Although Sir Michaelson lived in a luxurious mansion, due to his age, he walked slowly and feebly around the house. However, he would dare to always climb the winding staircase to the mansion’s highest tower, where there was the thinnest air and the thickest silence every evening.
Living in the modern world far beyond his youth, he gazed at the sky, but it was not like the one he remembered as a boy, which was pitch black.
“ The universe had become an empty canvas” he always says and looking downward his world below although rich with gold, jewels, and opulence still he felt unbearably small.
Valentine, an observant great-grandchild who knew that Sir Michaelson used to spend most of his lifetime climbing stairs for Shadow, helped him walk up there one day while other great-grandchildren played in rooms filled with laughter and music.
“ They are unaware that the sky they looked out on has been stolen” Sir Michaelson said.
“ What do you mean, the sky has been like this since I was born” Valentine replied sitting beside him looking at the sky with no floating moon and stars that twinkled like silver lanterns.
The old one smirked and said.
“ In the land far beyond our ages, earlier stars did show and spread their glow like diamonds in the sky. In centuries of lifetime, these stars will change shape into a structure that looks like love, and every second moon is counted as recorded in history books and told by elders.
During this period which lasts for just a day, every member of each family will sit under the colored clouds at night and watch the wonders of the universe as the sky will be full of red love-shaped stars beautifully displayed. Some people will sleep outside overnight while others will stay awake to witness the fallen love star which will drop on anyone's head. The bearer of the star will be the ruler of the land and that is how it was from Adam.
In this land ruled by love then, everyone was considered the same regardless of class and gender. Pure and sacrificial love was given to everyone without expecting anything in return. Families show natural affection for one another. Friends show loyalty based on trust, shared value, and compassion, spouses show passionate love, children play with each other running up and down and having fun, the engaged ones stand to build on commitment, understanding, and effort rather than emotion only while everyone respects themselves before the unthinkable happens centuries ago” Sir Michaelson uttered.
“ What happened Sir?” Valentine asked.
“Young woman, I pray for redemption” Sir Michaelson replied looking so saddened as if he was told to carry something cumbersome all of a sudden.
“Great-grandfather, I am sorry to make you feel this way” the young woman said, putting her hands to rub the old man's knees looking confused.
“Hmmph, ouugh” Sir Michaelson coughed, clearing his throat before he continued.
“Centuries ago, it was time to choose the new ruler and we all went out as usual but something unusual happened. The love star fell but left everyone outside and went into the former ruler’s house and dropped on the head of Claudius, his first son who was sleeping indoors.
Everyone was extremely happy knowing that Vintinho, his father, ruled and stood by the rule of love but his first daughter did not support Claudius' ruling.
I knew because I was Brutia's, the ruler's first daughter’s lover then and she told me about the displeasure of accepting her younger brother but I failed by supporting her to fight what nature had decided” the old man said with a frown.
“ What happened later?” Valentine asked inquisitively.
“Claudius died from an unknown illness but the universe knew better and this is when the problem started.
The stars and moon disappeared and we live in total darkness every night. Hardship, envy, cruelty, distrust, vengefulness, selfishness, and bitterness now rule” Sir Michaelson replied.
“ Ohh Sir, now I understand why you pray for redemption,” Valentine replied, nodding her head to show that she understood.
“ Do you know what pained the most, almost everyone who witnessed the good time has died and I am among the few who stand to carry the cross of past decisions.
If I am opportuned, I will make things right” Sir Michaelson concluded.
“ Is that the reason you don't sleep every night?” Valentine asked with a smile.
The old man nodded in agreement before they departed and she went to sleep.
The next day, the cloud embodied lightning and thunder struck in loud sounds that could deafen the ears of the hearing and be heard by the deaf. It rained heavily as if the clouds cried all their hearts out and something happened over morrow. To everyone's surprise, the diamonds glittered in the sky which was so vivid during the daytime that when it came to night, the new generation couldn't believe their eyes and the old generation jubilated that they had been forgiven.
“ Opportunity comes but once they say” elder silver said.
“ No I don't buy that but I believe that opportunity comes much more than once but in longer time intervals” elder Silvia replied and they all laughed in an impromptu meeting held immediately after the sky had heeded to their plea.
“ A new ruler is coming and this time it is to right the wrongs,” Sir Michaelson said.
“Leading should be left unspoken for the universe which knows how to handle it” Elder Silver assumed and they accepted.
The second moon in counting, everyone came outside but the elders stayed in the door watching wonders which were alien to the new generation so it kept everyone outside late and all of a sudden, a love star fell and landed on Valentine's head. No one knew what it meant but they all saw it. The elders never disclose what it means and so everyone gossips and continues to live with each other.
“ I knew there was something different about her” Sir Michaelson ruminated and smiled that now he can die in peace.
Valentine lived in kindness and shared love authentically. Her lights circulated to everyone with whom she interacted and had encountered her. She was later named ‘the lover’ and she was known all around her world.
“ A leader that ruled without knowing will have no expectations to perform but to lead authentically” Sir Michaelson said to his family before he died. No one knew the meaning but Valentine knew her great-grandfather was talking to her because she knew the meaning of the love star before it fell on her. Valentine lived for a century and it is what she shared that they celebrate today.
It is Valentine's Day.. A version..