Michael

Short Stories
2008-10-20 03:39:56 (UTC)

The Empty Studio

"What does it mean to be 'worthy', human? When you long
after someone you share an unfathomable feeling for,
attraction for, and then when something goes wrong and they
leave you; You then say, 'They aren't worth my time,
anymore' like some sort of protective shield will
materialize and prevent you from all other wounds your soul
may endure." He said condescendingly, the words came out in
disgust, it seemed. Agitated. Like some tutor with a slow
student, where a lesson had to be mind numbingly repeated in
order for an effect to be gained.

"Are you saying, she was worth my time afterall?" the tone
in my voice depressed.

"No, human. The point I'm trying to get to, and which you
seem to be failing to grasp, is that you don't understand
the concept of worth." He turned and faced away from me,
then took a few steps towards across the empty room towards
a window. Twilight had already fallen without me realizing
it. He stood looking out the window, pausing for a moment as
he surveyed the celestial distribution.

"You see, in the grand scheme of things and all things being
equal, you're not going to live as long as I will. We have a
much longer lifespan than you do." He paused a moment, and
it seemed he reconsidered his words. "But, just as in life,
while we have to learn to value the things which are
important to us; We also need to learn what is worth our
time, effort, and what isn't."

"I've seen many things out there," he made barely a gesture
to the sky. "the great expanse ... and the many unimaginable
sights untold," he sighed. "So much beauty ... and I've come
to learn that in life, there are few things which should not
take up your time. Things like ... being scorned." He turned
to me, disappointed.

"No, human. I'm not saying love isn't worth it. Finding
love, true love, ... well, what other thing in the universe
can compare? What burning ball of elements could compare to
the warm, nurturing touch of the person who loves you? What
other phenomenon could possibly compare to the experience of
being lost in her eyes and hearing her whisper sweetly,
borne out of love? No, human. Love is quite the rare ... and
possibly unique phenomenon which any person would be lucky
to ever experience."

He turned away and looked back out the window.

"... That's, if you can recognize it. White dwarf stars are
not the same as red super giants. So it stands to reason
that true love is not the same as ... well, whatever it is
you had with her."

He paused a moment, then continued.

"And this is why you'll never be a god."

I rolled my eyes and turned away, looking through the
doorway which we had entered from. "You're really something,
you know? How did this go from being a lesson on life to
some sort of aspiration to becoming a being with
omnipotency? Who said I even wanted to be a god?" After a
few moments of reflection, my curiosity could not contain
itself. "... Why do you say I can't be one?"

"You'll never be one, because even if through some cosmic
happenchance, you find yourself endowed with the power to do
anything, you'd piss it away on nothing more than petty
desires, endeavors, and whatever else your limited mind can
come up with."

"Who said gods had any responsibility? Isn't that the point?
To do what you want? Who's to say what they can and can't
do? Is there a god manual out there?"

"It's all about worth, human." He turned to look at me then,
his eyes locked on mine as I turned to look at him. He had
this sort of sad, disappointed look, as if he felt he was
wasting his words of wisdom on someone who would never
understand or ever have the capability of understanding. I
hated it.

"What is and isn't worth your time. What is and isn't
important in the grand scheme of things. Yes, it sucked what
happened and that she left you. She lied, cheated, and in a
sense stole a piece of you which ... you have yet to
recover, it seems." He turned away.

"But in the grand scheme of things ... in comparison to
everything else in life, she isn't worth your time ...
suffering. You suffer over someone who isn't worth your
consideration." He paused a moment, and then sighed the
word, "Human." Whether he used it as a pejorative or if he
just took a moment before ending his sentence, I don't know.
Before I could reflect however, he straightened up.

"Human ... there are people coming down the road this way."

I got up and made my way to the window, his words still
heavy in my head. And, although the moment passed, and the
work that I must do became focused in my mind, I could never
quite ever forget the words he said to me that night.




Ad: