“Searching Skeleton” by Spiro Mihalatos ’26
“Trapped Inside” by Caroline Filocamo ’27
I sit in a chair, surrounded by darkness. I stand, after minutes— no, hours. Days, years maybe. I stand and see something; there’s a light in the distance. I start walking towards it, wanting to leave this ever lonely palace of darkness, but as I near freedom, the light drifts farther and farther away. I spend who knows how long, running to this light as I hope this is the end. But it’s not. It never is. I turn around and startle. The chair. It’s right behind me. I ended up right back where I started. I open my mouth to yell “who left me here,” but I cannot speak. I scream, and there’s nothing. I fall to my knees, praying to be let out of this prison, crying as I put my head in my hands and shake, realizing this is no nightmare, rather a prison of my own mind. I have created this; my own mind is the only thing trapping me here. I try to think my way out of here, but it doesn’t work. I slowly realize fear is the only thing keeping me here. And it’s terrifying.