Longing Freedom

Sunlight spilled in from the window, illuminating the room with a sudden brightness that brought with it a feeling of hope and happiness to a place where hope was the only thing to hold on to and where freedom only lasts in dreams. Senkii stared up at the small window, longing for the freedom that lingered just outside the walls of her circular room. She hoped to one day escape from the horrible conditions and once more live a free life. A bird fluttered in from the little opening in the wall that served as a window. It circled the room once, then glided down to sit, perched on the window sill. Senkii stared at it, craving that ability to just fly away. Almost every night she dreamed of flying away and returning to the family that awaited her return. However that was only in her dreams and when she awoke she was reminded yet again that there was no flying away and no family waiting for her. Of course it was only almost every night that she had these dreams. Other nights she would not sleep. She could not sleep, for the shrieking voices of pain and agony kept her awake. The bird sat upon the window sill, taunting Senkii with its freedom and liberty. She stared up at the creature with unwavered longing.
"How can I be like you?" she whispered to the bird. Senkii's eyes watered and she fought to hold back tears, though she knew there was no point. There was no being that could hear her helpless sobs. "How I wish I could just fly away!" she cried to the unmoving bird. "Teach me to fly! Teach me to fly away from here!" She crouched over, holding her knees to her chest. "Let me fly away," she whispered, tears flowing from her eyes. They left trails through the dirt covering her face. When Senkii looked up again, the bird was gone, leaving in its place a feeling of emptiness. Senkii stared sadly at the empty window, crying silent tears at the empty feeling that now filled her heart.
"You left me here. You left me alone," Senkii whispered to herself. She closed her eyes, working to contain her anger and loneliness. "Take me with you!" Senkii screamed, letting out her frustration. Her voice echoed throughout the room. Senkii jumped back with surprise when she heard a voice that was not her own.
"Hello?" a young man's voice called. Senkii waited to make sure she was not hearing things. "Hello?" the voice called again.
"Yes!" Senkii cried, frantic. "Yes, I'm here! I'm here!"
"Who are you?" the voice sounded shocked.
"I am Senkii of Erados!" she cried, ecstatic. "Who are you?"
"My name is Craitorse. I am also from the land of Erados."
"You are? That must mean that my land is still there. My home lives on."
"Yes. Why would you think it not?"
"Oh, when I was very young I was captured in a great battle that took place in the land of Erados. The enemy took me as a hostage. That's how I came to be here. They brought me here at the age of four and I've been here for the past twenty years. I heard nothing of my home and assumed it had been destroyed."
"No, it has not."
"That makes me happy, yet brings sorrow to my heart now that I know my home still stands, but I will never return to it."
"Have you no hope of escaping?"
"No, Craitorse. No. I have dreamed of escaping for these twenty years, but never have I tried."
"Why ever not?"
"Well, escaping takes a lot of strategic planning and since I've been locked up in here since I was four, I have no knowledge of that sort. Escaping is impossible with my sense of intelligence."
"What if I assisted you? Would you be able to escape then?"
"That depends. Are you a strategic planner?"
"I don't know. I could try."
"Tell me, Craitorse. What do you look like?"
"Oh, well, I'm tall, I guess. With longish black hair and crystal blue eyes. I don't see how it matters though."
"You are the only person I've talked to in twenty years. Of course it matters that I know what you look like."
"I guess that does make sense. Listen, Senkii. I'll get my village to help me come up with a plan for your escape, tonight. I will come tomorrow and I promise that in three days, you will be free. Farewell, for now."
"Goodbye, Craitorse. I thank you with my whole heart." Senkii pressed her ear against the wall, straining to hear Craitorse's fading footsteps. She faced away from the wall leaning against it with her back. Her heart hammered away in her chest.