"I Miss Your Hi and Goodbye"

"I Miss Your Hi and Goodbye"

In the heart of an industrial town lay a sprawling factory, its walls echoing with the symphony of machines and the diligent work of its employees.

Among them was Sarah, a dedicated worker known for her punctuality and a warm smile that she generously offered to everyone, especially Jack, the seasoned security guard.

One evening, as the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the factory floor, Sarah decided to perform a last-minute check in the cold room. This massive freezer, vital for storing temperature-sensitive products, operated between 5 and -15 degrees Celsius.

Engrossed in her task of stock verification, Sarah failed to notice the door swing shut, the click of the lock sealing her fate.While she was still engross with here work into the next 30 minutes, she suddenly felt the room seems too quiet ,she went to the door and became very frighten

Panic initially gripped her as she pounded on the door, her shouts muffled by the thick, insulated walls. But as the factory's lights dimmed and the corridors emptied, a chilling realization set in - she was alone, trapped in a freezing tomb.She started blaming herself got being so careless , she kept hammering on the door , she shouted but down inside her , she knew it is helpless .

Determined to survive, Sarah's mind raced for solutions. She rummaged through the shelves, looking for any food that might help her generate body heat. Finding a few energy bars and some fruit, she reminded herself that she must rationed them, knowing her ordeal might last longer than a few hours. Her survival may just be depending on these few bars , she started to motivate herself and tyr to recall what she last learnt from her survivalist course

As the cold began to seep into her bones, Sarah knew she had to keep her body moving to stay warm. She started doing stretches and jogging in place, her breath visible in the frigid air.

Remembering that survival tips she had once read, she piled up cardboard boxes and wrapped herself in plastic sheets from packaging materials, creating a makeshift insulation barrier.

Hour by hour, she fought the numbing cold, her thoughts drifting to her family, her dreams, and the simple things she had taken for granted. In her isolated struggle, she realized the value of each fleeting moment and the warmth of human connections that she now sorely missed.

She remembered what she learnet at the spirituality class , she focus to control and slowed down her breathing and chant the mantra she last learnt at her meditation class .

As the fifth hour approached, Sarah's strength waned. Her movements slowed, and her thoughts became sluggish. She curled up in her cardboard cocoon, consoling herself with memories of warmer times, her mother's embrace, laughter with friends, and all her loved ones

Just as hope seemed to fade, the door creaked open, casting a beam of light into the darkness. A man's silhouette appeared, his face a mix of worry and relief. He had come looking for her.

In the aftermath, as Sarah recovered, wrapped in a blanket and sipping hot tea, she shared her ordeal with Jack , he had come looking for her.

Once outside the freezer and wrapped in a warm blanket, Sarah, still shivering but safe, looked at Jack with gratitude. "How did you know?" she asked.

Jack, who had been a part of the factory for over 25 years, smiled gently. "I missed your 'Hi' and 'Goodbye' today," he said.

Sarah had always greeted him warmly in the mornings and bid him farewell in the evenings. It was a small gesture, but to Jack, it meant recognition and respect.

That evening, when Sarah hadn’t stopped by his desk to say goodbye as she usually did, Jack felt a twinge of concern. After the factory closed, his intuition urged him to check inside. He went through the factory, calling her name and checking every possible corner.

Sarah’s eyes welled up. It was her simple routine of acknowledging Jack that had saved her. A routine she never thought much of, but to Jack, it was a thread that connected them in the vastness of the factory.

She spoke of her desperate attempts to stay warm, her rationing of food, and her makeshift insulation. Jack listened, his eyes reflecting a deep respect for her resilience.

This incident forged an unbreakable bond between Sarah and Jack. For Sarah, it was a poignant reminder of the human spirit's strength and the unexpected impact of simple daily gestures. For Jack, it was a testament to his intuition and the importance of every individual in the vast machinery of life.

Sarah returned to work, her experience enriching her with a newfound appreciation for life's fragility and the warmth of human connection. And Jack, with his unwavering vigilance, continued to watch over the factory and its souls, forever mindful of the quiet heroism of ordinary people.