IN THE MIDST OF the COLORS - Episode 1

by Mansi Kabre

Beyond the darkness was a faint glow. The only source of light around; I could leave through that opening. But simultaneously, I couldn’t.

 When waking up to the sound of a blood-curdling scream, usually all the worst case scenarios run through your mind, right? Well, I might be an exception. In my neighborhood, however, ear-piercing screams were somewhat of a usual happening. The first few times I heard it, after moving in third grade, was because of a spider, bird droppings, and of course because someone dropped their chocolate bar.
     But why? I find myself wondering why people were so afraid of everything. Why were things like this always happening in my neighborhood? Also, whenever they happened, I was always alone. I could never ask anyone in my house if they had heard it or not. I can’t tell whether it’s all in my head or if it’s really happening.
The thought never really bothered me too much though. It was simply something to wonder about. That’s all.
That day, during my last period class, I found myself looking out the window at the graffiti on the old abandoned factory across from my school.
     For many, their minds process graffiti as vandalism that must be gotten rid of. But through my eyes, I’ve always seen art. Art that can have some pretty weird, or inspiring messages, or no message at all. But art nonetheless. If you stare at it for long, the complex array of colors will take you to a deep state of mind, in which you will notice things in a way you never have before. You can never truly understand one piece of graffiti because even if the illustrator doesn’t mean to.  You are able to interpret something new and amazing every time. That is why I always happen to be looking at it. To find something I missed the time before.
This time, I saw an outline. But I didn’t. The outline resembled that of a person. I couldn’t focus on him. Through the blinding colors, I kept on losing him. He was right in the center and I knew he was there, but when I saw him he was gone in a split second.