Short Stories

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Freedom by Ray Shader
There was a man who lived in prison. He had been there all his life. He could not remember a day of his life not there. It was a dark place; the only light was through a barred opening way up high that he could not see through. The nourishment he received was through a small hole in the wall and was just enough to keep him from dying. When he received it, insults and epithets came with it. Every day though, he could hear what sounded like metal hitting against the wall with the window opening in it. He did not know what it was and was afraid to find out. He could hear a mumbled voice on the other side seeming to call out but fear kept him from answering. The years wore on in this manner and one day the metal against rock abruptly stopped and he saw the tiniest pinhole of light coming through the wall. As he leaned towards it he could hear a voice say, "Can I enter?" he was afraid but answered quietly, "Yes." Suddenly a large section of the wall crashed down and light like he never imagined there could be shone through the opening. He felt he should be afraid but for the first time in his life, he was not. He was lifted up, wrapped like a child in warm, soft blankets and carried out. As he was taken away a sense of peace came over him and he slept. When he awoke, he was lying in the shade of some trees on a beautiful beach. After years in the dark the colors and light were almost overwhelming. Each day a magnificent feast would be laid out and someone would come and eat with him. Of each person he would ask, "Were you the one that brought me out of that awful place?" Each one would tell him. "I only hammered on the wall as long as I could. It was our master that took you out of there." They would then proceed to teach him of things he somehow, somewhere had heard before but only now understood. When he was alone a voice spoke in his heart, showing and teaching him more. In addition, a book was set where he slept that had much wisdom. One day as he was exploring his new home he came to an area of thick jungle. It was dark and he was afraid to enter. He asked his dinner companion about it and was told, "You have to enter it to find out. You must go there for yourself." Over the next few months each day he gained more wisdom and courage and went farther into this area of jungle. One day he broke through and on the other side was a huge stone wall looming overhead. As he looked around, he noticed hammer marks on the wall and a hammer sitting on the ground near the marks. He picked up the hammer and started speaking.
This is my salvation.

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