Hey, it’s Luke from Unwritten Tomes.
Today’s issue is about facing too many choices, and the struggle of restricting ourselves to a single path.
P.S. I wanted to thank the people who answered the survey, I read every single response – it’s really cool to know who my readers actually are. Enjoy today’s story.
The moth who weaved a cocoon among the stars
A tiny silkworm formed a cocoon out of stardust.
He weaved it with great care and nestled himself in it for centuries.
For the first hundred years, he considered the shape and color he wanted to take. Once he emerged, he fluttered a beautiful silver pair of wings, inspired by the stardust from which they emerged.
He admired them for a moment, but when he gazed upon the galaxies stretching themselves in front of him, his wings seemed to lose their allure. All the colors and patterns, so much beauty to explore.
That one… That one is my favorite… A fiery red star reflected in its pupils.
And so it went back into the cocoon to form a new set of wings.
Two centuries passed before it emerged again. This time, his wings were a vibrant red, with flowing patterns glowing like the flames of a supernova.
About to take flight, he was interrupted by a beautiful golden dragon passing in front of him. He wanted to follow – to see where it was going, but his wings weren’t glistening like the dragon’s.
This time… This time, he could envision a perfect set of wings in his mind.
He went back to the cocoon, and he did it again and again. Each time, emerging with a different look – each time, slightly dissatisfied.
And while the month was spending yet another century in the darkness, forming what would definitely, finally, be the perfect set of wings – the stars it once wanted to explore were becoming dim and lifeless…
***
The perfect choice is an illusion. It exists only in your imagination, while chasing it, reality might pass you by.
🪞 Reflections of the story
Looking for the perfect solution.
It’s a trap we often fall into. The belief that somewhere out there, there must exist “the fix”.
“The fix” is an imaginary solution to all of our problems. Sometimes it feels like you’ve finally discovered it – the thing you actually want to do. Until you inevitably encounter new difficulties, and soon after – a different path that will definitely be the right one this time.
Trapped in this loop, you end up never experiencing real life. “The fix” does not exist – it’s simply a part of you that refuses to accept hardship.
The only path forward is to embrace the difficult parts of life. Throw away the illusion that an easier path exists. Embrace life fully and push forward with your head held high.
Share your thoughts!
The Creature Who Ate Names
It grew stronger each time someone was forgotten. One boy, after losing his sister, vowed never to forget – and faced the beast with only a whisper.
Marcus shivered when the cold wind came from deep in the forest. He squeezed the silver coin in his pocket – the one he fished out from the fountain after his sister made a wish. Yes, his sister. He had a sister… What was her name again?
He heard a crunch of snow behind him. Startled, he turned around, only to see…
📜 From the Author: Yep… sorry for the cut-off. This ~1200 word story took me 8+ hours to write, and I’m keeping it for members only for now <3
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