A Man in the Night

The Man in the Night

By: Ethan West

    "Could it be that in a simple moment in time all that was, and all that could be, could be rent asunder as easily as a knife through butter?  When I stood there that night I simply could not comprehend my own loss, my weary eyes only perceived a slight feeling of guilt.  For love had left me that night.  Or perhaps love had never found me, I really did not know.

   Needless to say after that night I was not quick to pursue the affection of another.  My heart was a fortress that could not be broken.  A double edged sword it seemed, protecting me against hurt but also keeping me away from happiness.  My emotions fogged until I could not truly create them.  Sure I smile, sure I laugh.  But my eyes are forever cold, lost in an endless sea of nothing.  Blank as the night that surrounds us tonight.

     For that moment where I lost my humanity seems so far in the past I look at it now as if through a dense fog.  I cannot remember who did this to me.  I cannot remember why it had to happen.  All I know is that it happened, and no matter who was responsible I pay the price.

     The night is truly beautiful tonight isn't it?  Can you not see the stars scattered across the midnight sky?  It creates the simplest tapestry, but also one more beautiful than anything mankind could imagine creating.  And look at the moon directly overhead.  It is among these stars like an outsider.  But the stars accept it as part of this great tapestry even though they know nothing about it.

     Why am I talking to you about this you ask?  Why not talk about the beauty of the night when it is all around us?  When the hellish commotion of the day is stifled by the silent beauty of the night why should we not celebrate?  Why should we not rejoice at the beauty given to us so freely by nature?

    I cannot enjoy this beauty, but you can.  For you see my life is as good as ended, as it is a life without change.  As steadfast this night sky, and as somber as the moon.  Soak in the beauty of the night because I cannot truly comprehend it.  I can create a false enjoyment but this is a useless gesture at best.

     But do not do this for me, do this for you.  Do not hide away your heart, let it see the moon, the sky and the stars.  Do not lock your heart away as I did.  For you will find it is easy to lose the key to the lock.

     Do not worry for me, for the real me no longer exists.  Can you not feel the calm aura around you?  I cannot, but this is no matter of yours.  Rest and relax now, for this night was created for you. Let your spirit shine with glory so that the spirits of others will hasten to your side.  Relax and enjoy this splendor for it is yours to keep."

    Samuel watched as the strange man faded away into the night.  He tried to allow his mind to relax but something seemed odd about what the man said.  "Why would he say that to me?"  He thought with frustration.  Suddenly the sound of sobs reached Samuels's ears and he turned to meet the sound.  A woman was crying not twenty yards from where he lay.  He got up slowly and looked around the clearing.

     The voice of the man rang through his head.  "Let your spirit shine with glory so that the spirits of others will hasten to your side."  How had he not seen her before?   "Relax and enjoy this splendor, for it is yours to keep."  What did he mean splendor?  There was nothing grand about this at all.  His head felt numb.  His hands trembled.

      He slowly lifted himself from the grassy hillside and looked over to where the man had disappeared. "You're wrong," he said to the night.  "It's not about me..."  He strode across the clearing to the woman, who's sobs were still echoing around the clearing.  "Allow your soul to be free,"  he thought to himself.  "Give your soul unto another."

     The strange man watched in silence as Samuel and the woman comforted each other.  Their voices muted by the still silence of the night.  He turned his gaze to the star lit sky.  Two translucent figures had risen into the air, white as the stars, but dim as a shadow.  He smirked softly as the great white shadows merged together.  A tear fell from his eye as the merged shadow raised itself up, losing it's grip on the grassy slope and flying away into the sky.

     "I'm afraid it is you who are wrong." he said slowly.  "There is no giving involved in the miracle you have performed tonight.  You just both realized you had a gift... to give..."  He sighed peacefully and continued on his lonely way, his boots dragging through the thin grass.  Above him the beautiful form of love continued to fly.  And it would not stop until it reached heaven's great doorstep.

Author's Note

Another one from the vault. Wrote it about 4 years ago so there may be typos. Let me know what you guys think!

Reviews

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Finally around to my RR's and here. Beautiful tale and an age old story, but told in a new and interesting way. Loved it. You paint your scenes with words quite well and this write picks up speed with that as it moves on. My ONLY suggestion is to find another metaphor for the like a knife through butter reference in the first part of the story. Your eloquotion is so - beautiful and - well that one is just ... tired - and it sits at the beginning of this beautifully illustrated story and - it distracted me a bit. I just think you've got something better in you. Only suggestions.... and of only one person.

[ewest1220]

Hmm... actually that's a very interesting suggestion I'll look into it :) thanks for your help and I'm thrilled you liked my work!

[Shelley Holt-Lowrey]

Phew! Never know how those "Just one thing..." suggestions will be taken. so thanks. The piece is truly beautiful :)

[ewest1220]

lol thanks! Don't worry about criticism here I welcome it! Thanks again for reading :)

[J. F. Charleston]

Really I found this quite nice. I liked how you put things that many people try to do like lock up their heart so that it wont get hurt. I also enjoyed the moon, stars and the night on the hill part. Very clever.

[ewest1220]

Thanks! I'm really glad you liked it!

[Owlgirl]

Wow! This is excellent! Great job! Just wow!

[ewest1220]

Thanks! Glad you liked it!