His shriveled hands slowly took the fragile scale of eiderdown and meticulously placed it on his device. It was struggle over the years of a long forsaken dream that was slowly materializing in front of his eyes. Each strand of these beautiful feathers represented what he ploughed through in realms of Men, God and the Undefined. Many ridiculed his bogus dream, his advancing age and the infirmity of his mind. He looked down at the deep lines chiseled into his palms. His Memories had no place in his mind, they were engraved in the wrinkles and folds of his old hands.
The Sire of Seconds, the Master of Moments and God of Memories, Time stood like a sadist sentinel grinning down his bent back. Yet he trudged on indifferent to the passing, only focusing on the present that waited at the end of tunnel. Time laughed at his futile attempts, chided him in his already unhinged mind – “Fool! What gift you are looking for is not in the future, it is in the Now, this moment, the Present.”
But he shook the voice out of his head as he very well knew that Men were the slaves of Time and however enticing the moment was, Time would yank the invisible shackles and crack Men’s fragile necks. He knew that Time relished on the sufferings of Men, the desperation with which they chased down the tunnel, scrambling over each other in frenzy, forgetting dreams, love and joy only to be yanked back to the dreary reality of their frugal existence. And yet if anyone crossed that threshold he would be falling into the ever hungry arms of Time’s Brother, Death.
He has seen this Game so many times, where Time and Death would swing about his fellow men like pendulums showing glimpses of what they could achieve yet didn’t dare. They preyed on the inconsistencies of frail Men, sucked the living lights out of their bodies until nothing is left but dried out frames that are not left alone in their misery but were further tormented by the manic laughter of the Brothers. They were frustrated that they could not break one maimed soul. The beating within him provoked their rage on him. Yet he plodded on; indifferent, distant and crazed.
He didn’t know if he would succeed but to flounder when his first attempt was his only chance was insanity. He looked at the Brothers preoccupied; swinging a few souls in their powerful fingers. This was his chance. He took the contraption out, he heard a few strings snap and some of the scales crack. But undeterred he flapped. As the fragile wings cut through the firmament , the deafening sound of freedom resonated through the realms. He saw the disbelief reflecting in the all-seeing eyes of the Brothers replace with potent rage. A Man dare defy , dare to rip apart slavery of souls. He soared through the skies knowing all too well that he was the display that the Brothers wanted to show the crippled populace, before they mangle his device and him.
Before his soul escaped him, he didn’t hear the laughter of Time, or the salivating fangs of Death, he only saw light. Felt the music soar into his age raked body reviving the youth that was lost inside him. He smiled as that beautiful image flitted in his mind’s eye before he was engulfed in darkness.
****
Death chewed on but from his furrowed brow Time knew something was wrong.
“Brother what disturbs you? Doesn’t the taste of prolonged suffering please you anymore.”
“He tastes different, I do not feeling revived, instead it vexes me.”
“Do not talk in the tongue of wretched Men! Spit out the blasphemy and be away with it!”
Death spit out the mangled body with the strings, feathers and crushed bones. He was enraged that his Brother was wasting their meal as such. Time looked in distaste at the mess , when he saw a tiny wisp seep out.
“You bumbling Fool! look what you done!!!”
“I am sorry Brother what did I do?”
“I myself don’t know!! But I can see these demons all looking at it like it is some God! I can hear their voices rise in Hope and wonder ! Take it down you Oaf!!!” said Time pointing at it rise above them.
Whatever Death tried , that apparition stayed on floating in a realm that they both could not reach, yet could see the image burning into their massive skulls. Time tried to block out the sounds of his slaves but they were inspired by the Rainbow colors emitting from the Unfallen.
****
For some life is an accumulation of materialistic gains and for others it is a mundane existence. Yet it is in these very circumstances that once in a while something comes into being. Larger than life, Greater than existence, the very essence that actually fuels our souls. A tribute to those who brought that into our lives, the creators of magic, the spinners of inspiration and the revival of our minds. Thank you all artists, known and unknown for giving us a piece of you. Even from across the realm of death we are inspired.
Inside my mind 