Echoing Silence

By Jasmine, Stage 5

Art Write Light 2021 is a  creative writing project curated by Story Factory, in collaboration with visual artist Blak Douglas. During the program, students from Bonnyrigg High School and St Clair High School were introduced to the work of Blak Douglas, and created written and audio pieces responding to his artwork. The audio you’re about to listen to features a young writer from the program reading an extract from their work.

LISTEN TO THE AUDIO OF THE STORY

Echoing Silence

He discerned the empty shrieks as they echoed through his head. The bloodshot bullets tunnelled his judgement, twisting his mind. The harrowing memory obsessed him. 

Monologue

The empty shrieks echoed through a harrowing memory. Bloodshot bullets tunnelled through me, twisting and turning. What happened that day? Remember, try to remember.

I winced as I hesitantly raised my slender yet firm fist. I unfastened my calloused hands and glared at the deep crescent-shaped tears lined up on my palms. A muffled and dull voice peaked my attention. The ringing shriek in my head came to a silence and I discerned the voice of the tall and willowy man in front of me. He was slouched over in my once chocolate-coloured leather armchair that was so old, it had discoloured to ebony. The man questioned me, over and over again. I had already heard this millions of times and answered with the same reply; a silent and slight nod. These sessions had become tedious. I closed myself off, retracting back into my thoughts and shut out the mundane and dreary voice.

Eventually the session came to an end. As the man steadily unlocked and opened the door, the pale gleam of the dawning sun pierced my solemn eyes. I felt my body quiver as I dismissively glared at the still trees and bleak stone masoned roads outside. I swiftly slammed the door shut behind him, hastily turning the lock.  

Much is Rife, Blak Douglas, 2021

Art Write Light is generously supported by the Balnaves Foundation.