If Only

If walls could talk.

He’d heard that phrase so many times, yet no one listened to what he had to say.

He creaked and crackled, showing his age. For years, he stood tall, listening while they talked. He’d answered many times, yet they never acknowledged him. They wanted answers, answers he provided, but they ignored.

They droned on begging for advice, yet when he finally answered, it went unheeded, until something happened. At that point, it was too late. Perhaps if they weren’t so self-absorbed, then again, would it have mattered?

How could mere humans begin to understand? They can’t see what is right before them. How could they possibly hear what he had to say when they don’t listen?

He stood proudly reaching toward the sun. Listening to those within, their begging, pleading, their inner thoughts, their secrets. He heard plenty. He listened and offered advice. They didn’t respond. They never responded. Yet he continued to try, hoping they would hear him. They didn’t, they just got up and left.

Yet they came back. Whispering their thoughts, their secrets. They wanted, no, they needed help. But they never acknowledged him. They refused to listen, to hear the answers he provided. How could they be so unaware of what surrounded them?

Weeks, months, years, went by. Still, they came, used him for shelter, told him their secrets, but they never heard his answer. Even when his echo penetrated their ears, they ignored the truth.

The sins of the few would be the destruction of many. No more would they come and ask for forgiveness. They couldn’t be helped. No more would they come inside and look for help. Help they didn’t deserve. Help they didn’t heed. He was but the vessel. The one who had been chosen to mete out their punishment.

Sadly, there were those who would suffer because of the unjust. He had no way to keep them safe. If only they would have listened to him. He spoke often, but it fell on deaf ears. They hid, or so they thought. Not one of them were safe. But they thought they were. Foolish humans.

Today would be the day. It had been predetermined by one greater than he. He had no control on what would happen, but he knew it wouldn’t be good. The one greater than he permitted him to give them a final warning, but no one, not even those who begged for help heeded it.

Please, don’t think that I am callous. This has been happening for the longest time, and I have tried. They simply do not hear what I have to say or listen when I give them advice. They ignore what is right in front of them, until it was beyond fixing.

The time had come. The water poured from the sky, flooding his doorways. The wind so mighty it shook him to his core. He shuddered uncontrollably. Cracks formed and spread. Holes opened up letting the water and wind wreak havoc. Still, he stood, trying to protect.

So many ran inside. Looking to him to provide protection. And he did, if just for a short while. But the water and the wind proved to be too much for him to handle. Not even one as strong as he could save them. The one greater than he had decided. Their inability to listen had been their demise.

He came tumbling down. It was then they heard him clearly. They begged for help. They pushed against him, but to no avail. He engulfed them.

When the rains and the winds calmed down, the search began. So many digging through him. Hoping to find—to find what exactly?

To this day he heard them crying. Pleading. Begging for anyone to help them. To find them. Their words fell on deaf ears.

Years passed and he had been rebuilt. Stronger than before. Taller. Fortified.