Monologue

By Fuamalia, 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

Monologue

I opened my eyes. I stared around the empty room. ‘Not much’ I thought to myself. Still, more than I expected though. ‘Why am I here?” I thought to myself. I quickly left the room to distract myself before my mind once again dove into the endless abyss of thoughts I held. I walked through the hall of the empty house and onto the street. I took in a deep breath of the fresh air and let the rays of sunlight pierce the cold that had been surrounding me. I walked through the lush, green front yard, looked above, watching birds and planes soaring above the clouds. I listened as the cars passed by and felt warmth and comfort from the familiarities of the surroundings. I listened as the crows flew low in the bright blue sky, contrasting against each other in the vast sky. I watched as my neighbour and his son walked by, waving at me. The comfort from how familiar it was helped bring my mind back to reality. I walked down the sandstone path towards my shining white fence, which seemed to be engulfed in sunlight. Casting a tall shadow behind it. I looked at the beautiful bushes in my yard, which I had cut to be shaped like animals.

We ran. We grew tired, but we did not stop. I was split from my family. The white people have been hunting us for days. Me and my brother. Marcus sped through the forests, trying his best not to trip. The sunlight barely shone through the thick canopy of the forest. We couldn’t hear them tailing us anyone, but regardless we ran. We reached a spot deep into the forest, a spot that we weren’t familiar with. I stopped for a second to catch my breath. “Come on, let’s keep going,” I said, as I turned to my brother, only to realise he was not there! I rushed back to the way I had come from, searching for him, calling his name.

Much is Rife, Blak Douglas, 2021

Art Write Light is generously supported by the Balnaves Foundation.