Meeting a Spirit

It was dawn, and the sky was brightening with soft shades of pink and orange as the first gentle rays of the sun touched the horizon. As David veered off the Great Ocean Road onto a less-traveled, rough, and gravelly road toward the visitors' parking lot for the famous Twelve Apostles viewing platform at a speed above the limit, the car skidded on the loose gravel. The vehicle fishtailed left and right several times before he regained control, but because his mind was filled with gloomy thoughts, he paid no attention to his reckless driving.

The early morning air was crisp and cool, and the landscape was peaceful during those quiet hours. The roads were empty, and a gentle silence enveloped the area. If David had been in a better emotional state, he might have appreciated the tranquility, but he wasn't in the mood to notice the surrounding beauty. Seeking solitude, David hoped no one would be around when he arrived. Luckily, apart from a few cars and a campervan parked in the distance, the parking lot was empty, which helped ease his nerves a little. He quickly parked his car, stepped out with unsteady legs, and walked toward the long, winding viewing platform that stretched ahead. His mind was busy, filled with unresolved thoughts, but he was firmly committed to following through with what he had decided the night before. As he walked along the platform, he faintly felt the cool morning breeze on his skin and heard the soothing sound of ocean waves gently lapping the rocky shoreline. But his bleak mood dulled his senses, rendering him unable to appreciate such natural sensory experiences. Soon, as he had planned, he reached the spot closest to the cliff's edge. David carefully examined his surroundings, and as he saw no one nearby, he took a deep breath. Feeling high with the surge of adrenaline in his blood, he quickly jumped over the safety rail, moving purposefully to the very edge of the cliff.

The Twelve Apostles is a stunning natural formation along the rugged coast of Victoria, Australia. These towering limestone stacks have been shaped over millions of years by the relentless waves of the Southern Ocean. As the waves continuously crash against the cliffs, they form a breathtaking variety of features, including caves, arches, and isolated stacks. This impressive site attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world each year, eager to see its stunning beauty, dramatic landscape, and the powerful forces that shaped it.

However, that day, David was not there to enjoy the views or take in the scenery. Until last year, he had been a successful businessman whose innovative ideas and strategic decisions made him wealthy. However, his relentless pursuit of wealth clouded his judgment, leading him down a darker path. Despite heartfelt warnings from friends about the risks, he took out a large loan to further expand his business. Things seemed hopeful at first, but then an unexpected global economic slowdown hit hard, shaking markets and drying up his income. The downturn caused his business to face financial difficulties, ultimately forcing it to go into administration and bankruptcy. With his assets gone and his income lost, David left broke and struggling to make ends meet, while his creditors relentlessly chased him, demanding repayment. When he thought things couldn't get worse, his wife of twenty years, who had enjoyed a comfortable life with him, couldn't accept his financial downfall. Their marriage, once full of stability and happiness, fell apart, and she filed for divorce. Feeling hopeless and broken, David now stood at the edge of the cliff, overwhelmed by despair, contemplating an end to his suffering.

David felt anxious; his body was feverish, and his skin was clammy. "This is all my fault. If I had listened to my friends, I wouldn't be here," he thought. As he stood on the edge of the cliff, gazing into the void below, he began reflecting on his life's journey, from those early days in elementary school through high school and college. Meeting Olivia for the first time, their growing love, and eventually their marriage. He thought of their two children, Michael and Charlotte. Michael had become an engineer and was now living in Sydney, while Charlotte pursued her passion for art, studying at a university in France. These cherished memories brought tears to his eyes, making him doubt whether his choice was truly correct. However, almost immediately, he remembered how Olivia, the love of his life, had discarded him like a dirty tissue. He thought about how his children had stopped calling, their love gone, mainly after he could no longer support them financially. The weight of loss, regret, and longing pressed heavily on him as he hesitated on the edge, torn between stepping into the unknown or choosing another path. As he reflected on his miserable life, David suddenly heard a voice say, "Good morning."

