The Cycle
She thrusts it against her chest. Tears sting her eyes and burn her cheeks. She cradles the book, and rocks to and fro. Her body quivers, but it is a warm summer morning."Let me go," she whispers, "please just leave me alone."
In a fit she shivers again, dropping the book to the floor.
"Do as I say, and I will leave you alone!" It roars.
She collapses to the floor, arms flaying and legs mangled in an awkward tangle. As she lets out a scream, a word flashes through her mind. One word. The only word sufficient for her.
"Allaah!" She screams, "O, Allaah!"
Convulsing with a groan, her head repeatedly crashes to the floor, beating an abnormal beat that no one could ever dance to.
"Allaah," she whispers between rapid breaths, "please get it out, Allaah."
The beat comes to a stop. Silence encompasses the room and she lies there, stilled by her own breathing. She reaches for the book, and clasps it against her chest. Tears sting her eyes and burn her cheeks.
When will this satanic cycle end, she thinks.
"When you do as I say," it tells her, "When you do as I say."
© Umm Junayd, September 2007.