Escape

There’s a scene in The Killer Trail where Chris Ryder contemplates escaping from his harsh reality. He had visited his patient, Paul Butler who lay unconscious in a hospital bed after a brutal attack in which Ray Owens was the prime suspect. Chris’ own deadly encounter with Ray had left him struggling with symptoms of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Making matters worse, his marriage was crumbling and his work was burning him out.

After  leaving the hospital he drove aimlessly, until he found himself drawn to the Pacific Ocean. He watched moored sailboats swaying in the water and seagulls squabbling with each other in a clear blue sky. In that moment, Chris let his mind wander. He fantasized about what his life would be like if he boarded one of the boats and sailed away, leaving everything and everyone behind. In essence, escape. Eventually, he returned to his reality and opted to soldier on.

The word escape is intriguing to me as it can mean different things to different people. It can refer to a mental diversion from the rigours of daily life, such as taking comfort in a book or movie. Escape can also refer to our instinctive behavioural action when we’re faced with danger, also known as the Fight or Flight response. The word can also conjure graphic images such as an escape from prison.

In certain instances, escape can be a healthy, even necessary action. In others…not so much.

What does escape mean to you? When all is said and done, we may find that the ultimate goal with escape is happiness. Now, that’s a noble concept worthy of further discussion. {warning: blatant hint for future posting!}                     

Whatever escape means to you, and whatever form it takes, I wish you well.