She knew an utter state of helplessness.

There were chains binding her, pulling her behind.

They let her move only to the limits they decided.

Nameless chains, unvoiced chains, only if she tried to go farther than they approved would they clang and restrain her.

Making her ache and pain as she tried to strain against them and finally yield to their pressure.

The chains were each of a different hue but they all ended in a huge, gloomy, black mass that was like a hovering, menacing evil above her, and around her.

Then once a free soul came close to her and despite the chains at her ankles, her waist, her wrists and her heart, she could move.

The free soul took her distances she had not dreamt she could go.

She had learnt early not to tempt the chains and set herself safe limits within their limits.

But all at once she realized the limits had increased.

She could go a longer distance, she could move without fear.

The free soul beckoned and she followed.

As she moved she found strength in her she had never tapped.

Some chains, inflexible as they were just broke off.

While others just grew a few more links and stayed with her.

They kept increasing in length as she went farther and farther away.

Once, when the free soul disappeared, these chains grew elastic and brought her back to square one.

But again she found her way, losing more chains till in the end only one remained.

One, which grew each time she stepped farther away and one whose flexibility she was glad of.

One last, welcome, restriction.