I've Got Out at Last — The Yellow Wallpaper

She has locked the door and thrown the key into the front path. She does not want to go out, and she does not want anyone in until John comes. She wants to astonish him. She has a rope Jennie never found. If the woman tries to get away, she can tie her. Then she remembers she cannot reach far. The bed will not move. She pushes until she is lame, bites a corner, and peels what she can reach from the floor. The pattern sticks and seems to enjoy it.

She is angry enough to do something desperate. The window would be exercise, but the bars are too strong, and a jump would be improper. Outside, creeping women move so fast she wonders if they all came out of the paper as she did. The rope holds her. She will not go into the green road. Here the floor is smooth, and her shoulder fits the long smooch, so she cannot lose her way. Night will force her back behind the pattern, and that is hard.

John pounds, then cries for an axe. In a gentle voice she tells him the key is under a plantain leaf by the front steps. She repeats it until he has to go and see. He comes in, stops short, and asks what she is doing. She keeps creeping and looks over her shoulder. She has got out at last, in spite of him and Jane. She has pulled off most of the paper, so he cannot put her back. He faints across her path by the wall. She has to creep over him every time.