FLY ON THE WALL: DAYS OF SOLITUDE 
This post is different than any I’ve written for quadrant of success.com. It is the result of a number of readers asking about the who’s and the what’s and the why’s of FLY ON THE WALL: DAYS OF SOLITUDE.
How it all started
Several years ago, I was flying from the Middle East to Bangkok and then to our home (in Northern Thailand) for summer break. I sat next to a passenger and naturally, we started talking. The small talk first and then the amazing next. I was shocked as he explained he was from Iraq and had been a political prisoner in the Saddam Hussein era.
His disapproval of the regime.
He mentioned about his dissent aimed at the administration and how he paid dearly for his vocal disagreement and disapproval of the harsh conditions that his countrymen and women were living under the regime.
What price did he pay?
He ended up as a political prisoner and was tortured over a period of time for his anti-government beliefs and practices. Considered a menace, he had to be dealt with accordingly. However, he was fortunate to live while many others died or killed while in custody.
Inspirational meeting
I found the man’s spirit and determination to live a ‘normal’ life after what he endured inspiring. He was beaten but not beat. He was optimistic and not pessimistic. He had every right to think ill of the world. While his soul, body, and mind had survived under such cruelty, he now looked forward to his future life.
Why write the book?
His tale of torture made me sad but also proud as his great strength in such terrible times mirrored Viktor Frankl’s message of hope and dignity (Man’s Search for Meaning). With this in mind, I knew deep within that I had to write about this experience.
What occurred next?
When I arrived at home, I explained to my wife about our chance encounter.
On my computer Desktop, I have a folder labeled Books to Write. This is where I open a Word Document and write a few lines or perhaps, a few pages about an idea/experience/reading that seems interesting or valuable and should be written about. In this case, a few paragraphs were hastily typed out and archived for the future.
On January 1st, 2018, with my last book completed, it was time for my next project. I scanned my folder and this title jumped out at me. It kept dancing around in my mind, hence, the story must be written.
The seed for this tale had germinated for a long time, and then it was time to bear fruit.
The story of “Dr. Abdulla”
I mentioned to my wife that I was extremely excited about the possibilities at hand, and explained the plot, format, and other details to her. She asked, “What can you possibly write about to help soothe this horrendous injustice?” I replied, “Honestly, I don’t know, but it’s the right time. I’m ready to honor this courageous soul and every other prisoner who has been tortured for their political beliefs aimed at a cruel regime.
Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DB7SC95/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i19
The details of the story
I wanted to write about this tale to show how a brilliant, articulate, American-educated, university professor’s mind deteriorated over a full five years in solitary confinement. There is a deeper message to the story; surely, we must consider how one person can destroy another Self with such vile acts of cruelty, pain, and suffering.
My journey began with research about Saddam’s deeds, Baghdad’s prisons, and the political atmosphere at the time. It was fascinating and depressing to discover unnumbered acts of cruelty and suppression. At some point, many were included in the story.
The PROLOGUE opens with Dr. Abdulla being pursued through Al Zawra Park, Baghdad (pictured on the left), by Saddam’s bloodthirsty henchmen . Although he’s out-numbered, he puts up a valiant effort to remain free; still, he’s cornered, captured, and beaten. In court, his sentence is handed down. He feared facing a firing squad, but instead, received something which could be worse…incarceration for five years in a cramped concrete cell rather than being executed.
Even though he faced a long term under arrest, the ‘kind’ judge offered him a pen and paper which manifested 1,825 journal entries while in solitary confinement (over 100 are included in the 202 page book).
It was a tough decision how to record the journal entries; two possibilities came to mind. First, include a date, for example, January 10, 1992 and then March, 8, 1992 and so forth, moving forward until his ‘tenure’ ended at the prison. This way didn’t capture the feeling of being confined for five years.
Second, was to label the hundred plus journal entries by the number of days incarcerated, from Day 1 until Day 1,825. In my mind, this was a more interesting way to go since it stressed the long duration of time that he was held in jail. Also, with this focus I could add numerology as another layer of complexity to Dr. Abdulla’s writings.
In order to paint a picture of Dr. Abdulla’s declining mental abilities, there were a wide array of grammatical, lexical, and orthographic devices used: these included, alliterations, malapropism, metaphors, narrative, pathetic fallacy, allegory, oxymoron, paradox, irony, satire, onomatopoeia, and metonymy.
The takeaway message?
In the end, I feel that I’ve accomplished my goal to demonstrate the inhumane treatment that Dr. Abdulla endured because of his political beliefs and its effects upon his mind. Still, the man I met on that plane survived the ordeal a stronger person who only wanted to resume a normal life.
Want to experience Dr. Abdulla’s plight first-hand?
You can download your own copy of FLY ON THE WALL: DAYS OF SOLITUDE. Reviews are greatly appreciated, and if you write a review, let me know at rogerckenworthy@gmail.com… I have something special for you. It’s my way of saying thank-you for supporting my writing.
Download your copy at:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07DB7SC95/ref=dbs_a_def_rwt_bibl_vppi_i19
Big, new, shiny things can’t fill the void