The first was three days prior to William's death, but no one knew that it was a warning.
People always trusted William, he was always such a guy.
He wasn't loud. He was by no means a very charismatic man. He was just a man who was reliable. The type of person that knew his mother's birthday, paid his debts, and phoned her on Sunday, every Sunday.
When his behaviour became peculiar, no one noticed.
It started out as little things.
He ceased to speak back to messages.
He broke off conversations somewhere in the middle, spent long periods of time at work looking out the window as if hearing something that no one else could hear.
One afternoon, Amina teared up at the end of her joke as she said, "You need a vacation.
William smiled.
A weak smile.
The kind that came on his face, but didn't make it into his eyes.
That should have been a big hint!
But everyone laughed and all went well.
Three days later, another signal was received.
When everyone had left, Amina spotted William sitting alone in the company parking lot.
The buildings had cast a shadow on the sun; the city was now orange and grey.
Is it that you aren't dead yet, she asked?
William nodded.
Let's see, I was just thinking.
"About what?"
He appeared to be about to reply.
Next, he shook his head.
"Nothing important."
He got up and left.
Amina saw him go.
Something felt wrong.
Not so bad as to dissuade him.
There is no need to ask more questions because it is not all that bad.
Just off the mark to see.
William, on the following day, made a strange request.
He went to see his younger brother, Michael, and gave him a little wooden box.
In case anything happens to me, put this away.
Michael laughed.
What is this movie talk?
William laughed too.
His laughter however, was hollow.
"I'm serious."
The old photographs, letters and a silver wristwatch that had belonged to their father were inside the box.
Michael guaranteed that it would be kept safe.
After that he didn't remember.
Individuals always feel there will be a chance to ask questions later.
Most times they're right, Sometimes they're not.
And by the 4th day William didn't come to work, He couldn't even reach him on the phone.
As the day progressed, concern set in and by nightfall panic set in.
The police discovered his car next to an old bridge at the outskirts of the city.
There was only one envelope in the inside.
No explanation.
No accusations.
No dramatic farewell.
Only six words.
"I've been working longer than you will ever know".
Hundreds of people attended the funeral, Family, Friends, Co-workers, Church members, even Neighbours.
There was a story about William for everyone.
They all commented on how kind he was.
How they all missed what was going on inside him, everyone wondered.
Once the funeral was over Amina could not get those last few days out of her mind, his face had a smile on it but it did not reach his eyes.
The long silences.
The blank face turned to the window in the office.
The ordinary chats that took place at the time.
All of the memories came back to him in different ways.
Not as haphazard times.
As signals.
Signals that she had received but which she could not interpret.
Amina was driving home one day months later, and stopped at a traffic light.
Red.
Yellow.
Green.
All the colors remained as they were.
She recalled William for some strange reason.
One day she realized she knew something.
Signals are only of value when those who read them understand what they mean.
If someone looks at the dashboard and doesn't pay attention to a flashing warning light, then nothing has happened.
To call for aid is to call for aid, but if it is thought of as a joke, it doesn't help.
A solitude smile is not worth smiling at, if no one looks at it closely enough.
There are signals all around the world.
There are some who come in words.
Some come by accident.
It can be difficult to see the ones sent by those who we believe are our closest friends.
That night Amina checked her cell phone and started texting.
Not for lack of need,
Not, because she had news.
Just simple questions.
How do you feel?
Some replied immediately.
Some hours later.
One friend called, and they couldn't have been more helpful.
It took them almost an hour to talk.
Amina listened unsuspectingly for the first time in many years.
Not only to this word,
But between them to the spaces.
Sometimes a persons loudest signal is the one not said ou loud.
Image Generated with Chatgpt
