The Last Sacrifice

The long and arduous journey we had traveled was almost at its end. Our crusades had been silent and solitary. You maintained your distance, but always kept me in sight, wanting to ensure I was safe from harm. I led the way, revealing the elusive path and teaching you how to overcome the obstacles along the way, not with my words but with my actions. You observed, but also never spoke. You'd kept your intentions private prior to our excursion as well, so your silence was a familiar melody.

As the path ahead dissolved into iridescent clouds of blush and powder blue, we found ourselves facing a large altar of the purest white marble. Behind the altar stood a Being from which shone the soft, warm light of unconditional Love. The Being towered high above our heads, twice as tall as the average man, with massive antlers extending impressively from each side of Its head, pulsating and radiating with signals from unseen sources. It stood silently, dressed in earth-toned cloaks with arms outstretched in welcome as we approached.

"You've almost completed this stage of your journey," the Being said, in a voice much softer and more humble than one would expect from such an imposing figure. "Now comes your final test before you are rewarded." My breath caught in my throat as my mind flashed through the series of challenges we had just completed. I wasn't sure I was capable of overcoming yet another.

The Being laughed. "Put your worries at ease, child. We've observed every step of your journey so far. We've seen your sacrifices and the example you set for your companion. This will be the simplest of your challenges yet. You've been preparing for it your entire life." It beckoned us closer to the altar, smoothing Its hands over the glossy surface. It looked down at us with eyes that shone with pride and said, "Your final task is to give your Love. Once your Love is left on this altar, you will be free to proceed forward onto the beautiful path ahead. This next stage of your journey is one of happiness and peace and comfort, but your Love will show us if you are worthy."

The Being had told the truth. This was the easiest task for me so far. I'd come into this life with more Love than a human could possibly hold. I'd given away so many pieces along the way, and still carried so much that my bones ached with every step. At points in my life, someone would come along and help me carry my Love for a short while, but would always leave, telling me that it wasn't worth the burden. I would have to pick back up the full weight of it, made heavier by the roughness with which it was discarded.

Relieved to finally have a place to let it rest, I laid the entirety of my Love on the altar. Even the sturdy marble shuddered under the sheer mass of it. The shiny top could no longer be seen under the collection of scribbled poems, heartfelt songs, and crumpled drawings. Visible among the tangle of daydreams and memories were giggles at long-forgotten inside jokes, soul-piercing stares, and light brushes of the fingers that left the skin blazing with intensity. The entire mess was awash with an ocean of tears shed over Love rejected, Love denied, Love unrequited.

The Being chuckled. "I told you this would be easy for you. Now, your turn." The mass of my Love disappeared as the Being turned toward you.

"I don't have any Love," you said.

"Nonsense," said the Being. "All humans are given Love when they Become."

You shrugged and looked down at your feet. "I don't think I ever had any."

The Being softened and radiated even more Love than before. "You do. You've forgotten, but you always had Love. That's why you followed her on this journey. You recognized it in her." You shook your head, unable to speak.

The Being sighed. "You don't remember what it looks like, because your Love looks different than hers. I will help you to remember. Give me every piece of grief and disappointment over opportunities lost. Give me every second of joy and wonder. Give me your strength in the face of adversity and your desire to provide. Give me every moment in which you helped a stranger or protected another living thing. All of these are Love. Love can be hidden, mistaken, misplaced, and misused, but it was always there. You wouldn't have made it this far without it."

You stepped up to the altar, and with a loud ripping sound from holding it back for so long, your Love came pouring out onto its surface, piling higher than you ever expected. With the relief of letting it go, tears flooded your eyes and trickled out onto the pile, only adding to the mass of your Love.

The Being smiled down on both of us. "You've completed your final task. Since you've both sacrificed all of your Love, I will replace it with something new." It waved Its arm and engulfed us both in a haze of white light, while an energetic cord of silver wove its way across the space between us. "Your Love was too much for each of you separately, so now your Love will always be with each other. You recognized that from the beginning. That is why you are on this journey."

The Being and the altar then disappeared, leaving us alone to begin the next phase of our voyage. We don't know what's ahead, but we know we have Love.