Just a fresh start

He awoke to find that nothing had changed. He was in the same well where he had spent enough time to forget how long it had been. In the same viscous liquid, engulfed in the slithery walls of the well. He failed to understand anything that was happening around him. Firstly, why was he here? Who were his captors and why did they need him? Clearly they wanted him alive. A slimy, fibrous, straw-like pipe hung from the endless heights of the well. Often his captors would send down food through the contraption. Enough nutrition to keep him healthy, keep him sane and keep him wondering - why?! He had tried countless times to break free. Fighting the walls, climbing up the pipe - everything that he could think of. But nothing came to his aid. In return, the well sometimes shook vigorously whenever he tried to escape, almost as if the walls were conscious of his attempt. Often he heard noises through the walls. Sometimes voices, sometimes light music. One voice was much more frequent. Someone clearly not in the pink of health. Maybe his captors have someone else as well. Maybe in a well, not too far away from his. The voice could be often heard retching or crying in pain. Oh, how the thought of someone sharing your suffering soothes the soul sometimes!

Time passed and the walls seemed to be closing in on him. He had once heard a conversation through the walls. A voice talking about something called the Stockholm syndrome. The voice had explained that prolonged imprisonment could result in the hostage empathizing with the captors and his cell. He looked around at the walls, at the liquid surrounding him, at the pipe and slowly a thought crept in. He seemed to be feeling at home. He thought to himself - "Well, this is disturbing! I had dreamed once of a new life, of starting it all with a clean slate. Is this how it is going to be? Is this really home?"
The thought scared him. He went back to sleep.

He awoke soon to a tremor at home. He could not understand what was happening but everything around him was shaking. Suddenly, the sticky liquid started receding towards the dark depths of the well. The walls started closing in faster. He was terrified. Was this it? Was this how it all ends? Was he going to sink to the bottom of the well and drown? He decided on a fight to the death. He tried holding the walls back but that did not help. He tried holding on to the pipe but that gave way and came down with him. Soon he accepted his fate. This was it. It appeared there would be no light at the end of the tunnel for him. He went down, quietly. Suddenly, there was light everywhere. So much that he could hardly open his eyes. For a moment, he was scared he would go blind. Something was now pulling him into the light. Something grabbed at his feet. And then, he felt it - a spanking. "A spanking? Really?" he thought. Life had just decided to rub salt over his wounds. A final joke! Just before the grand exit, a parting gift - a sore backside! He cried. Cried his heart out!

When the sound of his own cry subsided, he heard a voice from somewhere. He did not dare to open his eyes, but he listened. "It's a Boy! A boy! God Bless!"

Then, he saw her. Her eyes were filled with tears. It was a strange feeling, almost a sense of gratitude towards her. As if she had saved him from eternal damnation. She kept whispering something to him - "My baby...my darling.."
He did not know what to say. He felt like it was a new beginning. Of something. Not the end, just a fresh start. He was confused. All he did was utter the first words that came to him. "Ma..."
And he went back to sleep.