Captive

He awakens hot, hungry and drenched in perspiration and urine
Unable to get up he reaches out a timid hand only to be met by the cold, lifeless bars of his prison cell
Unsure of the reasons behind his imprisonment he calls into the night, begging for his release, looking for an explanation
He yearns for comfort and reassurance
His body, shaking with fear and adrenaline is aching to be held.
He doesn’t understand why nobody comes.
His cries turn to painful sobs as the acidic urine burns his tender skin,
He rolls over but this offers little relief.
At last a familiar face appears through the bars. His crying pauses for just a moment as their eyes meet.
Something is wrong; her usual warm, loving face is expressionless.
Her eyes are dull.
She stops for a second and then turns and leaves without uttering a single word.
His heart is shattered, he is lost and scared.
His throat, red and sore from grieving is unable to make another sound; salty tears sting his cracked lips.
His body gives in to exhaustion and he now lays completely motionless on his cell floor.
He only concentrates on his breath and still hot, hungry and wet baby Benjamin slowly falls back to sleep.