Third person POV:
She could hear soft murmurs of a sweet, child-like voice— it was her own voice, but when she was younger. She was talking to herself in the mirror, her voice cheerful and full of excitement.
"We will always be happy, right?", she asked, acting as if the mirror was asking her the question.
"Everyday and forever!!" She exclaimed loudly in a cheerful and joyous tone.
She was truly blind,
she had seen 'forever' as 'till the end of her life.'
At the present moment, her face broke out into a soft, small and pained smile, because she knew that in the way a withered flower never brightens up again, a star after dying cannot have a rebirth, the same girl might never return again. She opened her eyes and looked out of the window again. It was 10:45 a.m. at that time and the sun was shining brighter and brighter. For the world she could see around herself, the time was moving at a normal pace. But for her, each second felt like it was stretched to be as long as years. Her mind was foggy, she didn't know what she was thinking about.
First person POV:
Such a hustle during the time of the day when the sun is shining brightly. The brightness felt blinding to my vision, as if spades were hitting my eyes. The day was bright, but dull in my mind. The day was warm, but freezing to my senses. People were roaming around in the streets, some buying things silently, some doing loads of bargaining. It was as if I almost heard the shouts of the neighbouring aunties asking for more objects at a lesser price. Some teenage pupils were carrying chocolates, toys, a cricket bat, a tennis ball, and a basket- no… BASKET BALL!?
I sat up straight, suddenly feeling very interested and intrigued after I didn't even know how long. I traced the way of the guy as he made his way towards the garden.
I thought, 'I guess he is going there to play basketball. I see a few other guys there. Yeah, now he is waving at them so maybe they will be playing basket ball among themselves. Wow, such a bravery to play when the sun is shining so brightly, but I don't see any basket or net- oh wow, exactly how you should play basketball, as if you are playing volleyball.'
I let out a huge sigh, but a small smile crept onto my face. I leaned my head back against the headrest of my bed and as my eyes dropped into darkness yet again.
In my mind's eye, I saw a little girl of age seven, wearing a baby pink colour shirt over dark pink pants. She was watching two brothers of hers playing basketball. Just by watching, she had fallen in love with the sport. The orange and brown coloured balls were bouncing against the hard ground with loud thuds which were like music to her ears. The court was painted with blue colour with the lines being drawn in white colour with precision. The baskets were attached against wide boards and hung from polls, higher than double, maybe triple her height. She was watching her brothers play skilfully, her eyes filled with amusement and excitement. She wanted to play too. Their basketball coach was playfully calling her again and again to do a few dribbles with the ball. The senior players were all smiling, looking at her and teasing her slightly as they invited her to play too. She just kept smiling, her lips pressed in a thin line, and was hiding behind her father's leg, feeling shy. That sight of my memory made my external self grin but my internal self's heart clench as I remembered the reason and sights when I had fallen in love with that game. That game had become more than just a sport for me. It became an emotion.
I opened my eyes and turned my head towards the boys who were playing. 'Wow, they are playing handball with the precious basketball now, truly amazing.'
I sighed again, but the smile on my face was reaching my eyes, which was the first time in years. The ball which was supposed to be aimed and thrown into a net was getting SLAPPED by the boys—'like that, you should play neither basketball nor handball'—I thought, 'As long as they don't start playing football—speak of the devil, the devil is here'. The sight of them playing everything but basketball, that too WITH a basketball just made me sigh yet again and rub my temples.
Due to studies, I had discontinued playing basketball. It was the only sport I was good at, maybe exceptionally well during the past times when I used to play and practice every day. This sport—my lifeline in the form of a game— gave me a recognition even I didn't know that I had. I got praised by many other basketball players, their parents, our school teachers, coaches and even the teachers and principal of another school. Life felt unreal at that time yet the sport gave me the happiness no person ever could, but as I got promoted to higher classes, our studies got harder and harder and, having no other choice left, I had discontinued playing basketball in the year 2024. With time, my skills spoiled and withered more. My smiles started becoming more and more fake and forced. Even a sight of someone playing basketball, in the way I used to play once, made my heart clench hard. After discontinuing basketball, I ended having no reason to freely smile and joke around. Becoming a shell of myself, I just prayed to the gods that one day ... Maybe one day— I would resume my game, maybe not in my best self, but with a new self of mine.
Maybe...just maybe once more...
My memories are better than my present reality. I knew that my story is better in my past memories than my present world. Presently, I don't know who I truly am. I don't know what is the purpose of my life. But my mind keeps on thinking and reminding me of my past self when I could recognise the taste of various foods, smells of various delicacies, and when I could differentiate between all the faces around me, not based on the pain that had engulfed them, but based on their faces, behaviour and character.
Inside the darkened invisible cage,
Deep dejection found, an unwritten page.
Brightness was perceived by my mind,
While dark clouds were starting to unwind.
Even when sadness overcame my actual sense,
My brain saved me from the pain that was too intense.