Who Am I?
By Tonya Roche
Who am I? Who am I meant to be?
I lie here, deep in the plateau’s of Madagascar, buried in my cold, damp tomb. Many centuries I have waited for my release, noting the passing of time as the sun drifts over head, warming my face before dipping below the horizon, and casting my world into cool shadow. Aware, again, of the cycles of the moon as it moves from dark to light and dark, again.
Tides wash over me and then recede, dancing in the arms of the changing seasons. Water flows over me. Washing me clean. Smoothing my rough edges. I know my purpose in this life, but my form is yet to be revealed.
The Gods have blessed me this day, for I am discovered. Hands, weathered by years of hard work, gently lift me from my ancient grave, exposing me fully to the hot Madagascar sun. I loosen a silent sigh of ecstasy as my whole being is warmed as though folded into a loving embrace. My veins pulse as though alive. Indeed, I feel alive for the first time since the north wind whispered the announcement of the birth of a messiah. A sense of a long-awaited adventure excites and frightens me at the same time.
Softness cradles and protects my fragile body. I am joined by others who have also been liberated from the stone burrows that entrapped them. All aware of our destinies from the beginning of our existence. We travel in silence, relishing in the new sensations, aware of motion never before experienced.
We listen to the soothing hums of machines; feel the sway of the ocean waves. We are all connected in a way that needs no communication. We each feel the other, and we are comforted by the familiar intimacy.
The journey is long, but it is nothing compared to the lifetime of waiting for this very moment.
We are all excited, and a little anxious. The unknown is always frightening. There is comfort in the familiar, even when the familiar is oppressive. But we are here, now, and the familiar is forever left behind us.
Things happen quickly. So many sensations and experiences I have never known. New. Exciting. Unpleasant at times, but even the unpleasantness is endured, as I know it is the way to greater things.
Finally, my transformation is complete. I feel my new form. I am sleek and beautiful. Truly a work of art. I see the look of admiration when eyes fall upon me. Pride fills my stone heart, and I know I am ready to fulfill my purpose.
Opening my heart and my mind, I summon the energy of the earth. I draw it in like breath. Sweet, emerald light fills my core. Life. Happiness. The power of creativity. Protection. I pull the energy in until I am full, and then, I rest. And wait.
Soon. I can feel it in my jasper bones.
I chance a vain peek at my reflection in the shiny surface in my new domain. If fate had graced me with the ability to weep, my crystal tusks would have been wet from my tears. I am more beautiful than I could ever have imagined. My heart rejoices.
Armed with the knowledge of my sacred purpose, and my identity finally revealed, I mentally reach out for the one who was meant to be mine. My true spiritual match.
When she finds me, we both know I was created especially for her and for her alone. She gathers me gingerly and holds me to her bosom.
She whispers, “You are the one. You called to me, and I have found you.”
We both feel the instant connection. I know what she needs, and together, we will create something wonderful and uniquely ours. She is my heart, and I am hers.
Her little jasper elephant.
Why I Chose this Prompt
The prompt I used was “Inanimate Object Perspective”. I was intrigued by the idea of showing emotion through an inanimate object. I challenged myself to make the experience “believable” without being too outlandish.
Thinking through the five senses, I immediately ruled out the idea of using “taste” and “smell” to draw in the reader’s experience. How would a piece of rock taste or smell? It could be done, I suppose, but I wanted this piece to feel realistic, to defy logic.
I focused on the other three senses. Everything has a surface. A sort of skin. So, “feel” wasn’t entirely far-fetched. I imagined how a rock might feel in its environment before and after excavating. I set out to describe as much of this experience as possible. This would be my most prominent sense, and I needed to extort it.
For “sight”, I tried to imagine what I might sense if I were blind. I closed my eyes and imagined sunshine. I closed my eyes and imagined beauty without details, ignoring my predetermined encyclopedia of memories.
I recalled watching deaf friends and colleagues “experience” sound through vibrations, and I tried to convey something similar in my short story. I optimistically tried to come close to capturing these emotions, and hopefully I succeeded. Enjoy the story.
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