For years the people had lived under a tyrannical regime, afraid to speak out. In order to survive, they had silenced themselves. They were not afraid of the men in the Presidential Guard. The uniformed men were an obvious symbol of power, and hence easy to deal with. They could not be everywhere at once, could not hear every word said. But, still, when people spoke amongst those they thought of as friends, when they spoke out against the regime, they were punished for their disloyalty. They learnt not to trust each other. They learnt not to trust themselves. They learnt to be silent.
And then the whispers began - forbidden rumours and treasonous ideas. They spread amongst the people, a virus of words and thoughts, impossible to ignore. The regime acted. People were taken and tortured, forced to reveal what they knew. But there was nothing to tell. The whispers continued to spread, growing louder and more widespread, seemingly driven by the cruelty of the regime.
And then, one day, the rumours stopped. Everyone waited, wondering if - when - the rumours would start again. For a month there was silence. The regime celebrated. The people said nothing.
Then there came one more message: the square in front of the palace; Sunday; noon. On the appointed day the people gathered, curious as to what would happen; but the regime had been busy. Barricades had been placed across the square in front of the presidential palace: barbed wire strung between metal poles; walls of sandbags held in place by wooden boards. Soldiers stared across the makeshift walls, their eyes roving warily across the people who had gathered in the square. In return, the people stared back - countless pairs of eyes for each one watching them.
The clock in the presidential palace began to strike the hour. The crowd fell silent, listening to the booming of the bells, counting the chimes as they echoed across the square. The soldiers held their weapons ready, counting the chimes as well. As the last stroke of noon faded away, the people turned away, disappointed. The soldiers relaxed. Then, as if from nowhere, came a single word: "Freedom!"
As one, the people stopped and turned. With one voice, they surged across the barricades and towards the palace.
