A smile stretches at my lips as Aladdin walks over to me. "Are you alright?" He asks, helping me sit up.
"Does it matter? You were awesome!" He smiles humbly at me. Draping my arm over his shoulder, he helps me walk. It isn't over yet. Here I was, with a friend, as we walk towards our victory.
I turn my head towards Jamil who's curled up on the floor sobbing. He should have just stayed home, yet here he was throwing a tantrum. I grimace at the sight. His sweaty, shaking form. He clings onto that girl. She runs a hand through his hair, holding him like he's something fragile. Her beautiful (h/c) hair hides her expression, but something tells me she's expressionless. Maybe experience. After all, I hadn't seen her face muscles move once since I'd met her. I thought of when she tried to kill me, a look of fear and hesitance evident in her eyes, followed soon by hate. It was unusual. But I had never been a slave, so who knew what was going on in her mind. She was quite beautiful and seemingly sensitive, but she seemed to care for her master. Was that normal? Was it normal to empathize with someone who treated you like you were less than dirt? I just didn't understand her. I didn't understand any of them. If only they would listen to sense and leave with us. They could be free; they could start over.
Aladdin encourages me to keep moving. I take a few steps, but I wasn't watching where I was going. Instead, I glance up to where the red haired boy is stuck to the pillar. He struggles despite now knowing that there's no use. Morgin, was it? He sure had so much determination for freedom despite still siding with this man. Aladdin soon let him down, but he didn't chase after us. He went to his master. The Goltas fellow was still out on the floor. 'Jamil must've had other slaves when he got here. Did they all.. die?' I shudder at the thought. I couldn't imagine the nightmare these select few were forced to live. Maybe even guilt for being those to survive, but I wonder if they felt relieved for other slaves. That their friends were free? Or did they feel bitter towards them, for being the only ones not released from their chains? To have to wait longer for a new shot at life? My victory was accompanied by a bittersweet sorrow.