FADE IN:

INT: OFFICE BUILDING, LEVEL 10 RECEPTION – MORNING

A large wooden desk occupies the middle of the room. Adorned with simple extras like a paperweight, a business card holder and a guest sign in register. One glowing computer monitor faces the man sitting behind the reception desk. To his left, a white wall with a 2m x 2m painting, tribal…ugly. To his right, glass shelves with intricate ornaments collected over the years or donated to the company. Two leather couches greet visitors once they pass through the double glass doors. The room is cold, sterile and unwelcoming. To the man behind the desk, this is his tomb. This is his prison, forty hours a week, this is his life. The man behind the desk reaches down and pulls out a laptop from his old satchel bag that he once shared with his ex-girlfriend. It was hers originally, but during the tenure of the relationship the man took ownership. He now carries it everywhere he goes, maybe as a reminder, or maybe because it simply serves a purpose. He is not an old man, nor is he a young one anymore. His face tells a story, one of heartache or maybe times of trouble. He is unshaven, but respectable looking.  He begins to type, slowly at first and then into a rapid pace.

THE MAN

(VOICE OVER)

I once heard a great man say, and I quote, ‘Sometimes life don’t leave you alone’. I never really gave it too much thought. I first heard it when I was in my early twenties and just figured it was some saying that sounded intellectual and prophetic. It took some years and a whole lot of life experience to understand just exactly what it means. Life doesn’t come with a road map. It doesn’t have a user guide and there are no instructions to tell you how to play. Every little choice you make and decision you decide comes from the knowledge you have gained along the way. We make calculated decisions based on prior knowledge. Sometimes we don’t need the prior knowledge to make a choice. Sometimes, it’s simply human nature. As human beings we are the only creatures on this planet that cognize our own death. Other creatures sense imminent danger and react accordingly, but they do not ponder about what happens after death. It is this natural instinct within all of us that helps us make the choices we make without prior knowledge. We call it intuition, gut feeling, perception, insight, a hunch or a sixth sense. Sometimes, not often, but sometimes, we don’t have that feeling inside of what to do or how to react. We don’t have the prior knowledge to help us make the right choice. We feel lost. We scrutinize and ponder until our heads feel heavy with questions with no answers. Life isn’t leaving you alone. They say during times like these that our true character comes out and we are being tested. Not me, I don’t think that at all. I believe we grow from these times of trouble, but I don’t believe it’s a test of our character or strengths. I honestly believe, during these times in our lives when we feel lost, hopeless and uncertain of that dark cloud hanging over our heads, I believe this is where we find who is really there for us, who won’t leave you alone when life is coming down on you. The people that hold your hand and guide you in the dark. The people that pick you up and carry you when you feel lost. The ones who listen and hear your words. It’s these times in our lives when we find who is really there to help us, to show us that we aren’t in this alone. They might not have the answers for you, but they might have shoulder you need to cry on or the time to listen to you. Maybe they just have that look in their eyes that say... ‘I care’.

The man closes his laptop and gently glides his hands over its metallic surface as if to show his appreciation towards his own words. Almost like pianist closing his piano for the last time. Except, this won’t be his last time, he will do it all again tomorrow. He doesn’t know who will read his words or if anyone will take notice of them. He will continue to write down his thoughts and continue to hope that maybe someday, someone will listen to them.

FADE OUT: