ABYSS OF STARS

Once upon a time, there lived two mages - best of friends. The Mages Holiday that happens only once in three hundred years was coming, and both of them decided to make one another a very special gift.

“I’ll give my friend the flame of dawn,” one mage said, then turned around on his heels and headed east.

“I’ll give my friend the flame of sunset”, said the other mage, then headed west, stepping quietly in his soft mocassins.

They met again, just mere minutes before the beginning of the holiday, and shook hands, but both looked sad.

“My friend, I wanted to give you the flame of dawn”, said one.

“And I wanted to give you the flame of sunset”, said the other.

Two cold coals appeared in their open palms, all that was left after both dawn and sunset had burned out. A black abyss opened above the world like a wound. And it was full of stars.

(January 17, 2003)