“That’s a bit dark, isn’t it?” Mona screwed her mouth into a pouty knot and grimaced. “Miss Liberty looks like she’s had a few.”
“A few what?” asked Lisa.
“You know, molto vino.”
“Don’t be ridiculous! It’s a statue!”
“Whatever … she’s seen better days.”
“No doubt.”
Mona and Lisa stood together and studied the desolate rendering.
“I wonder what it means,” Mona offered a half smile only half interested.
Lisa withdrew into herself for a moment, an emptiness filling her eyes that Mona found profoundly disturbing.
“What’s up with you?” Mona asked between smacks of gum.
Lisa didn’t answer right away, trying to grasp the image’s message. Sharing how she felt was going to be a challenge. Mona was easily distracted.
“I’m trying to imagine myself empty, broken and as betrayed as that poor Miss Liberty,” Lisa explained. “I’m trying to imagine everything I represent crumbling on uncertain ground and me landing in a heap with my head smashed in.”
Mona wasn’t buying it.
“But it’s just a broken statue. It doesn’t mean anything,” she whined.
“It’s not the statue, it’s what it represents ~ liberty and freedom for all. What if we forget that freedom demands responsibility; demands it be supported by deeds and not just paid lip service.” A tear sprung to Lisa’s eye. “Imagine how you might feel if the very people who claimed to love you undermined everything you represented by their actions or, for that matter, inaction. When we forget who we truly are, when we forget what it truly means to be free and are unwilling to defend that to our deaths we are as fallen as that statue. We need to wake up. We need to wake up soon.”
Mona thought for a moment. Took another look at the image and sighed. She couldn’t see any meaning.
“You’re weird. It’s just an ugly piece of art.”
Lisa turned to face the friend she realized she hardly knew.
“Perhaps, but we’re both free … for now.”
~*~
My response to Kellie Elmore’s Free Write Friday challenge this week. Follow this link to find the image prompt.
Thanks for visiting …
Dorothy
©Dorothy Chiotti, Aimwell CreativeWorks 2014
Shedding Light on the Family Tree 
This was a fun, yet a very touching piece that depicts how our youth is split and takes freedom for granted too easily.
Thanks … 🙂
Whoa. I like the allegorical nature of this story. I visualize a dystopian setting (of course the image helps!) but one that is full of hope through the strong message of Mona.Let’s hope Lisa (we) wakes up soon!
Thanks for the comment. I hope I didn’t confuse you as I wrote the story as Lisa being the enlightened one and Mona needing a wake up call. If that isn’t clear maybe I need to edit it? Let me know …
No No it was me…
Phew! 😉 … Thanks for letting me know. I was concerned there, for a minute.
This the first post I’ve read of yours, but I have to just say WOW! I find myself wanting more, more, more! Now I have to trot off to check out the rest of your site. You write beautifully.
Hey, Christin, thank you for visiting and for leaving such a lovely comment. I hope the rest of your visit brings you as much pleasure. Be well, Dorothy 🙂
Beautiful. It touched my soul and I totally agree with it. Your words are naked, just as the truth.
Thank you for your lovely comment. It means a lot to me. Be well, Dorothy 🙂
aloha Dorothy. my first thought to this prompt was in the direction of human beings as image makers. much in the way you have gone. you have taken that into a much better place and presentation than i was headed (i altered course and began again in another direction—slightly). i like what you’ve done with it a lot. and the presentation is superb (imo). an excellent response to the prompt. aloha.
Aloha, Rick. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I wanted to say something profound without being preachy. This seemed to fall into place and I’m happy that it spoke to you. Be well, Dorothy 🙂
I love your work, I love thought provoking pieces. Thank you for allowing me into your world. I’m following your blog now. It was very profound and touching. A beautiful, disturbing piece all wrapped together.
I’m happy to have you here, and thank you for your beautiful comment. So glad my words have touched you so. Be well … Dorothy 🙂