Flash Fiction-Losing Comfort

     "Fly away, leave what you know and go on to explore a new world," the thought relayed in a continuous cycle, rewind and play, rewind and play. Her mind flooded with a rush of emotions that contemplated her every action as she gather her belongings in hopes of attaining a new life. She didn't belong here, in this tiny ignorant community filled with all too familiar faces. The bright lights and the euphoria of the city life called her name, as she pictured herself walking down a street filled with a million strangers. None of which knew her every move, and entire background story, as in this new world she can reinvent herself and become her greatest desire. She gathered her belongings and step by step, breath by breath, left the close confinement of her home and set out on this new life. 

     Out of his element, vulnerable and tamed, a once beautiful and glowing tiger exits his cage. Held there night in night out, with an engineered square footage that trainers said would keep him calm, keep him healthy, with the underlying objective of keeping him miserable and angered. A wild beast built by the hands of God to be strong and mighty leaves this confinement only to be humiliated and put under extensive abuse. He exits his cage now without command as a recurring religious ritual, same time same place same circumstance. 

     A body made of over a hundred muscles lingers down the street towards a bright array of circus lights. The sound of cheering fans greatly contrasts the moan of a worn body that has experienced a lifetime of heavy labour. These lights glow with cheer and glee of the upcoming show, while the deep black spheres of despair stare onward.

     "Move faster, you're so stupid, move, MOVE!" The command from a sleek trainer dressed in harsh red attire, cracks with equal intensity of the whip he uses to provoke the tiger to continue its excruciating journey. 

     A pitiful growl of annoyance is all the energy of the once powerful animal can generate. As he enters the ring of the circus a crowd cheers to enjoyment of watching a "wild" beast be beaten to the breaking point. They watch this tiger lose bit by bit every ounce of natural character it had, be oozed out by the enforced westernization of the circus. Seeing this animal who has been taken from his jungle, his kingdom where he could explore and be free seems to be of amusement to the intrigued crowd.

     The show concludes and the stereotyped ferocious beast is led back to his confinement. The whole way the only thought of the animal is, "Why me, and why here?" Why is he here? He was taken from the only thing he knew and was expected to adapt perfectly to this sharply contrasting environment nothing like he has ever seen before. It holds extremely true here that you can take the tiger out of the wild but you can't take the wild out of the tiger.

     She leaves her home, Taking herself on a journey she will never forget. Led by an attendant down a long narrowing hall that leads to the loading plane, she anticipates the best for herself as this new endeavour will be exciting for sure she reminds herself. She enters the ring of uncertainty, ticket in hand ready for this new life to begin, scanned and told, "Seat G27 please, enjoy your flight." All the while a tiger of great strength contained in set square footage is told, "Off to the next destination, enjoy your ride."