Friday Fictioneers
RELEASED
By Neel Anil Panicker
They say there is light at the end of the tunnel. But I say there is life at the end of these 100 steps. I tread in slowly. One, two, …thirteen.
A streak of faint sunlight sneaks past the thick edged glass enclosures above. Time is not on my side. It never was. How can it ever be, for one who has been rotting in a
an open prison for five years. What a joke! This place is more closed than any prison in the whole of America.
Ninety-seven…ninety-eight, ninety-nine…
“Halt, Mr Walter… you have been released.”
(c)neelanilpanicker2016
100 word stories#02
neelwritesblog 
[…] neelwritesblog/100wordstories#02/released/photoprompt-thewall […]
LikeLike
Dear Neel,
Welcome to Friday Fictioneers! There’s a lot of story here…a lot of emotion. Well done.
Shalom,
Rochelle
LikeLike
Thanks a zillion Rochelle for your kind words and appreciation. Have a nice day.
LikeLike
Thank you so Rochelle.
LikeLike
I wasn’t quite sure how to construe this. I thought at first he was on his way to freedom, but the last line persuaded me that he was on his way to the gallows before he was pardoned. I enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Am so glad you enjoyed it, Sandra. Thanks
LikeLike
Yes, that’s the idea_to keep the suspense until the end. Am glad you enjoyed it.
LikeLike
I thought he was trying to break out. In any case, what a relief at the end.
LikeLike
Yeah! A last step twist. Glad you liked it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It could also be that he was being ‘released’ from life itself. I deliberately kept the ending a bit open ended. To let the readers mull over his fate. Hope i have been successful.
LikeLike
I like the “counting” in this. It gives a feeling of either release or impending doom. Welcome to our merry band of writers. Alicia
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much Alicia. I look force to more such participations. Am so glad you liked my piece. Have a nice day.
LikeLike
I meant forth
LikeLike