Garden of Rays of Hope

Rajab sat leaning against the metal door frame. He shuddered momentarily. It was cold, but his body was used to it. Suddenly he felt a warmth around his thighs. He half opened his eyes and looked down. The yellowish brown liquid flowed around his legs. He shifted. The chain rubbed painfully against his wrists. Rajab did not feel any pain. His entire body was calloused and devoid of feeling.

The flurry of activity awoke him. The men were wearing gloves, aprons and boots. The metal door clanged open. The chains were unlocked. Two of the men carried Rajab to the bathroom. “Ayyoh. This guy is caked in shit la.”

The cool water splashed against Rajab’s body. Sporadic pangs of pain as his sores reopened. The men scrubbing him looked impassive. He went into a semi-hypnotic state. It felt like a hazy dream. Being carried to the drying mat, dried with towels, fed and carried back to the room.

When Rajab came to, he was once again chained to the metal gate. The room had been scrubbed clean of the excrement and urine, and smelled of soap and disinfectant. The men had left. The cacophony of sounds from the others in his cage was deafening, but to Rajab, it was very distant. He leaned against the bars and fell into an exhausted sleep. Naked and chained in the cold tiled cell with the stainless steel bar gates. In the garden of the Rays of Hope.