Run To Destiny

I work hard.
I am focused towards the path I have to follow in life.
My life shall be perfect, without the slightest hint of unpredictibility.
What awaits me at the end of this dreary road, is, I have been assured, the "best",
And I will strive for it till I acheive it.

It will give me money, recognition, fame... a "good life". What more can I desire? A good life... but I already feel... dead!
And yes, I am not alone. There are hundreds like me, voicelessly walking ahead in this straight file...

We know our destination, but we know not our dreams.
Voiceless, we tread along, the path rendered monotonous by generations of passers-by.
We dare not look beyond, we dare not look around,
as we continue into the ebony night.

I can see a far-off light.
I try to walk towards it, but
my feet are not my own anymore.
They are bound by the chains of unstated compulsion.
They drag me away, as I wistfully turn around,
give a wistful glance to that fading light...

Straight and steady, we walk ahead.
Our eyes unblinking,
rinsed off the remnants of that last light,
blinded by the nasty glare of the monster waiting ahead...

We walk without protest,
We walk without pain.
We do not question, we seek no reason.
Our wills and desires have been taught to follow the roles thrust upon us,
And, we shall conform.

We were once kids, whose eyes would widen with wonder,
whose dreams knew no bounds,
who had the courage to break the file,
And run towards that sliver of light.

But that wilful innocence is now lost. We have transformed into stone eyed mannequins.

We will follow the path,
we will not break the file,
even though we breathe,
we have lost our lives.

And faster we walk;
the gaping, grotesque mouth of the monster
waiting to swallow us  into an abyss of homogeneity.

There is a tingling sensation in my feet.
I rub my eyes,
I open them wide, taking in
the sight of my impending fate.
I scream in fear, in protest.
Those ahead of me have stopped in disbelief.
Those behind me look at me in wonder, in contempt, in disbelief.

The far off light can still be seen. I try to lift me legs. I fail... they are not mine, they are numb. Dead. I try again... the one last time... and... yes! I break into a run.

I run... for my life, my desires, my destiny.
I run faster... slowing down finally, to savour the warmth of my saviour light.