8/2/2019 Fear Had Been Struck

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Fear had been struck into the hearts of all Africans: Men, Women, and Children. It had

created an animalistic society; savage beasts simply looking out for themselves. It was

wrong, but what could I have done? I possessed no power of my own, and for that

reason, I was a savage beast myself, simply looking out for myself.

The wind lurked in darkness, creeping, hiding. The trees themselves rooted their

draining presence in the dry, chocking atmosphere. The grass clawed at your feet, a

burden on you which would not let you advance. The aggression and violence of the

people and armies had infected and anchored in sweet, innocent Mother Nature itself!

I was working in a factory, on assembly lines, fiddling with small toys. Then I heard

Them. They were banging on the door, deafening sounds attacked my ears. They came

to take one of us; a brief glimpse up towards the rest of room informed me there were

only 8 of us. My heart throbbed quicker and quicker, gaining momentum. Where they

coming after me? What will I tell my family, my wife my kids?

The door was down. I could see Them. They could see me. Screams orbited my ears,

startled souls, simply looking out for themselves. Bang!

A shot was fired. My heart trembled to the top of its natural ability, beating faster than

it ever had previously in my life. I felt like my heart was moving about my body to such

an extent it could somehow escape from the prison of my body and escape this

mayhem.

The screams dropped and ears temporarily disabled. All eyes were on Them. I could

hear nothing but my heart. Omar. Omar Kholo. Show yourself! He was nowhere to be

seen. Bang!

The next shot will kill somebody. Show yourself! A symphony of metal pans and

pots clashing together suddenly grasped everyones attention, 13 heads simultaneously

turning right, towards the noise. A worker, on the verge of crying, of losing his

manhood, his dignity, even his life, came out of the corner like a mouse coming out of

its hole. Towards the door, now. It was as if his soul and his future was being

harvested, being made to walk out the room, mirroring the fate of a cow entering a

slaughterhouse.

The room fell silent as all eyes were on Them. My instinct of righteousness, to defend a

fellow human being, was swarmed and conquered by my selfishness. With all my heart,

I wanted to emerge out of my restrictive shell, but I couldnt, for it was this shell that

kept my heart beating, my brain thinking, my lungs breathing.