Elder Elegy
This short story is a preview for a collection of stories here: https://elijahrah.itch.io/elderly-elegy-a-short-story-collection
A video appears on his subscription feed, an elegy to an elderly man who had reached out to others online. He heard the music of the spheres and saw them vibrating in everyone who saw his videos. The sun burned on vibrating the spheres as a frail elderly man basked in the sun for his remaining days. Music created memories for the last mile of his trail. Everyone imparts ghosts upon one another. Everyone traces lines between the confines of each other’s minds. This was his minor tragedy but a major tragedy for the family of this small content creator. If only he could peer into the soul of the family, feel the truth of grief and loss, step out from the curtains of a minor tragedy into God’s stage, a major tragedy; cry so that God may find catharsis in the inadequacy of his creation. Grief is the incompleteness and satisfaction of our inadequacy.
He lets out a whimpered breath knowing that he will not be sad enough to cry, another minor tragedy. “He was a loving grandfather and father… he leaves behind 2 children and 4 grandchildren… he is with his wife now dancing to his favorite tunes… he discovered so much great music along with you guys… know that you brought him happiness and peace in his final days.” How lonely was he? He would never know. He would never know exactly how much happiness and peace he felt in those final days. Did he and others shine a light into a void that shall never be vanquished? Of course they did. But how bright did it shine? How much did the void swallow? How rebellious is the light of the spirit attempting against all nature to shine against the collapsing star that resides in our hearts? How rebellious were they in their unconscious solidarity? Questions are a never ending torrent pounding upon the fragile straw roof of a grief laden consciousness. We are water, fluid and changing, threatened to be gathered up in the deluge. Would the pond water temporarily turn him into an amorphous being? This event would never erase him entirely; only minor deformations; no breaking the surface after recomposing yourself, only a small expending of excess. He puts his phone down once the video ends. He sniffles and wipes his nose. It’s time to get on with his day.