Metamorphosis
By Cesirys Espaillat


The sun is finally up and I can detach myself from this wet ground. Last night was by far the worst night of my life. No sleep, no rest, and this ridiculous bite aching me that won’t let me forget the horror of last night. I still don’t understand what that thing was. A huge black animal, with bright yellow eyes that jumped into my tent and grabbed on my leg. It must have been starving, but out of all the things in these horrid woods, it picked my leg as dinner. If it wasn’t for dad, I would be dead.
“It’s just a bite, boy. Grow up! Hospitals are for the weak,” he said to me, mocking my tears.
Aside from the throbbing pain, it was the hunger that kept me up. I thought it was the adrenaline rush, but it seems like nothing will stop this hunger. “Can we go home now dad? I don’t want to spend another night in this place. What if that thing comes back?”
“Jackson, that thing is dead. I killed it while you cried like a little girl. We can’t leave just because you’re scared! Your brothers are having fun, and today we are going to catch ourselves a deer and bring it home. So stop whining!”
Great! Hunting, just what I want to do. Walk around all day on my throbbing leg. Words that will never escape my mouth, I won’t admit the pain to them. The deer might be the thing we’re hunting for, but today I will be the target to their stupid jokes.
After and entire day, what did we catch? Nothing! I’ve just been hungry and tired all day. The only fun thing to happen was, punching Robert after his third “keep up little girl.” He had it coming.
I just want to get in my tent and rest. They are all heading for the lake before it gets too dark. I don’t know if I can take another minute with them. Besides, I feel my blood still boiling and I don’t think I can take another joke.
The moment I take my pants off to change into something warmer for night’s chill is when I realize, my leg doesn’t ache anymore. The bite is barely visible. How is that even possible?
I just want to go home. The bite didn’t kill me last night, but I know I will die in this cold tonight. I heard the rip earlier. I raised a hand and felt shirt, my sweater, and even my jacket burst at my movement. I didn’t think it was this bad, but as the sun hides and wind beats at my back. I know why they laughed when I walked away from them.
This is the worst trip of my life and the hunger isn’t helping. I feel the punches to my stomach and I wish I were home in the warmth of my bed with belly full of mom’s cooking.
“If you’re staying behind, cook the rest of the meat. I already started the fire,” dad shouts from inside his tent.
The longer I spend in front of the fire the better. So I just have to take a deep breath, open the little fridge where the meat is, and begin cooking. For the first time ever, the sight of meat doesn’t curl my insides. I must truly be hungry because the sight of these burgers, raw and bloody makes my mouth water.
I wonder what they taste like? I never appreciated the sight of blood but I’m thirsty and hungry. It’s the perfect combination.
One lick. Not so bad. These woods are driving me crazy.
Every bug seems louder than ever. The smell of the blood from these burgers is making me hungrier than ever.
The throbbing is back. The wound that seemed healed is pulsating harder. I can feel the throbbing in my head now.
It hurts. Everything hurts.
My bones feel too fragile to hold my body in place.
My heart is racing so fast it might burst. Maybe I better rest my head against the cold ground a bit. The moon is shining brightly; maybe if I concentrate on its beauty the pain will stop.
The pain and hunger are unbearable.
Maybe this is what it feels like to die.


- - -