The Cell

Ivan awoke in a cold, dark cell. The revelation was hardly surprising; countless tally marks rubbed into the grey, lifeless walls indicated the passage of his stay. Why was he here? He could not say. For his debts? Ivan could not recall many details about life prior to his internment but he dismissed that notion; he felt as though he was a man who lived comfortably within his means. Was his internment a product of someone’s ruthless scheming? Ivan did not think so, for he couldn’t imagine having been a target of another’s particular resentment. In fact, he couldn’t imagine that he had been someone who would have been noticed at all. His eyes had long adapted to the darkness that enveloped his surroundings, but there was nothing to see. The only other object in sight was the large metal gate that held him prisoner. Despite his best prior efforts, the gate would not budge; it did not take long for his efforts to feel futile in face of its steadfastness. He knew that he had tried to hang himself, during what seemed like a lifetime past. When? Why? Did he succeed? He could not recall. He looked down at his pale, shriveled form; the only notable trait of his body were his gnarled, twisted veins. He felt old. As a child, he never wanted to grow old. Growing old seemed a terrible, nasty thing. Despite the lack of sustenance, he did not feel any hunger or thirst. It was a strange comfort; he had never been particularly good at taking care of himself. Often, he neglected himself for long periods of time, preferring instead to languish in the comforting familiarity of ennui. Of all the uncomfortable changes that life wrought, he found a home in the static nature of his own ever-present weakness. He lied down on the cold concrete, staring up at the dark, barren ceiling. He found it easy to let his imagination run wild in this sort of empty theatre; the ceiling, a canvas for his fleeting mind, provided a glimpse into the endless expanse that was the universe. Yes, he thought, this didn’t seem so bad. He could stay here for an eternity. Perhaps he would.