Tom Weaver, a seasoned miner with coal-gray hair and calloused hands, checks his helmet lamp and draws a breath scented with earth and metal. His boots echo on the wooden planks as he descends with his pick and lunch pail, his resolve evident in every step. The other miners exchange silent nods, their expressions etched with fatigue but also camaraderie.
Tom Weaver swings his pick with practiced rhythm, chipping away at the coal seam while humming an old folk tune. He wipes sweat from his brow, his face smeared with grime. Nearby, the rumble of shifting earth reminds everyone of the mine’s unpredictable temperament.
Samuel Price, a young apprentice miner, glances anxiously at Tom Weaver. "Tom, did you hear that? Should we get out?" Tom Weaver places a reassuring hand on his shoulder, though his eyes betray concern. "Stay calm, Sam. Sometimes the earth just settles, but let’s keep an eye out. If it starts again, we head for the lift." The two exchange a tense glance before returning to their work, ears straining for another sign.
Timbers splinter overhead, and rocks tumble, blocking the exit. In the chaos, Tom Weaver pushes Samuel Price toward an open alcove. "Go, Sam! Move now!" The world narrows to choking dust and deafening noise as the ceiling collapses, separating the two miners with an unyielding wall of debris.
Tom Weaver feels his leg pinned and the weight of stones pressing on his chest. Gritting his teeth against pain, he fumbles for his lamp and finds a scrap of paper. With trembling hands, he scrawls a short note for his family, his mind filled with memories of laughter and warm kitchens. He places the note carefully in his breast pocket, his breath growing shallow.
Samuel Price, covered in dust and tears, clutches Tom Weaver’s helmet. "He saved my life. He was the bravest man I ever knew," he chokes out to the gathering, their eyes shining with grief and gratitude. As the lanterns are lit in honor of their fallen friend, the mine falls silent, holding the memory of Tom Weaver—a miner whose last light still burns in their hearts.
