A Picture's Worth | Volition

Volition

They were thirteen or maybe fourteen, but definitely not fifteen. Sitting cozily in their spots, protected by the shell they were born in; the same place where they die. And too often it is that they die, just to revive again in the same spot, engulfed in the warmth of their own existence. The warmth, these little pixies of light spread as much as their immobile nature allows.

What better way can there be to exist? Safe, warm, cozy and most of all, generous. It is to their credit alone, that the passerby of this little cave is actually able to pass by. And when he enters this cave, he enters the sanctuary of shimmering luminescence, granted the gift of vision for the duration of his journey through. Such magnanimity truly is remarkable. So they all thought and lived by, till the day one didn’t.

“I want to leave”, said Luna (the one on the left near the entrance).

It was visibly a strange day for Luna. She seemed to be shining brighter than usual. Maybe she had something else burning inside her, other than her usual glow. Or maybe it was just the vintage point of the viewer that made her look brighter than she actually was.

“I don’t understand what you mean”, said Maya (opposite to Luna), riddled with confusion.

“I mean, I want to leave this place and explore what is out there”, as Luna uttered these words, she grabbed the attention of all fourteen (or thirteen).

“There is nothing out there Luna”, spoke one of the elders (elders shine upwards while everyone else shine down). “How many lifetimes have you spent safely in here, only to disrespectfully deny today, all good that was given to you? How many more will it take to make that fact concrete once again?”

“There was no disrespect in my intent. I merely want to explore the possibilities that are out there”, Luna replied, taken aback a little by how misunderstood her words were.

“So you want to die forever? Because that is what leaving here means”, Maya angrily chiseled through her sentence.

“How do you know that?” snapped Luna. “Have you ever done it before? Who here can speak with certainty, of the permanent demise of those who leave? Who here can speak from experience? Or do we all, forever speculate of things we know not?”

Floura, the eldest of them all, now dim with age but bright with wisdom, was silent to this point. But now she had to interfere. So she asked Luna, in her mellow loving voice: “what do you expect to find out there child?”

Luna: “I don’t know…”

Maya: “Why am I not surprised?” (Sarcastically cutting Luna’s sentence short).

Floura: “Hush child! Let her explain”.

Luna: (now a little annoyed by Maya’s snide remarks) “as I was saying, I don’t really know what is out there, and what I will find; but that is exactly what makes it such an adventure”.

“What makes you think your adventure will be a pleasant one?” said Floura, kindness still dripping from her voice, but this time, mixed with a hint of pity.

“Oh I am positive it will not merely be pleasant”, said Luna, excitement now gushing in her beams, “It’s going to be magical!”

Maya: “I’m still waiting for the incoming explanation!”

Luna, now completely disregarding Maya, continued: “remember when that beautiful girl passed from this cave? Do you remember the lovely gown she was wearing? Oh the flurry of colors she bore on her bosom, and the petite stars on her gown’s fall that glittered in our light. How awe-struck we all were at the beauty that graced us that night? I remember it vividly, but do you?”

Maya: “What’s your point in all this?”

Luna: “I am certain she is not the only beauty out there. For all we know, the world can be overwhelmingly filled with such, or even greater beauties”.

Floura: “But my child, witnessing one pretty thing doesn’t make the world pretty”.

Luna: “But it isn’t the only thing of beauty I saw. Just the other day, when none of you had revived from your slumber, a couple passed through here, with an infant in the woman’s lap. They were trying to talk to this little child when he clearly wasn’t able to. You all slept through it, but I saw it happen, right in front of me; the child vaguely muttered his first word: ‘Da-Da!’ In that moment, happiness in the parents’ eyes shone bright. Maybe even brighter than any of us ever did.”

Maya: “This is preposterous! You expect us to believe anything you throw at us and just blindly agree with you? It’s easy to make anything up if no one else has seen it.”

Luna: “You don’t believe me? Fine! But do you believe in what you saw with your own eyes? Do you recall the juggler that stood right there, in front of us, performing amazing feats of acrobatics and magic? He had a massive crowd filled with applause and cheer, yet his biggest fan was not out there. She was in here, sitting right in front of me, gaze locked at the performer, lost in imagination for hours on, even after the event. I want to find more of these amazing people, and things, and smells and tastes. Memories that will forever make me their captive.”

An awkward silence grew under that dome, till finally Floura shattered it. “We have heard your case child! We will commune before passing our decision.”

So they all talked and discussed, for hours on, trying to decide either to deny or grant Luna their blessings to leave and explore. After what seemed like a lifetime of discussion, Floura declared that Luna has their permission to leave.

“Really!?” exclaimed Luna, filled with a massive surge of excitement. “I shall prepare for it right away. What shall I take with me? What will help me survive?” And she thought by herself: “Will I even survive? How will I even travel? Is it wise to leave at this moment? Shall I even leave? Because it’s really cold outside…”

This picture was taken by Ali Awais, an amazing photographer and a wonderful friend of ours. All rights to this picture are reserved by Ali Awais and we use his pictures at A Thousand Words after full disclosure and consent. Follow him on Instagram @ali_awaiss