Cardamoms

 Cardamom

She was walking alongside a layer of smell, the jarring of cardamom mixed with peppercorn tried to invade her nose. The thick heat prevented it. The soft bark of a stray dog in the distance mingled with the loud conversations of the street. 

While walking around, the young girl turned to look at the dust clinging to the flimsy plastic of her shoes, as she was being dragged by the hands of her mother. Looking back at the fading soles of her shoes, dodging past the dust and clutter, the young girl turned to see the horizon. 

The wail of the car passing by them jolted the two. The wail turned into nothing more than a silhouette of hollow noise. 

Hands unclasp. The silhouette of vibrations forms into a figure, its eyes billowing with a dim candescence, looking right through the estranged girl.

Its cruel mouth formed to yell,

“Wake up.”

“Wake up.” it said.

The little girl awoke with a start, unsure of where to run.

 

                         By Vaishnavi Pernenkil