Thunder echoed through the air as the heavy iron door slammed shut. No lightning dared to follow. Anoosh fell to his knees, blinded by the darkness surrounding him as he succumbed to his awful fate. The soft patter of retreating footsteps could be heard over the fading echoes. He wondered what Marji's future would be.
The only sound in the damp, musty prison cell was Anoosh's rapid heartbeat as he frantically searched for a glimpse of light. He had felt this before – this sense of loss, utter darkness, and the complete lack of freedom. Anoosh felt like a mouse trapped in a cage after taking the bait. With a surge of bravery, he took a deep breath, and reminded himself that no matter how dark it was inside the cell, nothing could extinguish his light. His body finally settled when he came to realise the fact that he had made the right choice – he had spent his life fighting for the freedom and justice of his beloved country.
Pacing about in the cold and deathly quiet cell, Anoosh pondered who he could invite as his last visitor. Deep down, he knew he would regret not spending his last moments with someone he truly loved. When he thought about who he could see, a familiar face – innocent and endearing – flashed in his mind. He knew in that instant that Marji was the right choice. Stiffly rising from the ground, he hobbled over to tell the guard his decision. He could only pray that she would answer his call. Afterall, she was merely a child and could not possibly grasp the severity of his situation.
With hunched shoulders and stiff legs, he dragged his chains across the cell and picked up the bread with his trembling hands. In preparation of Marji's visit, he began to carefully mould the bread into the shape of a swan. Its elegance was heightened by his attempt at a slender neck. Anoosh pictured the swan facing the glorious morning sun, flapping its outstretched wings and bathing in its light. He closed his eyes as he imagined the sun filling his body with warmth. Even though he wouldn't be there to support Marji during her dark times, he hoped the swan would remind her to look for beauty in a seemingly corrupted world.
The familiar pattern of footsteps outside his door jolted him out of his reverie. Just as he tore the final bit of bread to form the tail of the swan, the clinking of metal unlocking the barrier filled his sensitive ears. The sudden flood of light caused him to slap his hands over his dilated pupils. As his eyes were adjusting, he heard the soft footsteps of Marji entering his cell.
"You have ten minutes.", the guard, who was standing at the door like a heartless statue, sternly stated.
Anoosh felt his heart brimming with joy as he appreciated Marji's presence in his devastating reality. Extending his arms, Anoosh welcomed Marji into his embrace and whispered, "You know, you have honoured me with your visit?"
Anoosh glanced from the guard back to Marji, his voice tense, as he said, "Marji, I need to speak to you quickly."
Anoosh smiled ruefully before he began speaking again. "Did you know that my father was the prince?"
With innocent eyes, Marji brightly answered, "Yes, mum and dad have told me that bit – I imagined him on an elephant."
Anoosh pulled Marji closer into his arms, and continued, "He became the prime minister of the first Shah. However, the Shah was a rather cruel/greedy/selfish [which one's the best?] man. He valued the economy of Iran over his people's freedom, so he sold out to the American and British oil companies. That's when he put my father in prison."
"Then I went to the province of Azerbaijan - Uncle Fereydoon had proclaimed a republic free from the Shah." Anoosh's eyes flickered with the tiniest spark of hope, before it was extinguished by his next sentence, "But alas, the Shah's secret police dismantled his short-lived victory."
Marji peered into his eyes and waited for him to elaborate.
"He was killed shortly after being captured." Anoosh gently pulled Marji closer into his arms, bringing the little sense of comfort available in the gloomy prison cell. "I fled, travelling through/across the snow-capped mountains to get to my parents' house, and by some ridiculous miracle, I survived the high altitude's breath-stealing curse." The last word came out as a mere whisper, before silence consumed the both of them again.
"But the chase didn't end there. I fled again, the very next morning, to the USSR, where I became a student. Later, I married and had two children. It was a terrible time. Russians aren't like us…", Anoosh sighed, tears emerging over his eyes. "It's hearts they don't have."
"You are the little girl I always wanted to have." Anoosh's heart brimmed with bittersweet love as he whispered it into Marji's ears.
"Persia is an ancient country, rich with culture and history. Persepolis was once its greatest city, the Capital, just like Tehran." There was a pause. "Our country might not be in its ideal condition at the moment, but you'll see. One day, the proletariats will win."
Guiding Marji to the back of the cell, he gently lifted the bread swan and offered it to Marji's tiny palm.
"One minute left."
Anoosh cradled Marji in his frail arms, whispering, "Star of my life…"