Frankly Told: Your Pledge Here
The room lay littered with scraps of balled-up sheets of paper, stationery and empty cans of different flavours and types of energy drinks. He looked like a mess. His hair was unkempt, his beard scruffy and his eyes bloodshot.
He scribbled something on a piece of paper loosely attached to his notebook. His eyes widened as if an epiphany hit him and a smile almost slipped through before his lips again fell into a straight line with distaste. Ripping off the page from the book, he crumpled it up and threw it against the wall.
Frustration built up in him, enough to slam the book shut and throw it across the room. Using both his arms, he dragged everything off his desk and everything scattered on the floor with a loud array of fragile noises. His reflex to stand rolled his chair back a little and it was stopped by the mat behind him. In a huff, he sat back down on his seat and his head fell into his hands in his surrender. A lump began to form in his throat.
The door into the room slowly swung open, letting in light from the hallway.
“What the hell is going on in here?” a voice asked.
He bit his tongue and let silence be the only answer to the question, knowing any words that he’d let out would only claw onto the tears he held back and drag them out.
“Woah,” the voice said again. “This place is… Are you doing alright?”
“Mh,” was the only sound he could let out.
“Mh?” the voice asked, and the sound of steps and the door shutting followed.
Using just his ears he traced the movement until it was right on top of him. He felt two soft hands wrap around his wrists and pull his hands from his face. There she was. Sitting cross-legged on the ground between him and his desk. Her eyes held this compassion that emitted a warmth that gently wrapped around him.
“What’s making you do this to yourself?” she asked. Her voice was like a comforting embrace. “Talk to me.”
“I don’t know,” he said.
“No no,” she said. “Walk me through it.”
“I think I’m just getting frustrated. I thought I had it figured out but no, everything I’m trying to put down is just coming out crap and I said I wasn’t leaving until one idea sticks. Just one. That’s all I need just one,” he poured out to her.
“Maybe you just need a breather for a few then you come back,” she offered. “You haven’t eaten. Maybe take a shower and freshen up then come back and you will crack it.”
“No, I must finish this,” he insisted.
“Okay,” she agreed. “I am not saying you won’t I am just saying take a break and come back. It might do you good and give you the push for your breakthrough.”
“If I take a breather every time I hit a wall, I won’t get anywhere and this is needed Monday… tomorrow morning or I lose this opportunity,” his desperation hung heavy on his breath.
She silently watched his show through small cracks in his walls, the little fears he tried so hard to hide. After a beat of silence, she nodded but kept her eyes trained on him.
“I have to do this,” he pushed. “I have to. If I don’t…”
His voice trailed off and she could see his face contort trying to hold back tears.
“You will,” she said. “I believe in you. It’s just, you can’t cut down a tree easily with a blunt blade. Take a second just to sharpen it. Freshen up your body and face this afresh and I am sure you will crack it. I’m yet to see you fail to do something you said you would, within reason.”
“I don’t have time…” he whispered. “I’ve been in here for what…?”
“Close to sixteen hours,” she completed his sentiment.
“Crap. That means it’s like midnight now?” he confirmed with his fingers. “That means I have less than 6 hours to put something together.”
“And you will,” she assured. “I just need you to come, eat something, take a shower and then come back. That’s an order.”
She smiled softly. His face softened at the look she gave him and he conceded.
“What if I don’t get it after all that?” he asked timidly.
“I bet you, you will,” she affirmed. “I’ve seen your brain work around things I couldn’t even imagine trying to think out. I would have probably given up but somehow you pull through when you make a commitment.”
“It’s almost like you see a gap in the wall and you keep pushing against it until you get through,” she continued. “It’s almost… exciting to watch.”
“Maybe you’re right,” he agreed.
“If what you give isn’t what they want,” she got her knees. “Which I doubt will be the case, it doesn’t take away from your awesomeness and your ability to keep your word.”
“But…” he started.
“But nothing,” she stopped him. “You’ve worked to get this chance for long enough. I think God can spare you your success now. Your pledge here is to give everything you have.”
She pulled him into a hug and kissed his cheek.
“Now, let’s get ready to chop down this tree.”
