The early morning moisture , enters my clothes and makes my bones aching so much . I barely manage to walk , to go to work and i also must pass throught the forest to cut some road .
Morning thoughts are trying to distract my brain from my body’s problems . I am the only one awake on earth so early in the morning i wonder , and a small yellowbird is passing inches from my head , giving me the answer .
I must quick my pace , because my animals is closed inside two days now , because of the tough weather and i should hurry to feed them . I’m a shepherd .
The forest i will pass through , has tall oaks , pines , old walnuts which stands so “serious” inside of this moisture morning .
It is in the South of Greece , in the land of Ancient Spartans . We also call it Sparta nowdays . My roots are from here , but i’m not someone “importand” , i’m just a shepherd , who tries to feed his family with lots of daily efford .
Many thoughts are coming in my mind .The fresh morning air smells “history” and it is so “heavy” .This ground hasn’t dried yet , from the sweat , blood and steel of the glory past . King Leonidas and his 300 , are somewhere around here .
If you close your eyes and strech your ears , you can hear “dead” history , which is alive .But something cuts my thoughts and makes me , turn my head . My adrenaline pops in the “red zone” , cutting my breath from surpise .
My heart is knocking so fast and my nostrils are struggling to put air in my lungs . Something or someone is there . But i’m the only one , who has animals and business here .
And so morning , just about the dark sky begins to leave his place ,to Light .I hear something , behind those bushes but i’m far away , i cannot hear clearly . I deside to get closer and satisfy my curiosity .
I control my breath with effort and , i walk towards the bushes .I ‘m so carefull with my steps , i’m 100% focus not ot make any noise and “betray” my presence .
I breath from my mouth now , cause my nostils cannot do the “job” anymore , my heart rate is a 1000 hits , per minute .
As i get closer , i can see clearly a shine , some kind of a light and the noise i heard before , now i ‘m sure is a talk .I’m getting more closer now , i’m very carefull not to make any noise .
Even the slightest .
I breath very carefully and sometimes i hold my breath .I’ve dropped my wooden stick and walk ducked , taking every step with extremely caution . I deside to crawl , to get closer , neglecting the nettles around .
And i do so .
I crawl with my senses in the “red zone” while fear and adrenaline is possessed my body and soul .What if i get in danger ? ”But i don’t care . I continue to get closer .
The shine gets brighter and the noise i heard before is now a dialogue for sure , a talk .
The moisture is very intense now , more dense than the other field and a “mystical” quiet is srpeading around .I stop the crawling . Now i see clearly .There is a cemetery a dozen feet infront of me , but with only one tomb in the middle of it .
I can’t see other graves , clouds of moisture is encircle the hole place , except this particular grave .
I can’t see any name in the grave , i look it from sideways .But infront of it , there is someone .Yes i can see him clearly . The bright shine is coming from him .
But JESUS , what does he wear ?
He is kneeling in front of the tomb , but i can see he wears an armour !!An armour as the ancient warriors were .
His body is FULL WITH SCARS , he is wounded in all his body and dried blood is all over him . His body is very muscled and his vains are easily visible . He is tall and in his age between 30 and 40 something . He is talking to someone , i cannot see from here . I stop breathing and strech my ears to listen . His voice is steady and rough :
” You’ve never believed i’d survive from birth , but i fooled you .”” You’ve never spoke an encourage talk to me as a kid , always criticize me as a i grew up , but i survived .”” You’ve never cared to feed my body right as a kid , but i survived .”
” You’ve never cared to feed my soul with love and acceptance , leading me to wrong directions taking advantage of my “hunger” for love , cause i was orphan , but i survived .”
” You’ve always tried to find my weaken spots and hit me hard with those , to “crack” my sensitive soul , but i fooled you , i survived .”
” You’ve never slept , trying to find my weaknesses and give me the final hit , but neither was i .” You’ve always smiled to me only when you want to paralize me and do your “job” , silently , but i know all your tricks .
”” You’ve always were sweet with me , to distract my brain for my life’s purpose so i’ll loose it , but you failed again .”
” You knew all my body needs and secrets , and you used them to defeat me , but i know better what i really want .”” You’ve used my darkest desires and emotions to make me turn to the opposite direction from my life’s goals , but you should have tried harder.”
” You’ve used my wounded soul from my troubled childhood years , to change my core of excistance , but my “roots” are so deep.
” ” You’ve tried to use ,lust ,substances ,vanity ,money ,glory ,fake passion ,mental illusions , primitive human fears to bend my courage , but i could saw you . ”
” You’ve whispered sneaky voices inside my head , telling me that i will fail to whatever i will do , because noone has make it before , but you measured things without my measuring tape .
”” You’ve given me , continuous failures with people ,friends ,relationships ,companions ,circumstances ,to lose my failth in people , but you thought unwisely.”
” You’ve given me “cold-blooded” betrayal from the ones i would have never waited , to make me hate , but you’ve “hitted” wrong doors again.”
” You’ve given me false body exhaustion , to make me stop from training so hard , but i’m so stuborn.”
” You’ve enlarged painfull emotions to drag me to sorrow and abandonment , but i believe . ”” You’ve given me ,body pain ,soul pain ,mental pain in the highest levels to make me reconsider , but i truly believe.”
” You’ve tried to make me do evil , to achieve my goals , but how fool you are my friend …”
” You’ve tried to persuade me that being modest and humble don’t suit to winners and KINGS , but I sleep in a same dirt hole near my troops on battlefield , my friend.
”” You’ve made your best to make me lazy , but i woke up first of all and sleep only when the “job” is done.
”” You’ve ordered me to believe and worship statues and magicians , but only ONE orders me .” ” You’ve offered me with big smiles ,the easy way but i know the toughest is the one which makes the difference.”
” Without your PRECIOUS help , i wouldn’t have been here today realizing my Truth .”” I will never see you again in my life . THANK YOU ”
At once the soldier stands on his feet , in front of the grave.He smiles so wide and crying so intense at the same time .
His armour glows brighter than ever , and his body has NO WOUNDS anymore . Only GLORIOUS scars .
He makes a turn , he raise his head looking the sky and starts walking , but his feet don’t touch the ground . He’s fading , inside the moisture and quiet prevails . Nothing is hearing .
Noone else is here , only the grave the warrior talked to .
But who’s tomb is this ?I breath regulary now , i get up and go towards the tomb to see . In a glimpse of an eye , i stand in front of the tomb .
It is a very dusty and dirty tomb , with no carvings and stuff like that . I cannot see any name through this dirt . I kneel and with my hand , i wipe the dirt trying to see the deceased .
The written name on the tomb’s plate , sculptured thrifty but glowing so brightly in the middle of this old plate is :
” KING LEONIDAS”
I stand up and the moisture , doesn’t exist anymore .
The BRIGHT SUN exist only , this magnificent morning . I take my wooden stick and continue my long road