Saint Valentine

"So, I'm thinking that you'd like to live forever, right?"

Valentine had been startled out of his skin, when the angel appeared, minding his own business, thinking about love. He was a loving sort of man. A man who loved God. A man who loved marriage. A man who loved Love. It was a great thing and should be treated as such, as should all the associated Love attributes: respect, trust, companionship to name a couple.

"Um, well, I'm not a vain man," Valentine said. It was true. He wasn't vain but he did think that if Love could endure in some way and that way could be through him and his legacy, then he was up for it. "But I do think that my name could be used for the power of good."

"I see, I see," the angel ruminating in front of him in all his bright whiteness, like he'd been on a hot wash with a particularly good detergent. "Well, I've got an idea and I think I can sell it to God but there'll be a price unfortunately. To pay."

The angel had been distracted but was now still, focused and intimidatingly fixing his eyes on Valentine, who, it had to be said, was unsettled.

"Death, I would imagine. Probably horrible."

Valentine wasn't sure that this was something that he wanted but he was committed to Love and if this was what God wanted, then he was prepared.

"Oh. Right." Horrible death, Valentine thought. But if Love would endure? He was willing to pay. For Love!

"And you're sure that Love will endure? The sanctity of marriage and vows? That my sainted name will be used for good?" Valentine, again, was not a vain man but sainthood was good, venerated and he did feel like he deserved it. Though he was not a vain man.

The angel was distracted again and looked away. "Yes, yes, yes! All of that." The angel switched his head again to Valentine. "So, you're in?"

Valentine thought something felt off but nodded in good Faith.

And with that nod, the Devil gloried in the acquiring of Love and its associations with Valentine for his growing mercantile portfolio.

***

366 words

I'm sorry to be cynical about Valentine's Day but heck, it is all just a little commercialised, isn't it? I mean, we don't even call it St Valentine'sDay anymore, do we? Anyway, I thought I would explore the moneymaking Love day in this little story.

And I am a romantic fool at heart, I promise. Just check out this, if you don't believe me:

Thanks for stopping by! If you do read it, please do drop a comment as I love to interact with my readers.

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