The Eyes Of Men: A Collection Of Short Stories

The Fated Path

One evening as a boy and his father stood at the entrance to the forest of fate, the boy turned to his father and asked, "Which path must I take to find my way home to our village, Destiny?" And his father replied, "You must follow the path of virtue if you wish to find your way back, but don't deviate no matter what, lest you become lost in the forest of fate forever" he said as he directed him toward the path of virtue. "Why can't you come with me?" the boy asked. "Because each person must find their own way in life, but I will be waiting on the other end with your mother and the rest of our family in Destiny"

The boy began to walk the path of virtue, but it was very difficult, the road was rocky and hard on his feet, and was riddled with low and thorny branches that scrapped his skin as he walked. He walked for many years, growing from a boy to a young man. Along the way he encountered a young girl named Love. Love was filled with light and beauty and the boy lost track of time with her as they traveled together, and he would've been content to stay with her in the forest for all eternity, but one day she was gone and the boy searched everywhere but she couldn't be found.

After many years of searching the boy fell into despair until one day he came across a clearing where there stood a sharp and handsome man with a glimmer in his eye and teeth so bright they lit-up his grinning face.

"Hello friend," the man said, "Why do you walk this grueling path? Don't you know that there's an easier way?" The man smiled as he ushered the boy off through the trees, toward another path filled with sunshine and paved roads. "See.. the path of Temptation is much more delightful."

The boy was uncertain about veering from his father's path, but the path of Temptation did appear to be far more enjoyable, so he thought, "what really is the harm in trying it for a bit"

As he ventured down the path of temptation he was met with so many delightful things; bright, beautiful flowers that emitted intoxicating aromas which caused the boy to become delirious with laughter. So he continued deeper into the forest, and further and further away from the path of his father.

Then the path began to grow darker, and the smell of the flowers started to make the boy dizzy and sick. He spun around in circles, and his laughter turned to tears as monstrous creatures emerged from the darkness. The boy ran, crying out for his father to guide him back to the path of virtue, but the pollen still clouded his mind and he descended even further into the dark forrest of Fate.

As he lay there sobbing, he felt a touch on his shoulder, refusing to look up, he whispered, "Go away"

Then in response he heard the gentle voice of a child say, "It's not too late.. there is still a way back for you."

The boy opened his eyes and wiped the tears clear with the back of his arm, revealing the angelic face of a little girl around the age of seven with the brightest auburn, curly hair.

The girl smiled warmly, and reached out to guide him to his feet. Feeling an inexplicable sense of trust, the boy followed her through the trees.

"See," she said, pointing towards the distance, " There, you must climb the mountain of Redemption to find your way home."

The mountain to which she referred was quite massive and daunting like a structure rising up beyond the tree tops, cutting into the sky.

"Wait," the boy called to the girl as she began to walk away, "What is your name?"

"My name," the girl said with a smile, "is Hope."

And so, the boy began his journey towards the mountain. When he reached its base, once again the slick smiling man appeared. "why would you want to climb such a daunting mountain?" The man asked, but the boy didn't reply. He now understood better then to listen the man. So he ignored him and pressed on.

"You'll never make it." The man yelled after him, ""It's too hard, and you're too weak!"

but the boy pressed on anyway, reaching for the first grab-able stone to hoist himself up and begin his climb.

It was more difficult even then the boy had imagined. The sharp rocks cut his fingers as he gripped them, and grew more slippery the higher he climbed. His muscles ached and his arms began to tremble with weakness.

Looking up ahead the boy realized how much further he still had to go and wasn't sure if he could make it. The smiling man's words played over in his memory, "Its too hard, and you're too weak."

but the boy remembered the face of his father, and wanted more then anything to reach the village of Destiny, so he pushed out the man's negative words, and ignored his fear and pain, continuing to strive upward.

Many hours passed and the boy was exhausted, but now he could see that the top of the mountain was only a few more feet away. Against his better judgment, the boy decided to look down to see how high he had climbed. He instantly regretted this decision, as the sight of it terrified him to his core, knowing that a fall from this height would surely kill him.

He desperately tried to finish the climb quickly, and in a panic reached for a root that as he pulled on it, it came loose revealing a brightly colored flower on his head. It was the same flowers from the forest of Temptation. The flower bloomed open and projected a poof of pollen spores at the boy's faces, blinding him. He struggled to breath and began to cough. The spores took their effect instantly, and he grew dizzy and delirious. He began to laugh and drift off into a dream.

In his dream he was falling, or more-so floating. He looked around him and saw a young girl with long straight brown hair, holding him in her arms, floating upward. "My name is Forgiveness," she said as she laid him onto the grass. That was the last thing he remembered before drifting into sleep.

When he awoke, he was surrounded by blue sky, and as he turned he realized he was on top of the mountain. Rising to his feet, he noticed a trail that lead to a village in the distance. He walked to the village and was met by his father at the entrance. His father shook his hand and congratulated him on his journey, then the rest of his family came out to greet him. His mother smiling warmly, and his wife, Love, then his two daughters, Hope and Forgiveness, all embraced him.