Day 3- Free write at The Write Tribe challenge
Claustrophobia
She panicked and started flailing her arms around in the air, like people do when they are told in jest about there being a spider in their hair; only this sight was not funny but disturbingly sad. It felt like someone had pushed her head under water and held it down, forcefully, she couldn’t breathe. She could hear her heart beating erratically and there was a loud ringing in her ears.
No, she wasn’t being held hostage nor tortured, but only undergoing a beauty treatment called mud facial. A simple skin tightening mask was being applied on her face, after it had been covered by a thin cotton gauge, leaving only her mouth uncovered. The gauge on her eyes wasn’t a major cause of worry even though her heart had started pounding in her chest when she had been asked to close her eyes.
The moment the mud paste had been applied on her closed eyelids, it had become pitch dark in broad daylight, and she was scared of this nothingness. She didn’t fear the darkness but felt terrified of being left all alone in this inky black hole, forgotten and abandoned. What was this panic? Why this phobia? What was actually going on in her head?
By Sulekha Rawat
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Very vivid story Sulekha! I could see her before my eyes:-) A very nice read, thanks!
Eli, thank you for the lovely compliment. It is not a good feeling when you fear the things people take for granted.
This was so vivid and had so many awesome details. That panic is very real. Fun read! ♥
Thanks Kathy, the panic is so very real to me every time I get into an elevator or a closed space.
Ha Ha 🙂 The beginning felt like it was going to be a serious story. Enjoyed reading it 🙂
Aarthy, I meant it to be a serious post but glad you found it to be funny. This is creative writing and anything goes, right?
Getting up with that mud mask is scary….that's perhaps why she screamed!
Michelle, Perhaps you are right 🙂 thanks for your comment.
That’s actually a funny story…it started off differently though 🙂
I wish, kajal. It is not meant to be funny but I guess to each their own 🙂
nicely depicted… a very intense level of claustrophobia that is…
Thanks Roshan, glad you got my post. I am a classic case, can't even enter an empty elevator.
Oh yes, claustrophobia can bring out such panicky symptoms. An acquaintance would feel claustrophobic on wearing tight-necked clothing!! 😐
The fear, the insecurities well portrayed in this story! 🙂
Thanks Shilpa, some people completely missed the point and viewed this as a funny post 🙂 I guess the strain of reading too many posts got the better of them 🙂 Claustrophobia is scary, I suffer from it so I know how the trauma firsthand.
oh oh!! Poor thing!! you have described her panic vividly Sulekha.
Oh poor girl! I could sense her panic and helplessness 🙁 Lovely write Sulekha!
woah! nicely described!! poor plight! 😛
Oh my goodness, Sulekha! I had these same symptoms recently – for other reasons – and I thought I'd die! It's an awful feeling!
Claustrophobia is very scary. My mother suffers from it – scary for the person and for those around.