Broken Pieces

Written by; Joey

As the residents of Calvary awoke one morning, they were captivated by the presence of a magnificent amber glass statue of a woman. Her eyes were made of diamonds, her hair was black Japanese silk, and her lips were red Saffire. She had mysteriously appeared overnight, and her beauty mesmerized the entire community. A deep desire to worship the deity overcame them, and the villagers felt compelled to honor her. Standing in the morning sun, as they gazed upon her regalia, the amber being breathed softly, her bare breasts rising and falling like gentle waves crashing against the seashore, The villagers stood in awe as she seemed to come alive before their eyes, they watched in disbelief. Soon everyone began kneeling at her feet, worshipping her amber-crystalline beauty. With great urgency, they gathered their finest lumber and crafted an exquisite pillar to place her on. Her canopy adorned with silk and prized fabrics, typically reserved for their most cherished celebrations.

For weeks, the townspeople stood guard, protecting the delicate form from harm as she sat perched on her pillar in a once-neglected garden. The place, now transformed into a meticulously manicured botanica, springing to life the everyday she sat in the secluded field. The Woman of Glass remained silent, never speaking, eating, or drinking, simply existing in her enchanting and embellished form. One evening, as Saul made his way to the garden, he approached her with offerings of fruit, gently placing them at her feet. To his astonishment, she spoke in a soft voice, "In whispers veiled, a gift is bestowed. Yet I cannot partake. For it is to the children that it is given, and every ailing child shall find healing in its wake. Rewards concealed; a mystery untold Unravel the riddle; secrets unfold."

Saul kept this revelation to himself, dedicating days to deciphering the riddle. Eventually, he came to understand that the offerings were meant to be given to the sick children in the village. The next day, he gathered all the gifts bestowed upon the Woman of Glass and fed them to the children. Miraculously, the deaf began to hear, the mute spoke, and the blind could see. The village was awestruck by this divine miracle. It was proclaimed that from day, Saul was her chosen guardian. With reverence, he fulfilled his duty, sitting alone under her canopy each day as she whispered words of prophecy to him. The village flourished abundantly with riches from the deity's word.

Soon Saul's eyes transformed into a covetous shade of green, his heart grew burdened by an insatiable thirst for riches. This unquenchable desire clouded his once sound judgment, leading him to conceal the sacred amber goddess from the eager eyes of the village, denying the community her flowing wisdom and abundance. Motivated by his own act of greed, Saul demanded monetary offerings from the villagers in exchange for fleeting moments with the goddess. The pursuit of wealth had blinded Saul to the inherent beauty and selflessness of the goddess's teachings. Desperate to know their future, the villagers willingly surrendered their wealth, even their last morsels of sustenance.

The villagers, weary of Saul's tactics and greed, conspired together in secret. Seizing the opportune moment when Saul was absent from his home, six of the strongest men in the village stealthily entered his dwelling. Their intentions were clear as they ransacked the house, hastily filling their pockets with any valuable possessions they could lay their hands on. Moving with purpose, the group made their way to the rear of Saul's home. There, bathed in the ethereal glow of the moonlight, rested the radiant glass goddess.

Overwhelmed by her presence, they instinctively bowed in reverence at her delicate feet. Love and warmth emanated from her, cradling the men. As their devotion to the goddess deepened, a faint sound reached their ears—the distinct rustling of Saul's approach as he unlocked his door. The moment had arrived, and the villagers knew they had to act swiftly. Their hearts resolute, they prepared themselves for the course of action that lay before them.

As Saul stepped into his home, the sight of the resplendent goddess bathed in the gentle moonlight captivated him. Setting down his bag, filled with bread and other provisions, on the kitchen counter, he made his way toward the glass woman. His intention was simply to bask in her beauty and absorb the soothing essence that emanated from her form. But as he stood in front of the ambered being, a sudden, searing pain pierced his back, causing him to gasp in shock. The unexpected agony momentarily paralyzed him. He felt the same searing pain repeatedly, each time more intense than before. The realization struck him with clarity — he was being stabbed, attacked by an unseen assailant. The six men revealed themselves as they delivered fatal blows, mercilessly attacking Saul. Weakened by the relentless assault, Saul stumbled forward and crashed into the diamond-eyed glass deity, causing both to collide with the unforgiving floor. The impact shattered her into a thousand pieces, scattering her beauty across the room.

As Saul lay dying on the floor, surrounded by the shattered fragments of the glass deity, his fading gaze caught sight of the six familiar faces he had once known. He watched as the men looted his home, taking jewelry that they themselves had once traded in exchange for the deity's wisdom.