It was as if my dreams were more real than the reality I was in. I blinked a few times to make sure my eyes weren’t still closed. They weren’t closed – I was simply still locked in the mask of silence.I took a deep breath to keep from panicking and started to take stock of my body. If everything was working properly, escape was still possible.My hips and shoulders were hurting from the position the chains forced me in. My neck hurt from holding up the head gear for so long. The only thing that didn’t hurt was my stomach. I had no appetite. I knew it had to be a while since I had eaten, but the feeling simply wasn’t there. Was this the latest addition to my list of talents, or had getting captured stymied my appetite? I felt tired after my vigil over Daniel, the dream not letting me rest the way sleep should make someone feel, but I also felt more alive. I kept the warmth of seeing Daniel in my heart as I readjusted to the present. It was a focus; a reason to escape. I shifted uncomfortably to get rid of the pain in my hips and arms.
