Tulip's Tales

Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are
Up above the world so high
Like a diamond in the sky
Twinkle twinkle little star
How I wonder what you are

What's another one? How many have I sung in my head? I count the songs with my fingers as I sing, then put a scratch on the wall for each time I reach ten. Upon checking, I feel three groups of five scratches, which ten equals one hundred fifty. Will it be time soon? Will I finally get something, anything to soothe my throat. My throat feels sealed shut; I'm not sure anything could get past my swollen tongue anyway. Saliva has long since left my mouth; the moisture needed in other areas of my body in need of hydration.

Little Jack Horner
sat in a corner
eating his christmas or was it pudding no ch...

Losing my focus, I feel around once again, hoping against hoping and wishing with all my might that I will find a crack or crevice or something that will let me see how to get out. I listen closely as my hands move over the wall, but am still startled when I hear the familiar bump of someone starting to open the door.

Something to drink, finally!

I close my eyes to avoid the punishment of the glaringly bright light and move myself up against the back wall in anticipation of the box being roughly pushed into my legs. The box that is my lifeline. The box that has provided my sustenance. However, while I can see the light through my closed eyelids, nothing happens. No box, no noise, nothing.

I wait. No sound. Nothing but the light so strong I feel heat on my face. I open my eyes and the door quickly slams shut.