The Peace of Coal

Jericho was travelling one day along a windy dirty road...

He had seen much of the earth as was customary of life in those days. It was a good life, lived amongst friends. He and his friends were able to make do, going from location to location, riding in a big fancy tank - protected from the rain and other elements of nature. He remembered those days clearly, and with a certain amount of sorrow - possibly even regret.

In those days all his boys were around, but the closest of them all was Jareb. Most often the two of them were found at the local hot spots. Jareb was real good with the women and would always help Jericho find a date so the two of them could go out together. life seemed like an incredible experience - almost nothing could stop them and perhaps nothing could. It wasn't something that stopped them... nor was it anyone, it was themselves, which could be someone, but for effect it was written in a much more suspenseful manner.

Jareb simply became annoyed almost to the point of hating Jericho. Jericho was never able to understand quite why it was, but he continued to live his life. It wasn't long before he found himself in a completely different crowd. The people didn't have the same moral standards and Jericho was joining them in many practices that he thought he would never do. In all of it, life seemed less than awesome - enjoyment slowly faded into apathy. Would it ever change?

Well thoughts of change came one night when rumors of escaping came in... Escape? From what Jericho remembered thinking... Now after being through so much: he wondered how he could be so blind? and yet... the question still lingered had he made the right decision.

It all came by invitation, we started hearing about lumps that were missing and others that were harshly cautioning us not to even listen to "the strangers". Then Jericho found himself in awe of what he saw. The voice was soft and gentle - it told him of great promises of peace and joy, but also explained in sincere detail the difficulties that came with this bizarre opportunity. Jericho's intrigue was met with his lack of trust. How could I know that this stranger was telling the truth?

"Where was the proof," Jericho asked nobody. His answer was easy really... I mean he knew that there was nothing for him if he stayed. There was something about the stranger that compelled him... His words were contrary to almost everything Jericho knew and yet he spoke them with great confidence. Jericho's reactions and perceptions didn't matter to him, his only care was that the hearer understood and was able to make an informed decision.

The path truly was a hard one. Jericho had been faced with so much... Heat and pressure came from all sides, remembering the pain he still isn't sure how he withstood the pain. He felt his skin and insides changing, he was being shaped into something completely different. It must just be how he was made or what he was made of, truly his makeup was different than any common stone, for when the pressure came, he was not destroyed, rather he had been crushed into a diamond.

Yet, riding, staring out the window, he still wondered what would have been had he not taken the offer, had he stayed with the pile... His road now found him very lonely, of course he no longer worried about losing his footing or getting tossed to and fro, as his new dwelling found him securely stationed within a fine gold encasing.

Finally the journey was coming to an end. Jericho found himself in a large grass filled area. He had never been there before, but distinctly recognized an odor in the air. As he neared a smoking metal encasement, with meat atop it, he began to hear screaming. Looking closer with horror, he discovered the source, had it been that long, or were they so badly burnt that he didn't know them at first.

Jericho tried to look away, but could not - he had to search through the embers and hope that he didn't know any of them. Suddenly he could make out a familiar voice... His sorrow was complete as he heard Jareb screaming and wailing for help. Jericho tried all he could, but he couldn't save his friend of so many years, not now. Fire didn't affect him like it used to, but his Jareb was not equipped to face the flames...