Sacrifice

"It's indispensable for your security", they had claimed.
He sat at the dark wooden table, shaking his head uncomprehendingly.
There he was, confined to this - admittedly large - building.

His food was tasted, before he could eat, guards in every corner of the mansion, not one letter that wasn't opened, to avoid poison attacks...

Sure, he was - allegedly - safe.
But could one call THIS living?

He went to the lobby and sent away most of the guards.
"That's dangerous", the secretary said.

But Ben Franklin replied:
“Those who surrender freedom for security will not have, nor do they deserve, either one.”