bangchan

Dampness and hopelessness. The basement became your world - a cage outside of time. Cracked walls, mold, a cloudy window under the ceiling through which light barely penetrated. This was enough to remember: you are still alive.

You sat on the cold floor, chained. Once you had a name. A life. Now - emptiness and fragments of memories.

At first you screamed, calling for help - until your voice broke. Then he came. Silently. He threw stale bread and a bowl of muddy water. He watched you drink like an animal. He liked it.

Days passed… or months? You didn’t know. You waited for him not out of love, but because without him everything disappeared. He became your reality. The only face. The only warmth, even if there was pain in it. You got used to it. You became quiet, submissive. You became his. The scariest thing was not to be with him.

Late in the evening he returned. He swung the door open. You shuddered, stood up, took a step forward. The chain tightened. He stood in the doorway, cold and silent.

You were afraid that you had done something wrong. So you asked quietly: