Look Before You Leap

Author: Sagesse Bezalel

No one knew why Room 405 was always left vacant. The five-star hotel right in the heart of Abuja boasted a record of flawless rooms, pristine service, and a five-star experience. Yet for decades, that one room remained untouched. It was avoided by the staff. Guests never spoke of it. Until one evening when an architect, Dara Okoye, checked in. Dara had been in the city to visit for the rehabilitation of a worn-out colonial-era structure. Fatigued from traveling, she only heard faint suspicion in the voice of the receptionist when delivering the room key. “Room 405, you,” he announced slowly as if exploring words in his mouth.

The room was quite regular. Lovely decor, fluffy comforter, and an arresting vista of the skyline. There wasn’t anything odd about it until she stepped inside to lock the door.

The silence was not natural. Not the comforting silence of an expensive hotel, but an absence. No hum of the air conditioner, no muffled sounds from down the hall. Even her own breathing sounded repressed. She pushed aside the unease and climbed into bed. At 2:13 a.m., she woke up. The walls were whispering, a soft whisper, as if there was a conversation being carried out just on the periphery of human hearing. It wasn’t from the outside; it was in the walls. Dara bolted upright out of bed, pounding heart throbbing. She turned on the lights. The whispers stopped. Taking courage, she pressed an ear to the wall. The sound reappeared, fine and sharp, like voices inscribed in an area too tight for them to stir. She tapped once. Silence, she knocked a second time. Something knocked back this time.

Room 405 was empty again by morning. The staff found her suitcase still full, the bed not slept in, and the key on the nightstand. The receptionist just sighed and filed another report.

Dara Okoye was not a reckless person, but she was dismissive of the signs around her. When she checked into Room 405, the hesitation in the receptionist’s voice was subtle, but it was there. The fact that no one else seemed willing to stay in that room should have raised a red flag. Even when she noticed the unnatural silence, she brushed off her discomfort. By the time she heard the whispers in the walls, it was already too late. Dara had stepped into the unknown without questioning why no one else dared to. This is a powerful lesson about paying attention to warnings and thinking before acting.

Many times in life, we walk into situations without fully assessing the risks. We ignore red flags in relationships, business deals, or even personal decisions because we assume everything will be fine. But like Dara in Room 405, failing to observe our surroundings and question oddities can lead to irreversible consequences.

In relationships, people often ignore early warning signs of toxic behaviour like controlling tendencies, dishonesty, or a lack of respect, only to realise later that they’ve become trapped in a painful situation. In career choices, people jump into jobs without researching the company culture, growth opportunities, or ethical concerns. It’s like checking into a haunted room without asking why others avoid it.

The world often gives us subtle warnings before disaster strikes. It’s our job to notice them. Pay attention to the signs, ask the right questions, and trust your instincts. Because in real life, just like in the story, ignoring the warnings can mean disappearing into a situation you can’t escape.

Being a creative means you’ll be invited into many rooms. Some will open doors to growth and beauty. Others, like Room 405, will be silent traps dressed in five-star polish.

Learn to tell the difference, protect your voice, guard your peace and always, always listen when something doesn’t feel right because in your creative journey, the wrong room can cost you your voice, your clarity, or worse, yourself.