Do You Understand?
"It is sad though…that almost all of us will never experience that spark with someone, the feeling of elation. That feeling of your heart beating out of rhythm and your mind fogging over and your world melting into this seamless moment, and you have no choice but to succumb." Casey stopped her reminiscing for a moment and looked over at Cyrus's face. He looked calm as if he were remembering what that felt like too. She smiled. So he had loved someone fully until his heart had shattered too.
"It is not even the fact that we will not feel it, for most of us do. It's just sad we all choose to ignore it. We choose to ignore our promise for a better tomorrow so we can live in the safety of today. To us, the innocence of a child is lost on our distrustful minds, and with it so is the chance for something as great as love." She stopped her ranting and waited patiently; he looked as if he wanted to say something.
"I have a story, a sweet one that might give you hope. I think that is what you crave more than your desire to have your old boyfriend back." Casey opened her mouth to protest and realized she couldn't. Yes, you can't, but I don't think he can either. The thought crossed her mind quickly and she pushed it out of the way. It doesn't matter who he lost; not everyone is willing to pour their story out to a complete stranger. She looked at him calmly instead. He gave her a thin half smile, then looked up at the sky again.
"Six gods united ruled over the vast plains of the Universe. They ruled over it and watched as many stars were created, and all was peaceful. But Ephites, the god of Rebirth, spent many passings of time with Mygrate, Goddess of Fire, and in time they fell in love.
However, because they were watchers of the Universe, their duties bound them apart. So it was that they could not be together. Both loved their duties, but they felt stricken with the pain of choosing to be together or to be a watcher."
"Saddened and disheartened, they asked the other gods to have pity on them and unite them for eternity. The other gods, scared of what the power of a child born of two gods could mean, decided it would be best not to tempt the fates and chance such a problem.
They swore to protect the Universe from such a fate at any cost and could see no way around such an outcome unless they exiled the lovers from one another.
The united told them they were never to see one another again and banished Ephites to become God of Night, and Mygrate to become Goddess of Eternal Light, putting their jobs at two separate parts of the vast Universe. This made it so they would never be able to spend another moment with each other.
Ephites, furious at their choice, turned his powers on the united before his exile consumed him to the other side far from his love. The magic he unleashed created a world in the void of their absence, and where their love once blossomed, a blank canvas now stood for all to see.
He became the moon and created all things without life. Mygrate's light became the sun and created all things with life. At dusk on their first day, they found to their surprise that they could spend a few moments in each other's arms.
Being able to hold one another again, they kissed passionately, weeping for joy at the small chance that they had given each other—a fighting chance that they could have each other again.
This brief encounter made man. Though because it was a stolen moment, man was flawed but filled with passion, for they had become what they were by accident.
The lovers continued like this for some time until they couldn't take being apart any longer. Mygrate used her newfound magic of the light to create an eclipse of the sun for one day only.
With their stolen time, they spent each moment making love to one another, so it was that when it came time to part, the lovers left satisfied knowing they had their stolen times together and nothing could take that away.
Soon thereafter, Mygrate found she was pregnant with the love of time that had built up inside her and gave birth to the second love of her life besides her love. These creatures were beautiful, for they took from the darkness of her husband and brought those features to the light. These creatures were called Strigoi. They seemed to be born of the wind itself, faster than anything on the planet that was now known as Earth, faster than anything in the Universe at all. They were so amazing that the gods took them as pets, and they were beloved."
Cyrus paused and looked up at Casey. She smiled at him.
"So you're one of those people who believe in mythology?" She laughed lightly then, seeing his face was not humorous, controlled herself and hid her smile. "You like old literature."
"Maybe I just like a good story. Still, who is to say what the truth is and what is not? We have so many different people and cultures, with people having just learned to read, write, and record things only about 5000 years ago. Who is to say which accounting of events is real or right? Alternatively, even which ones are not? Can you honestly say you know which one is right or that any of them or all of them are right?" He looked at her then.
"No, I cannot, I, uh, guess nobody can." She responded, confused and intrigued. She nodded her head. "Alright, I understand, I think," she said.
"Do you?" He stared at her with a crease of pain in his face she couldn't understand. She gulped and got up the courage to answer him. She watched his face carefully, waiting to see any signs of release. A sign that he might be relaxing again.
"Yes, I think I do. It's about hope and love, isn't it? Despite everything, the world keeps turning, and we keep hoping for a better tomorrow."
Cyrus nodded slowly, his expression softening. "Exactly. It's about holding onto hope, even when everything seems against you. Ephites and Mygrate's love story is a reminder that even in the face of overwhelming odds, love and hope can create something beautiful. Even if it's just for a brief moment, it's worth fighting for."
"Do you understand what I am saying Casey?" He asked.
She gulped. "Yes,"