But I Smile Anyway…

Sue’s prompt today for #WritePhoto

“Hello?… Hello!..”

Becca rubbed her eyes and allowed her sight to adjust to the pinpoint of light that was streaming down on her.
It wasn’t quite clear, but she thought she could see someone standing there, at the end of the tunnel.
Summoning up all her energy, she tried to shout out.

“Hello! Help me!”

It wasn’t more than a whisper leaving her mouth.
Four days, she had been stuck in this cave. Four nights of pure darkness and four days of muted light she had endured with no food or water, and an excruciating pain in her leg, hip and shoulder.
She had gone for a walk to clear her head.

The arguments were starting to really wear thin now. Jack was getting increasingly paranoid and it took something as simple as her working late for him to start questioning everything from where she was, to why she was wearing certain clothes… even though he knew exactly where she had been.
She knew she wasn’t in the wrong, but how long could she fend off accusations and snide remarks? If he loved her, he wouldn’t do this…
Caught up in her thoughts, she hadn’t noticed the mouth of the cave, and didn’t see the unearthed root sticking up at the entrance.
Before she knew it, she was tumbling down a shallow tunnel, before coming to a wall. She had landed awkwardly and hurt her leg.

After calling out until she felt hoarse,  and trying to gently ease her way back up before realising that her shoulder hurt too much and that her leg couldn’t hold her weight, she had all but given up…

The days and nights were starting to blend into one another.

Surely Jack would have alerted the authorities. Someone must be trying to find her…

Her eyes were starting to close again when she heard something again.

A rustle, and what sounded like movement close by.

She felt herself being moved gently and reassuring voices calmed her.

As long as Jack believed where she had been, she had no wish other than that…