The Sapphire

I trudge deep in the shadows of the forest. I walk along an almost hidden path through the trees. The bushes catch my clothes and tear my skin as I pass. I stop a moment to scratch my head in wonder. I can't remember why I'm here. How did I come to be in this strange place?1

Thin rays of the sun beat through the emerald canopy above. The forest itself is dark and foreboding. The large oaks around me stretch to the heavens trying to blot out everything of life. And yet everywhere I look the forest teems with vibrant life. Down below I observe a thin trail of ants. They crawl along unaware of their watcher. Their column moves steadily, it almost seems a living entity. 2

I hear noises all around me now. Scary noises. The tiger growls3

as it roams fearlessly through the bush. Above me I hear the rustle of a tree as an insidious snake twines along a branch. Worse yet, I hear shriller noises in the distance. I can't tell what they mean. I just pray whatever makes them does not find me on whatever mission has brought me here.4

Progress through the thick foliage is slow. I find a stick of dried meat in the pouch at my side. I chew on it as I consider my situation. Sudden inspiration hits me with a jolt! My memory returns and I now know why I came to this tropical lush. I came here seeking lovely gems. Gems to scatter light across my skin in pastel hues.5

With a purpose now I resolutely set off in search not knowing where to look. Gems in a forest. What had I been thinking? Still, I hunt in eagerness scooping up at each glint of light below. I hope for a lovely gem every time I bring a dirt filled hand up to my eyes. My vision betrays me times unnumbered. Do I see a gem? No! I look sadly at the oily green leaf sitting in my palm. Again I see a glint on the forest floor and grab, praying this will be my gem. A shiny insect twitches in my fingers, and I drop it in disgust. Another hint of light proves to be a pool of water reflecting the sun back up at me.6

I feel hunger rise up in my chest. I grab my pack for another beef stick and find it empty. My stomach gurgles to me in a noisy plea. My hunger cannot be satisfied. I watch with a sweat filled eye as the sun makes its lazy path downward. It travels ever downward, reaching for the horizon like some lost lover. The gentle green light around me begins to fade and withit goes my hope, and my energy.7

I stop and sit down on a cold pile of rotting leaves. This game is not fun any more. There are no gems in this forest. Here, amidst the endless green giants and constant chirping birds only life abounds.8

I am tired, so very tired. I've forced my sad body past all limits of endurance in this utterly hopeless quest. I try and rise but I cannot get up. My legs don't work anymore.9

At every turn the great forest has mocked me. It invited me in freely to gape at its wonders. It let me splash through its lazy creeks and it soothed me with its gently swaying branches in the wind. Yet my gem it barred me from. It gave me false gems every day and each night thinking I might be happy. They did not glitter or sparkle. Some of them were truly dead, others bit my moving fingers. I cannot keep searching. My cause is lost indeed.10

I have thoughts of home. I remember just barely the crackling fire I sat near warming my bones. Now the cold wind leaches the warmth from me. I look at my empty pack and remember a fairer time as I feasted upon roasted venison and loaves of soft bread. I freely partook of trembling mounds of sweet fruits, their juices dripping from my smiling mouth. Now I chew at nothing; grasping for some sweet bit of memory to show itself in the misty air. Finally, I give up. This quest has gone on for far too long. I resign myself.11

My head slowly sinks down towards the leafy forest floor. The dropped greenery takes me in cushions me oh so gently. I exhale a final breath watching as it holds its form for a moment in a misty cloud. The out of the corner of my eye I see it!12

Oh It sparkles, so beautiful, so precious. My eyes light upon a sapphire. I am stunned beyond belief to see that this is not some rough hewn gem. It is truly flawless in all its splendor. Its perfect cut sides just catch the glowing red rays of the setting sun. I don't know who before me crafted this gem. What I do know though is nature never formed such beauty.13

Oh, this sacred gem was mine now! I held the deep cobalt sapphire up into the air. I turned it left and right scattering its blueness for the whole forest to enjoy. A smile filled my face and tears ran unheeded down my cheeks. Oh what lovely joy! At last I had found what I sought!14

No sooner had my joy settled upon me than baser thoughts creeped into my disbelieving mind. the forest had tricked me for far too long. I was weary now. I would not let it catch me in its sticky webs of deceit again! This sweet gem had to be too good to be real. 15

It was a mirage! Like the desert wanderer dying of thirst who sees a shimmering pool of water in the sandy desert. Hesitantly, I look down at the gem again. My hands are trembling now as my stubborn soul wishes still to believe. I look at the priceless stone and see it sparkles back up at me! I'm not seeing things, I think. The gem is sparkling up at me! It sees me and invites my joys. The gem longs to be worn I feel. It sparkles across my skin as I caress it softly. I cooo softly looking at it with such love. My long search is over. Oh it is mine and my being is filled with raptured joy!16

Then I hear a thunder clap. I watch, disbelieving as the gem flies from my grasp. I don't know how it could have flown from my grasp. The gem and I, we were one in purpose, one in thought. I watch in horror as it tumbles down the bank into the deep rushing river below.17

I scream in bitter anguish. Nooo! The joy I felt before is replaced by the saddest tones of hopelessness. It is gone, lost forever! I will never find it in the river that runs so deep. Then I realize what is happening. Its the forest again. It seeks to deny me happiness! It seeks still to taunt me. Showing me my hearts desire, held for but a dreamy moment in my warm grasp. The forest seeks to keep us apart, seeks the gem to not be adored. The forest will not defeat me! My spirit and love loans me strength as I rise up and throw myself down the steep bank, oblivious to anything but the river.18

Long I search and long the river eludes me. My passing hunger, weariness, and fear are shadows of myself. Not quit felt, they slip off my sharp-edged mind as I delve, one thing filling all my thoughts. 19

I grasp something cold and hard and lift my hand still dripping from the icy water. I open my hand and see sitting there the priceless sapphire. The sapphire rejoices and we fill each other with love unending. At long last I have conquered the quivering forest as it blows still in the cold wind. I have my wonderful, perfect Sapphire!20