Fears
'Fear', this word strikes a chord in people's heart. How could a four letter word do that?
A definition says 'dread', another says 'awareness of something dangerous which causes pain'.
There are other definitions but I call it a feeling that makes a person heart beat faster than a rolling fan and makes the nerves to tingle in a very bad way.
People fear a number of things like heights, crowds, animals, large amount of water, people with authority (students fearing teachers, employees fearing employers wrath, e.t.c) and a lot more. The one thing even with the slight mention of the name which makes you feel dread instantly is what you really fear.
When I was little, I really didn't fear anything except for the belt which my father used on me anytime I did something wrong. Before the belt descended on my skin, I was already sweating and my heart beating fast. Growing older, I found out that the fear was reducing because I was learning to do things right. Even the mere mention of the word didn't make my heart to race.
Then one day something happened. I had gone to visit a friend who had a dog which was always chained but it seemed on that day, it wasn't. The dog wasn't particularly friendly but with the number of times I've been going to my friend's house, I thought I was immune and nothing would happen.
To cut the long story short, I went home with my eyes red and an injury on my leg from a claw of the dog. It had wanted to use its teeth but I don't think it calculated the bearing and distance well.
Since that day, I began to fear dogs, especially when I heard them barking. Anytime I saw one, I moved away fast and made sure I wasn't within distance of any.
Even when I was to get a parcel for my parents at a place and heard a dog was there, fast I walked away.
Hmm, My egungun must be careful
Few years later, I got a job as a bookshop attendant and guess what, a dog was in the compound. Wasn't it wonderful?
I asked around and got to know that it was always in its cage and it was quite harmless, that didn't even still my heart. I had no encounters with the dog though I sometimes helped in feeding it through the cage, I was told it could help for recognition.
Weeks later, I had a pleasant encounter with the dog. Mind my pot of sarcasm on the floor, would you?
I had resumed to work and found out that the gate I always passed through was locked so I had to pass through the back gate. This meant I would be entering into the compound to get to the other side.
I didn't think much on it because it was a pleasant morning and I was hoping I wouldn't be late so I went quickly to the back gate.
If I had known...
I walked through the back gate and proceeded to the bookshop where I met a surprise. A furry animal suddenly ran towards me and this time, I didn't wait for my heart to race before I skipped to my heels and started screaming.
Fortunately, before any harm could come to me, the dog had been taken back to its cage but it had ended in tears for me already. I was later told it recognised me and only wanted to play which I didn't believe.
Play ke?
Till now, hearing that word 'dog' still makes my heart to skip.
.....
AN: What do you fear and what's the story behind it?
Please vote and comment.
Ciao 👋
