In the celestial realm, where desires bloomed like constellations, the God of Desire, Evermore, stood at the crossroads of duty and curiosity. His task was simple: collect the purest human desires to create a divine elixir- a wine that would intoxicate even the gods themselves. But Evermore harbored a secret- he had never really understood desire. Although he was the God of Desire yet, to him it was an enigma, a fire that consumed mortals and immortals alike.
Descending to Earth, Evermore materialized in a bustling city. The air hummed with longing and echoed the cacophony of human wants. In the land of mortals, he sought the extraordinary- the desire that transcended selfishness and greed. And so, he wandered the streets, invisible to all but the most sensitive souls.
In a quiet park he found her- a youthful girl named K. She sat on a bench, feeding breadcrumbs to pigeons. Her eyes held galaxies of kindness, and her smile was the sunrise after a storm. Evermore watched her, intrigued.
She wore no jewelry, owned no grand possessions, yet her contentment radiated like a hidden gem.
He approached; his ethereal form brushing against her mortal skin.
“Greetings, K,” he whispered, his voice a silk thread woven with curiosity.
K looked up, her eyes widening. “Who are you?”
“I am Evermore,” he replied, “A wanderer seeking stories.”
K tilted her head. “Stories?”
“Yes,” Evermore said. “The stories of desires- the ones that defy logic, that shimmer like stardust.”
K laughed, a sound like wind chimes. “Desires? I’ve never wanted much. Just peace, perhaps.”
Evermore leaned closer, studying her. “Peace is a noble desire. But surely there’s more.”
She hesitated, then confessed, “I wish for others to find joy. To see their dreams come true.”
Evermore marveled. Here was a desire untainted by ego, unburdened by self-interest.
“Why, K? Why this selflessness?”
Her gaze softened. “Because I’ve known hunger and loneliness. And when someone shared their meal or offered companionship, it felt like magic. I want to be that magic for others.”
Evermore’s heart stirred. He had expected grand ambitions and forbidden passions from this impeccable youth but K’s simplicity touched him.
“And if I told you,” he said, “that your desire could weave into a wine- a nectar that would heal hearts and ignite compassion?”
K blinked. “Would it truly?”
He nodded. “But first, I must taste your longing.”
They spent days together- Evermore and K. They watched sunsets and whispered secrets. He listened to her stories- the man who yearned for one last voyage, the child who dreamed of flying. Each desire, like petals in a cosmic garden, added depth to the elixir he sought.
Yet, K remained an enigma. Her own desire remained elusive. “What do you want, K?” Evermore asked one night.
She traced the patterns in the sand. “I want nothing for myself. But if my selflessness could touch others, then that’s enough.”
Evermore leaned close “Your desire,” he murmured, “is indeed, the rarest vintage- a wine that will heal gods and mortals alike.”
And so, Evermore blended the desires- the man’s longing for the sea, the child’s yearning for wings, and K’s selflessness. The wine shimmered, a liquid constellation, and he offered it to the higher gods.
“Drink,” Evermore exclaimed.
As the divine wine flowed, Evermore watched. The gods wept, their hearts thawing. And then he looked back to the land of mortals.
“What about K?” he thought.
She remained unchanged, her joy in giving undiminished.
Evermore understood then- the greatest desire was not to want for oneself, but to be the magic that touched others. And in K’s eyes, he glimpsed eternity.
So, when the stars aligned once more, Evermore returned to Earth. He found K.
Her hair silvered by time. She sat on the same bench, feeding pigeons.
“K,” he whispered, “your desire lives on.”
K smiled back- a wrinkled smile that still had the warmth of sunshine after a cold snowy night.
And in that quiet park, the God of Desire, for the first time, understood the secret of desire. He learned the bittersweet truth – that sometimes, the greatest longing was simply to belong. He held K’s hand and wept tears of contentment- at having met her again.
And so, they sat together, two souls entwined, sipping from the cup of eternity.
Writer : Eva Jain
Grade : 9 (Year 2024)
Place : Virginia, USA
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