Shades of Imagination

by Audrey Zeng, Del Norte High School '23

July 29, 2020

Untitled artwork by Pragati Dubey, Mata Gujri College '22

White. A blank canvas, waiting to be to be lavished by a painter’s brushstrokes to come alive.

She wakes up to the sun shining outside, Stretches out all her not sore muscles Smiling as she feels her unbruised skin She pulls on her white cashmere sweater, Admiring her reflection in the not cracked mirror

She pulls open her door that isn’t locked Skips down stairs that don’t creak She grabs her untorn, clean white book bag, The perfect white image, walking along Heading out the door to ride a bus that always comes

At school, she is surrounded by all of her friends She is charismatic, well-liked by everyone passing by She does not sit alone at lunch Laughing and sharing white popcorn that doesn’t leave her hungry She is fully embraced by love.

At home, she runs up the stairs that don’t creak Heads through her unlocked door. Her room greets her cheerfully Smooth white walls, radiating with bliss She falls onto her not hard mattress, covered by a not thin duvet Face turning towards the not cold sunshine.

Gray (Mixed). A color without color, neutral, achromatic.

Storm clouds forming outside of her window. The golden hue of her room (closet) slowly dissipates to gray Her room (closet) turns into a cozy (cramped) sanctuary Too soon, the rain lashes out at her Pixies attacking the house with their little silver daggers

She turns away from the window. Inside, there is peace. Inside, she can find her fairy lights She can find the polaroids of her and her friends She can find her comforting (hard) bed with thick (thin) comforters (sheets) that always (never) keep her warm. She can find everything that she loves. She can find the courage to ignore the raging storm outside But the sound of the rain forces its way into her head anyway.

Black. The result of the absence of light

She wakes suddenly to a knocking at her door. It is dark and daunting outside her window. It is dark and dangerous inside her window. It is dark and dreadfully real inside her head. This is always the time when the fairy lights and comforters and friends and popcorn and school forsake her. This is always the time when the rags and hunger and pain and nightmares and fear resume.

The leather boots outside her door are black. She is surprised they have not been stained dark red. She knows what is coming She had known since the last time it happened She always knew that it would keep happening

But she is never prepared

Her mind is the color of fear. Mostly black. There is a bit of white The white always comes, but only to taunt her. Sometimes to show her what she thinks her world is. Always to push her into what she knows her world is.

When the key clicks. The white fades to gray. When the door bursts open The gray fades into the black When the belt comes whipping down The black fades into her screams.