Punishment

On a cold winter night, an old man sat under a park tree.

All alone, he rested with misery.

Then by the passing of a few moments, a strange being approached and sat down next to him in company.

It asked him why on earth would you be in a park, alone covered in misery? 

The old man shivering faster than an eating squirrel replied, why don’t you just let me be!

Why don’t you just get on with your life and leave me underneath this tree?

The being smiling replied, I’m afraid that can’t be until you answer me. So answer me, old man, I am sitting with you underneath this tree. 

Stung, the old man’s sagging mask, spoke of confusion only 

While his eyes glorified the being’s bravery.

Never in his life, has another soul asked of him anything so dearly.

That the thought of someone else even caring to ask such a selfless question out of curiosity or humility, made him want to shed tears like a baby.

The old man Stuttering spoke finally.

He said, in his 92 years living, no one spoke with such modesty 

That the being was the first to care of him, genuinely.

And his reason as to why he had been initially sitting under a tree.

In his opinion, people say they care, but deep within, they only care for themselves truly.

And he has been touched by nothing but calamity.

All his life, imprisoned with immorality.

Treated with absolutely no dignity.

Incarcerated with loneliness, depression, illness, and anxiety.

Destitute to a life of mute isolation by the starvation of constant fatality.

Now, he hangs on by a thin rope, his sanity.

Crying the being replied, you have spoken the truth.

I have been watching you all your life, my name is Ruth.

I am an angel, and I come from the 4th haven, Lueth.

I have been assigned to protect you from the sun and expose you to the darkness of the moon.

To prevent the human light with you to bloom.

To be and see not a life of youthfulness until your tomb.

This may be hard to accept and consume, but this has been my assignment sent down from the great tooth.

A punishment, no rather a test for you, from the highest being, I think you know who.

The old man confused, finally asked, so why am I being punished?

And the being replied because you have been chosen to pay for humanity's evil deeds.