In gray kingdom, in darkness and cold, in an arrogant city with pale flowers, mired forever in disease and hunger, trembling light of lightning, roar of night thunder. Empty palace room is stuffy with soot, young prince is sad, a tear glistens on his collar, his lips move, and it’s not a matter of conscience, but the meanness of the world, light of candles dances in dull gold. What can be heard in his whisper is a cry of hopelessness. Hopelessness, like that of someone flying towards an abyss, reason for this lies in voice, voice filled head, a father’s voice: “There is no sun in the sky without clouds, there are no princesses in the world - these are fairy tales for fools! And believe me - there is no God, son, believe me - there is no God." And he believed. And then one night, darker than soot, he quietly left castle past sleeping guards. Having violated ban that the king's father had given, but this was already It doesn’t matter, everything comes to end. He walked through wet streets away from city, through the withered grass, dead without the sun, through a forest that was blacker than wing of a black raven, through a thick thicket full of night rustles. Either a waking dream - everything was spinning around, or appearing in a dream - everything suddenly came to life and like a dull fog, a voice familiar from childhood, a father’s voice filled the darkness: “There is no Sun in the sky without clouds. There are no princesses in the world - these are fairy tales for fools! And believe me, there is no God, son, believe me, there is no God,” and he fell asleep. And then in the morning, under shade of an old oak tree, he woke up from an unfamiliar sound. From wonderful singing of birds that greeted the sun and in the distance on a hill saw a stranger. He came closer to him - and what did he see? There, below the hill, on sunny plain, with flowers in their hands, with wreaths in their brown hair, girls are walking in green meadows. “Tell me, old man, does it really happen that dark clouds in the sky do not hide the sun? And who are these maidens who walk in the meadows, so bright that heart skips a beat and melts?”. “Well, don’t you see or don’t believe your eyes that there is neither nor a cloud in the clear sky, and these maidens who weave flowers into their braids are all princesses,” - this is how the old man answered the questions. “Listen, dear old man, please answer me, because if all this really exists in this world, then there is God somewhere?”. The old man smoothed his beard and smiled: “I am God.” And prince returned. “Father, I saw the sun in the sky without clouds, I saw princesses so beautiful that words are not enough. Father, you know, I saw God, father, I spoke with God.” But king replied: “There is no Sun in the sky without clouds, there are no princesses in the world - these are fairy tales for fools, and believe me - there is no God, son, remember - there is no God, there is no God!”. «Father, well, I saw everything with my own eyes, just as I see you, I could touch with my hands, that foliage that grows under the clear sky, the elder God, princesses, beautiful, bright». “Tell me, son, did the old man stroke his beard?”. Prince thought about it, remembered and answered: “Did.” And crown flashed with a red evil ruby ​​and laughed king from his high throne. “This is a gesture of a magician, he deceived you, you would not have gotten into trouble if you had listened to me.” But these words flew after prince, and a voice sounded in his head, loudly, ringingly. "There is no sun in the sky without clouds, there are no princesses in the world - these are fairy tales for fools! And believe me - there is no God, son, remember - there is no God." And here he is in the meadow again. “Listen, old man, you won’t deceive me anymore, my father told me who you are, you yourself know, that there is no sun in the sky without clouds. There are no princesses in the world and there are no Gods, you are just a magician, and that’s all there is around, deception or magic is the work of your hands." And in the clear sky birds frolicked cheerfully. Old man answered him, in a fatherly, kind way: “Son, you shouldn’t be doing this, because I didn’t deceive you, you came yourself - that means it’s fate. Know that the sun shines brightly in your city and it’s full of princesses, even more beautiful than these. But your father, king, cast a spell on his son, and you don’t see them, you look past.” Then bitterness of resentment squeezed prince’s chest, he said goodbye and set off on his way back. “Dad, it turns out that you are not a king, but just a magician. Is this true? Just answer me honestly.” Father looked away, bowed his head and said nothing in response, stroking his beard. “Dad, does that mean the one in meadow is God, and not a liar? “He’s just as much a magician, and he deceived you!” But what will remain when the spell breaks? “There will be nothing left,” the father replies. “But I don’t want to live like this, among deception and lies, I want to die, order me to be killed!” And Death enters, and prince trembles with fear, Death is already dragging prince to chopping block. And then he remembered, like a wonderful dream, that green meadow and everything that he saw on it. And he shouted: “Stop! I can’t die.” Let everything be as it is, I’ll live somehow.” And Death retreated at once, leaving the palace and father hugged his son tightly for the first time. And quietly, kindly, he said: “Son, you know, you, too, will become a magician soon”.
(Fine Art Photography. Created in July 2024).
