The Abyss Of Hope

"Let's get out of here, shall we?", Pahi said. Her eyes had a familiar kind of hollow, the kind Tanz often saw in her own reflection in the bathroom mirror. Tanz knew this wasn't a real suggestion, rather an imaginary escape meant for momentary relief which will be long forgotten by morning. "Yeah. Let's do that." She nodded, "But where shall we go?"

"Somewhere near because we can't afford to go too fa....ar" Pahi's eyes were already lost in the sky by the time she finished the sentence. Tanz didn't feel the need to bring her back. She didn't bother breaking the silence that suddenly wrapped them like a transparent blanket; a blanket that makes you feel warm but naked at the same time. They were leaning on the bench in the northeastern corner of the field near Pahi's house. It was a winter evening with the moon shining at its brightest. Pahi's face looked extraordinarily beautiful today. Tanz wasn't sure if the spark on Pahi's face was caused by the full moon or the thought of getting out of the town where time seemed to be still. Whatever it was, Tanz didn't miss the opportunity of savoring every bit of it while she could, while Pahi was not paying any heed.

"Didn't you say you had a girlfriend Tanz?"

"No, I didn't!"

"Hmm... I must've imagined it then."

"What makes you imagine I'd have a girlfriend?"

"The way you keep staring at me", Pahi blinked.

Tanz didn't know how to react. It was as if she was caught off guard all of a sudden! What would she do now? Did Pahi know this whole time? Would she stay the same or would she run away for real, leaving Tanz behind to rot in the already still hollow of her own reflection? Tanz couldn't decide what to say or how to react so she got up and ran. She ran as if her life depended on it. She ran as fast as she could. She ran till her legs refused to take her any further, till she had nowhere to go, till she reached the dead-end of a never-ending loop!