Second Runner-Up - Senior section
St Patrick’s College
“Do you ever feel trapped?” Leah asked Trudy as she washed out the dye from Leah’s hair. The salon had emptied and Leah and Trudy were the last people in the dull lit room. The sun was beginning to set as the street lights began to buzz as they lit up the empty street beyond the salon window. The sound of the flowing water filled the room as it washed over Leah's head carrying the brown dye from her hair.
“What do you mean?” Trudy replied, shutting off the faucet and pausing to process what Leah had just asked. Silence filled the room.
“I don’t know. I guess what I'm trying to say is do you ever feel like you don't want to be yourself anymore?”
Trudy looked at Leah in confusion as she covered Leah’s hair in shampoo. “I don't think I understand what you’re saying.” Leah’s cheeks began to burn as she filled with regret. Closing her eyes she tried to forget this encounter, immersing herself in the warmth of the water being poured over her head as it trickled down her temple. The silence between the two women grew as the sounds of the water sloshed around the wash basin filling the room with constant white noise.
Leah paid, said her goodbyes and thankyous and headed out into the brisk evening beyond the glass. She gathered her thoughts, her cheeks burning red as she relived the conversation she had just had. She began left down the street, hoping to pass the butchers to grab something for dinner. Leah clutched her coat tighter as the breeze crept through her layers of clothing.
The bell rang signalling the man hidden out the back that a customer had entered his store. Leah blinked as her eyes adjusted to the bright tiled room flooded with reflected light. A man emerged through a doorway that belonged to a hidden room and greeted the lady in his shop. “Four pork sausages please,” Leah asked, avoiding eye contact with the man behind the counter.
“Of course, anything else I can get for the pretty lady,” the man answered as he reached for the sausages. Leah cringed at the man’s response, as shivers flew down her spine.
“No,” Leah replied in a desolate tone. She looked up meeting the man's gaze as he bagged her purchase. He grinned revealing his yellowed teeth; she didn't return a smile. She could feel his eyes burn as they traced her body, checking every curve, even those hidden by her coat. She paid and left without saying a word to the man. The bell rang as the door swung shut behind her. The man's eyes lingered on Leah as she hurried down the street and into the night.
There had been no traffic on the drive home, leaving Leah little time to herself before she returned home. She rounded the familiar turn into the dully-lit street that her house belonged to and pulled into her driveway. Turning the keys the engine shut off leaving Leah to sit in silence in the dark. She sighed releasing all the pressure that had built up in her lungs during the day. Her mind spiralled as it reeled off all the things that hadn't got done, along with all of the things she would need to do tomorrow. The constant chatter in her head followed her as she headed up the steps to the front door. Leah turned the handle only to discover that it was already unlocked. Her heart sank deep within her stomach. She peered through the frosted glass, beyond a warm light could be spotted coming from deep within the home. Gathering her thoughts and restoring her disappointment of returning home to an occupied house, Leah turned the door handle and forced herself into the home.
Leah crept into the kitchen, silently placing her shopping on the counter. Her husband's head was turned toward the television fixed on the news channel. The noise of the reporters notifying the town of more bad news filtered its way into the kitchen where Leah stood over the counter, face in palms as she gathered the strength to utter some words to her beloved husband.
“Hi honey,” she chimed. Her husband turned his head just enough to spot Leah out the corner of his eye. He groaned a greeting and returned to the television. This was no more than what Leah had expected.
As she prepared dinner she reminisced over the beginnings of their relationship. The flowers, the goodbye and hello kisses, the way he used to look her in the eye. They used to be so in love, but now the novelty of marriage had worn off, and they seemed to be no more than a couple of strangers sharing a home.
The couple ate dinner in separate rooms, Leah took hers to the dining room where she sat alone for another night. A routine that had become far too common. She sat with her thoughts, contemplating how she let herself live this life. She was far from happy and yet she stayed with this man. Putting up with far more than the rest of the world could see. She was ready to snap, five years of nothing. An endless cycle of chores, of waking up and going to sleep, only to wake up and do it all again. Leah suddenly felt a wave of hopelessness. She had never felt more trapped in her life. As much as she wanted to leave she couldn't. There was nothing that could rid her of this man who continued to reside in her house.
His hands gripped the back of her neck. Waking her from her subconscious. The cold, rough hands glided down her back. The unwanted touch caused Leah to flinch.
“I’m off to bed,” the voice connected to the hands announced. Leah nodded without turning to face her husband.