Silent Words: King Alfred and the Gift of Writing

A story written by “Dinah”.

My name is Dinah, and I was born with a voice that could sing the sweetest melodies and speak the most articulate words. But one day, something happened to me that took away the one thing I valued most in this world. I lost my voice, and with it, I lost a part of myself.

Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and still, I couldn’t speak. It was as if the words were stuck in my throat, unable to find their way out. My family and friends tried everything to help me, but nothing seemed to work. I felt trapped inside my own body, unable to express myself to the world.

One day, a man arrived at our village. He was tall and lean, with a kind smile and gentle eyes. His name was King Alfred, and he had heard about my situation. He came to see me, and we sat together in silence for a while. Then he took out a piece of parchment and a quill and began to write.

At first, I didn’t understand what he was doing. But then I realized that he was communicating with me through writing. He asked me how I was feeling, and I wrote back that I was scared and frustrated. He told me that he understood, and that he wanted to help me find a way to express myself.

Over the next few weeks, King Alfred visited me every day. He brought me more parchment and quills, and he taught me how to write. At first, it was difficult, as I had never learned how to read or write before. But with his patient guidance, I slowly began to understand.

I started to write down everything that was in my heart, all the things that I had been unable to say. I wrote about my hopes and fears, my dreams and my struggles. And with each word, I felt a little bit more free.

King Alfred was more than just a teacher to me. He was a friend, a confidant, and a mentor. He helped me find my voice again, even if it wasn’t the same as before. Through his kindness and guidance, I learned that there are many ways to communicate, and that the written word can be just as powerful as the spoken one.

Now, I write every day, and my writing has become a way for me to connect with others, to share my experiences and my emotions. I may have lost my voice, but I have found a new way to speak, thanks to King Alfred.