‘The Writing on the Wall’ by Ruth Rafeeq, year 11

The wall is blank again.

What happened to the words?

The wall is blank again.

Let me write some more.

 

I do not write with a pen. No, I do not.

I can hear them. Beyond the wall. They do not know that I am here.

I can see them. Happy. Sad. Angry. Hungry. Alive. Dead.

 

Let me write some more.

 

What are they saying, the people beyond the wall?

What are they doing, the people beyond the wall?

I am writing.

 

I can see them. But can they see me?

No. I thought not. They cannot see me, I am beyond the wall.

The words are disappearing. I watch them go.

Beyond the wall, something happens. To one person. Then another. Then another, another, another, another, another, another, another, another, another, another…

 

Nobody ever sees me. Nobody ever hears me.

I can see everyone. I can hear everyone. Every single one of them.

You. You would not be here without me.

Without my writing, without me.

Why can’t you see me? I am only beyond the wall. And I can see you.

I write and I write and I write.

All for you.

 

The words are disappearing.

So I write and I write and I write.

The words are disappearing.

 

What happens when I stop writing?

 

When the wall stays blank.

 

I can no longer see you. I can no longer hear you.

And that is why I am writing on the wall.

Beyond them, beyond you, beyond the wall.

I am writing on the wall.