The Interrogation

By Beverly Greene

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"Do you regret that you were unable to come to terms with who you are sooner so that you could have dated only women?"

I was extremely aware that my answer could mean life or death. I was cold, hungry, cramped, exhausted, and more than a little terrified. I didn't have the strength left in me to concoct a lie which might better suit the answer they were seeking, so I just said the truth.

"I can't answer that question. Of course, I would have rather that I could have been honest with myself sooner because it would have allowed me to feel better about myself and be more honest with myself, but at the same time, if I changed that part of my life, it would effect who I am now. That part of my life was a necessary part of my growing up, a necessary part in making me who I am today. If I changed that now, I may no longer be who I am. For better or worse, I would not be me. So, I can't answer that question."

The shadowy woman turned and walked away without so much as an off beat blink to give me any indication of what was heading my way. I looked back to my inquisitor. She walked around behind me and I closed my eyes, waiting for...it. Waiting for a shot in the head or a knife in the neck or whatever these...people do when they don't get the answer that they approve of. I waited and waited and waited. Finally, I felt her leather gloves touching my hands. At first I feared that she would twist with all of her might and break them, but then I felt the rope loosening and I realized that she was untying my wrists.

When my hands had been freed, I gingerly rubbed my red wrists alternately while she untied my feet. I stood up, only to find that my legs were weak and numb. I looked at the woman again, asking without a word what the next move in this dance was. She pointed me towards the left side of the room, where she had gone to retrieve the water. I walked into the darkness on my unsteady legs, unaware of what I would find there or what would find me there, still afraid that I was not yet out of danger, unsure if I could dare to believe that I could be on my way to freedom.

I got to the door of the room and turned left. In front of me was a dimly light hallway. Everything looked old and dingy and run down. I looked over my shoulder and was motioned forward. I stepped forward into the hallway. I passed several doorways to rooms probably not unlike the one which I had just occupied and at the end of the hallway I saw a door which I prayed with every ounce of my being would lead me to the outside world and almost certain escape.

I began readying what I strength I could muster. I planned to bolt as soon as I saw daylight or beat off any attack that might come my way. I placed my had on the knob and turned. I opened the door and stepped through, only it was not daylight that welcomed me. It was the most beautiful star filled night sky that I had ever seen in my entire life. The shock and beauty of it all made me forget my plans to flee. I stopped and just stood there, looking at the magnificent moon and I knew that I would be all right. The Goddess was watching over me now that I was out of that....what?

I forced my eyes to leave the comfort of the moon and turned my head to the side to look at my inquisitor, to ask her what the hell all of that had been about, but found that I was alone. Confused, I spun around to look at the building which had been my prison and found only an empty field.

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