David snapped back to the present and turned toward the source of the voice. Standing there was a white-haired Aboriginal man, bare-chested and barefoot, wearing only boxer gym shorts, leaning on a tall, thick, notched wooden stick used as a walking aid. "Good morning," David responded.

"It's a beautiful day," the indigenous man said.

Just to be polite, David nodded. The day looked gloomy to him.

"Can I take a moment of your time for a quick chat?" the Aboriginal man asked.

Although his careful choice of words contrasted with his appearance, David thought he was about to ask for a donation, so he said, "If you are asking for money, I should let you know I am broke." But almost right away, he changed his mind, pulled out his wallet, and, since he no longer needed it, offered it to the native man. There's about fifty dollars in it.

He refused to fetch his wallet and replied calmly, "I live on this vast plain and get what I need from the land for free, don't need your money."

His surprising remark caught David's attention, showing his detachment from material possessions. In response, David asked, "Okay, tell me what you want to say?"

"As I was passing by, the morning breeze whispered your pains and suffering in my ears."

"Did the breeze share my pains with you?" David asked dismissively. If he had been in a better emotional state, he might have laughed at his comment. He was inherently skeptical of supernatural claims, usually dismissing them as mere myths or exaggerated tales. To him, the idea that a simple breeze could carry messages or intentions was absurd, an impossibility that defied all logic and reason.

"The breeze also gave me a message to deliver. In a year, you will repay your loan and return to your normal life. You need to be patient and trust yourself, David," the Aboriginal man added.

David asked, confused, "How do you know my name, about my loan, and my plan to end my life today?"

In a calm and soothing voice, he said, "I knew nothing about you and your intention to end your life until just moments ago, when the wind spirit connected your soul to mine. It entrusted me with the duty of preventing you from ending your life too soon."

David hesitated briefly, unsure if he understood him correctly. Despite his ragged appearance, the Aboriginal man was articulate and eloquent, as if he had received a good education. "How do you know all these details about me?" David asked again with a confused expression.

"As I said, the wind spirit whispered everything to me," the Aboriginal man replied calmly.

"How is it possible?"

"I cannot provide an answer to your question. It seems that your contemporary lifestyle and upbringing may have diminished many of your instinctive senses."

Although he didn't directly answer David's question, the way he said it heightened David's curiosity even more. The indigenous man's manner of speaking was more akin to that of a philosopher, pondering profound questions and sharing wise insights, than the speech one'd expect from a ragged man.

Let me walk you to your car. Trust yourself and give it a year. If you still haven't recovered by then, you can come back here again," he said in a fatherly tone while extending his hand.

Like an obedient child, David offered his hand, crossed the safety rails, and followed him back onto the visitor's platform. The Aboriginal man then silently guided him to his car in the visitor’s parking lot, a red Mazda 6, and assisted him in getting inside.

"How does he know about me and my problems, and how does he know which car belongs to me?" David wondered, feeling deeply puzzled.

"David, you are going to be alright," the white-haired Aboriginal man reassured him.

David nodded.

"Farewell, mate," said the Aboriginal man, then he turned and headed toward the bushes surrounding the parking lot.

It took David a moment to regain his senses after the startling encounter. The presence of the mystical Aboriginal man had a profound effect on him, sparking a flame of hope in him. He slowly lifted his head, trying to ask about the Aboriginal man's identity. However, he was already gone. David looked around in confusion, scanning the area. It was as if the man had vanished into thin air, leaving no trace behind. The surrounding environment was quiet, and the absence of the man only heightened David's sense of unease and curiosity about what had just happened.

As the Aboriginal man had predicted, within less than a year, David recovered financially and even launched a new business with great promise. Grateful for the positive change, he searched everywhere to find the Aboriginal man and thank him personally for saving him from despair and preventing him from taking his own life. Despite his efforts, he couldn't locate him, as if the man had never truly existed. When David asked the local Aboriginal people, everyone saw him as a spiritual figure, perhaps a guardian or custodian connected to the Twelve Apostles. This idea created an aura of mystery and profound respect for who he was.