•The Crown•

It’s a long winding road, this path that I’m walking. I don’t understand. I look to the sky. Darkness. Constantly surrounded by darkness. Then there are wasted hours of just, walking. Confusion consumes me. I try and try to understand why? I often times cross people on the path. Most of them stare. Some will smirk. Others spit. While others stand on their balcony and point down at me with disgust. These people don’t understand that we walk the same path, we share the same road, we feel the same darkness and share the same confusion. Who are they to look down upon me? Why do they disrespect and tell me that I’m worth less? 

I finally reached a town of King and Queens. Then there’s me; a peasant boy. I sweep the streets they walk upon, I clean the thrones they boast upon, I make the meals they dine upon and in return I get.. nothing. Instead they laugh and call me their little peasant boy. They don’t understand the time, the effort, the humiliation. 

One morning, shortly after sunrise, I walked into the forest and dropped to a knee. I raised my hands to the sky, and pleaded,“Oh lord, father, if your there please come to me.” Minutes went by with nothing but silence. I dropped my head in dismay and turned to walk away, but then a light shined onto me. I glanced up, but had to shield my eyes from being blinded. I was suddenly over taken by a voice, “My young one. What may it be?”... “It’s the village, they don’t understand. I’m only a peasant to them. I work and work to prove myself, but nothing... nothing but disappointment.” “My boy, you’re all viewed the same by me, rather you wear a crown or sweep the streets. It’s not about how much you have. It’s about what you do with what you were given. In the end, the people who indulge in their humility will rise above those who are ignorant in their greed.  Remember son, it was never between you and them anyway.” The voice disappeared. 

That day, and every day after, I swept the streets, I cleaned the thrones and I prepared the supper. But every night I’d sleep with a smile; because I knew in the end, I’d be wearing the crown.