The Power of Fear

In the mayor’s hall, where the men of the village gathered every evening, conversations often revolved around their past glories. Strong men, brimming with pride, narrated their stories with confidence. Yet, David, a thin young man in his thirties, was always the target of ridicule and mockery.

One evening, the mayor sat proudly and declared in a booming voice, “I caught the one-eyed wolf with these two hands!” He ordered his servant to bring the wolf as proof.

One of the men chuckled quietly and said, “Indeed, Mayor, no one is as brave as you! But… there’s still one person who hasn’t proven his manhood yet.”

All eyes turned toward David, who felt the heat of their gazes piercing his skin. The mayor smirked and said mockingly, “David! What do you say? Do you have the courage to take on a challenge?”

Meanwhile, David was at home, exhausted from the day’s work. His wife roughly placed food in front of him and said, “Everyone’s talking about us, and your children came home from school crying because of the mockery they face. When will you do something to prove yourself?”

David grumbled, “And what do you expect me to do? Become a hero overnight?”

His wife, wiping her hands angrily, retorted, “At least face your fears. Don’t let us be a laughingstock for everyone.”

Angry, David stood up and left the house without a word, determined to face the challenge.

When he arrived at the mayor’s hall, he hesitated at the door before speaking in a trembling voice, “Mayor, give me a challenge.” Silence fell over the room. The mayor, with a sly smile, replied, “Go to the old cemetery and drive this stake into the ground next to one of the graves.”

David shuddered but nodded, even though every part of him screamed to refuse.

At midnight, David set off toward the cemetery. The air was cold, and darkness enveloped him. The sounds of insects filled the silence, amplifying his tension with each step. He muttered to himself, “This is madness… why did I agree? Do I really need to prove something?” Suddenly, something caught his foot. Looking down, he saw a gecko. He screamed, kicked it away, and cursed himself for the fear that gripped him.

Finally, he reached the cemetery. The tombstones stood like ghosts watching him. His heart pounded so loudly it echoed in his ears. He placed the stake on the ground and gripped the hammer with trembling hands. He began hammering the stake into the earth. “Bang… bang… bang.” Each sound pierced the stillness of the night. On one strike, the hammer slipped and hit his hand. He cried out in pain but mustered his strength and continued.

When he finished, he stood to catch his breath. He turned to leave but suddenly felt something tugging at his robe. He froze and swallowed hard. Slowly, he turned, his eyes wide with terror. The edge of his robe was caught on the stake. He sighed in relief, but before he could move, he thought he saw something gray shifting between the graves. His blood froze, and his legs refused to move.

“Who’s there?!” he shouted, but only silence answered.

He tried to free his robe, but something seemed to weigh him down. He heard the sound of invisible footsteps drawing closer. Fighting the urge to scream, he couldn’t hold it in any longer. A scream tore through the night, echoing through the cemetery.

The next morning, the villagers gathered at the cemetery after David failed to return. They spoke in hushed voices, wondering what had happened. His wife, trembling, said, “He left after midnight last night and hasn’t come back.”

Simon, the cemetery keeper, came running toward them, his face pale with fear. “I found David… He’s dead next to one of the graves.”

Everyone fell silent, shocked. Simon continued, “His robe was caught on the stake, his eyes wide open, and a strand of his hair had turned completely gray.”

The villagers exchanged frightened glances. One man muttered under his breath, “He died of fear… but what did he see?”

That evening, the conversation in the mayor’s hall was no longer about the men’s bravery but about the fragility of the human soul in the face of fears we create ourselves. Everyone realized that courage isn’t just about facing the unknown, but about conquering the inner fears that haunt us. David wasn’t defeated by the stake or the cemetery but by the fear he had never confronted with honesty.