DAVE AND THE LANTERN OF HOPE (FICTION)

Dave and the Lantern of Hope

Dave’s vision blended with the thick of darkness that overwhelmed the room. A cold shiver trailed down his spine as the doleful cry of wolves seemed to come closer. He may have wronged some people intentionally or unintentionally but this was a step gone too far for his captors to have dumped him in this pitch black cell.

Dave’s Job description as the Human Resource manager seemed to have boosted his ego and raised his arrogance towards other staff of his organization. As much as he had put in his best to discharge his duties, a few colleagues close and bold enough had told him in confidence about the displeasure other staff had towards his discharge of duties as being a little extreme with little room for flexibility. He had had course to take decisions that cost some staff reduction in their take home pays while a few unfortunate ones lost their jobs. What he could not disclose to the staff was the directive and pressure he received directly from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) who complained staff showed negligence to their duties.

Dave wished he had other roles other than being the Human Resource Manager but, he was faced between the devil and the deep blue sea. At some time, he had had some confrontations both for junior and senior colleagues which further buttressed the only explanation for his being kidnapped and dumped in this solitude cell. He had begun to lose count of days as he barely differentiated the day from the night. His meals were brought in twice a day and initially, he declined to eat as the food tasted almost rotten and carelessly cooked. At some points, he was denied his meals for reasons not given and none asked by him. And for the unnumbered days he spent in his cell, he has not had anyone speak to him the reason for his abduction despite his constant wails and plead for freedom.

His body was fast becoming weak and depression dined with him as his unwanted companion. Grief was written all over his face although invisible due to the constant darkness surrounding him. His sleeps were haunted by nightmares and his out-of-sleep moments were full of torments and fear. Having nobody to commune with, he had begun to converse with self with occasional drop of tears. His remorse had eaten deep into his marrows and, he knew his mental state was getting compromised as he began to throw occasional bouts of laughter for no reason and only to caution himself afterwards. He could not see his skin but from the frequent bites of insects, he knew his bare skin was disfigured by rashes he had had to scratch countless times.

His thoughts went to his family and pitied their helplessness and misery from not knowing his whereabouts. ‘Would he ever set his eyes on his family or would this pitch darkness bring hades to his doorstep’ he pondered.

Dave heard some footsteps approach his cell and saw a beam of light illuminating the darkness around becoming more accentuated. He managed to hold on to the iron bars of his cell as he heard some audible whispers between two male voices.

“Leave the Lantern in his cell tonight; he has surely learnt his lesson. Let us release him tomorrow morning, we have surely broken his wits and arrogance!” one of the male figures said.

His cell was unlocked and the lantern was dropped in his cell for illumination as the unknown man walked out, locking the cell back.

Dave’s mood lightened immediately after the lantern was left in his cell. The cell seemed to come alive and the room began to feel warm. His confinement now seemed to have an unseen companionship. Though his body was frail and his strength weak, tonight’s gift of the lantern and barely audible conversation signaled hope for his freedom perhaps in some hours to come.

Thank you for reading through. In the course of discharge of our duties, we could actually offend colleagues knowingly and unknowingly. There are administrative responsibilities that should be discharged with wisdom and some flexibility be exercised. It is also important to listen to employee’s plight especially when there are grievances.

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