Bamboo Plant Monologue

AFTER. I have fallen into the hands of savages, who hate Freedom and everything America stands for. I don’t know how much longer will I be able to endure the pain. I’ve been beaten and laughed at for not carrying a gun, but as a Christian, I refuse to fire a gun or take someone’s life. This is beyond degrading, I can’t hold my breath much longer – my lungs are filling up with water. They are drowning me from the inside, I find myself desperately gasping for air – struggling to keep consciousness. Someone, please put me out of my misery! I would have preferred decapitation instead of this form of torture. Someone please chop my head off and get this over with. Everything is pitch black but yet I see my whole flash before my eyes. I see myself

End my life now, behead me with a sword and let this be my very last memory. Sever my head from my body, just like one cuts off a rose from a rosebush. I’m going to miss pruning those wild bamboo plants in my mother’s garden. Oh, how I wish I were strong and resilient as a bamboo plant, capable of growing new leaves from the cut area. I’m in great agony and on the verge of losing consciousness for good; at this point I’m too weak to carry on. Goodbye cruel world. Oh wait, what is this? One final image of my life? Dennysito, (“ito” is a diminutive in Spanish) don’t ever go to bed with wet hair because it’s bad for you. Sit on my lap sweetheart; I’m going to blow dry your hair. This is called a hair dryer, this is a powerful tool that will dry your hair quick and beautifully, and it will leave your hair looking very smooth. This is not a toy and whatever you do, don’t you ever hold the dryer too close to your skin because it can burn you. I love you son with all my heart. Thank you, abuelita (grandma), I love you too. I can barely feel anything; at last the moment has arrived. I can hear voices in the background desperately trying to revive me, hoping to obtain information. Sorry to disappoint you,