I self-published this fable in Dec. 2021. By self-published I mean I used cardstock paper, a hole- puncher, and some ribbon to gift a copy to a few friends and family. To keep the posts short and sweet, this short story is presented in parts. You can find Part 1 here. Enjoy!
The next morning the man woke early and toured the village. From what he observed, he could immediately see the rumors were true. All the people in the village were attractive and physically fit. No one was infirm. There were no beggars to be seen and not the least bit of violence was seen or felt.
He noticed, too, that all the village’s inhabitants did appear to glow in the rising sun. The man noticed that even he, in their presence, felt lighter and free, secure and at peace. One might even venture that the man felt giddy, as if a laugh was ready to burst from his lips for no apparent reason whatsoever.
After walking for a time, the man felt thirsty. Hearing a fresh spring nearby, he sought it out. Once there, he knelt down on the lush green grass and scooped water into his mouth. The water was the most refreshing he had ever tasted. He immediately felt invigorated, as if he could run as he did in his youth. He rose to do just that when his eyes fell upon a young maiden. She was the most beautiful woman the man had ever seen, or, he believed, that any man had ever seen. Her eyes were bright. Her dark hair blanketed her shoulders.
The man was completely and utterly stunned by her beauty. A fire grew in his loins, and the desire he felt was something his flesh had never felt up to that point. In that moment, the man wanted nothing more than to lay with her, to cup her breasts, to kiss her lips, to drown himself in her being. He stared at this spectacular woman for what felt like eternity, and suddenly she turned, she saw him, and she smiled. As she smiled, her beauty increased ten-fold. Unable to do anything else, the man bowed low in awe of her.
“My lady,” he whispered, “please pardon my saying so, but you are the most beautiful creature my eyes have ever beheld. It would do me the greatest honor to know your name.”
The man married the woman he had seen on the shore that day. The wedding banquet was simple, yet exquisite. There was no shortage of fine food and good spirits. All who lived in the village wished them well. As they left the village to go back to the man’s home, he thought he could see her brilliant shine fade slightly, but he dismissed the thought, thinking the wine must have affected his mind.
Not long after they married, the woman was with child. The man was overjoyed and there were many contented days and nights shared between them.
On a night when the moon was full, the woman announced that the child was to be born. The man, confused as she showed no signs of labor pains, left to fetch the midwife, though secretly he felt his wife was naïve and inexperienced. By the time he returned, the woman had already given birth.
The midwife looked at the scene in awe and couldn’t recall seeing a more beautiful woman holding a more perfect child. The baby, a girl, nursed quietly on her mother’s breast. When the child was finished and the midwife was able to look at her, the midwife pronounced that she intended to take her leave, as the mother and child were in perfectly good health.
The man (begrudgingly) paid the midwife and then settled down to look upon his daughter. Initially, when he heard it was a daughter, he was disappointed, for he had wanted a son to carry on his trade, as was the tradition in his village. When he looked into her eyes, however, he knew––other than the moment he had first seen his wife–– he had not seen a sight more beautiful. The man fell to his knees and gave thanks for such a blessing. Then he held his child and, again, his heart was filled with joy.
