Page 96 - KCN 2020

Sylvester’s journey as an aspiring author led him to and gave suggestions of what he could do to expel those
the doors of tall, gloomy building. As depressing as it was thoughts. After some thought, the man calmed down and
from its exterior, the headquarters of the National Suicide thanked Sylvester profusely for helping him get through this
Prevention Hotline was teeming with life; crisis workers were tough time.
bustling about the office answering calls, jotting down infor-
mation and preventing suicides all over the country. Sylvester Sylvester was relieved about his accomplishment, but
observed them with a mixture of awe and envy. He knew that personal matters came to mind. His wife was seeking a divorce
this was the best place to get first hand experience for his new and full custody of their only child with no visitation rights,
book. As he walked into the conference room, he felt a surge and he had been defaulting on the rent of his apartment for
of determination to do well for his interview. two months. On returning home, he found a lawyer’s notice
slipped under the door. The fact that that he was an author
An hour later, he walked out of the building with a trying to find inspiration in suicide hotliners was all a front,
smile on his face, glad to have secured a job as a crisis worker to hide himself from the embarrassment of what was really de.press
and eager to start work the next day. happening. Keeping the lights off, he lay in bed, thinking about
these things.
Sylvester’s first day on the job was uneventful, save
for one call. It was from a pregnant teenage girl whose boy- The next morning, Sylvester’s desk was empty. No
friend had just broken up with her. In her manic state, she was one noticed the fact that he didn’t punch in. This went on
contemplating an abortion, if not suicide. “Everything will be for a few days. His colleagues were completely oblivious to
alright, things will brighten up sooner or later,” he said. “It sure Sylvester’s disappearance. Only his interviewer noticed that Abner Philip Then
doesn’t feel like it.” Waves of sympathy overcame Sylvester. he called in sick only two days into the job. After one week,
If only she had met a better man! “Unplanned pregnancies the interviewer started to wonder about Sylvester’s mysterious
are tough,” he admitted. “You may feel that you are unlucky, disappearance. He lodged a missing persons report with the
but everything will get better someday.” The girl muttered her police after work. After a day, the police called back. They had
thanks and hung up. He felt a sense of accomplishment. Who found Sylvester, lying in his bathtub, with water in his lungs,
wouldn’t after saving someone from the jaws of suicide? and a few pills lying by the side of the sink. Sylvester’s world
fell apart once his wife filed the divorce proceedings. He had
However, his joy was short-lived. The next day, no one to turn to, not even his colleagues. He didn’t think that
news came out that a teenage girl had jumped off a building. they could relate to his story, especially as colleagues.
Sylvester hoped that was not the girl from the day before.
Since the girl didn’t give her name, he couldn’t have known That was the mistake Sylvester made. Sylvester choked
who had called. Therefore, he couldn’t be certain that the girls on the words he did not say; he drowned in the overflowing
were the same. However tragic it was, Sylvester was deter- misery he strived to contain. Do not be like Sylvester. Your
mined to have a great day. friends, family and teachers are all willing to lend you an ear
when it comes to things of the mind; the trees, the leaves and
The next call he received was from a middle-aged the endless wind will listen to what you have to say. Bottling up
man, who was the director of a company which was in the red. your feelings and containing your ever growing anger will do
He was worried that he would get retrenched, and had called you more harm than good. The world is riddled with misgiv-
the hotline so he could talk to someone. Sylvester tried calm- ings and misfortune, but the darkness is what makes the little 94
ing him down, things shine all the more brighter. The crisis workers at (063)
0 92850039 will be sure to help you during your time of need.