salad, chicken, macaroni, fries, mashed potatoes, crab legs, hamburgers, ice cream, cake and pie. I daydream about going shopping and getting the most beautiful clothes I can find.

I daydream about having my life back.