Enclosed

By Victoria Tortolani Ramos

There she lies awake

The dark room peers back to her, 

The silence echoing off the walls 

Whispering a name unfamiliar 

She asks the silence “who is it you call,”

Creeks fill the room, but no response 

“Hello?” She repeats, 

Her words choke up in her throat 

Only gasps and grabs for air can escape 

As the hairs prick up upon her arms 

And the chills run down her spine 

She shuts her eyes tight, in a desperate attempt

To find light beneath her eye lids, 

or sound amongst her covered ears

to escape.

The footsteps melted into the distance

Stuck with the silence she was again

Closing her eyes once more 

The dark room peers back at her 

The silence sinking in the walls 

There she lies awake

From the hall calls a voice, sweet and warm

The voice walks through the halls with a slow steady step

Approaching closer and closer, louder and louder

And she peeks through her shaking hands

towards the wooden door, tall and uninviting 

She crawls to the door, 

dragging herself across the tight void

Desperately, reaching for the handle

So close to the warm voice 

So close to the sound of somebody 

But the door had no sort of handle

It stood tall over her 

As if laughing at her efforts

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Biography

My name is Victoria Tortolani, and I am a sophomore. Outside of school, I spend most of my time crocheting, drawing, dancing, and playing guitar. I’m in band and take art and painting classes both in and out of school as it has always been a big part of my life.

What is your main source of inspiration?

My main source of inspiration has always been music. Whether it’s specific songs or genres or themes, music has always had a way of cementing ideas into me.

What motivated you to write this piece?

This dream comes from a very vivid dream I had, along with the anxiety I feel of feeling watched with no escape, which is something I believe many people can relate to.