Always Diamonds
By Earvin Eugene
Copyright © 2020 by Earvin P Eugene
All rights reserved.
The diamond shines more bright than any other object. It is profound that it is created perfectly in such harsh conditions. Diamonds are forever! It is molded to be the hardest of all stones. Personally, I am lackluster in the jewel. The obsession by many is a topic of vanity. To own diamonds is self-preserved impurity. Its aligned ridges and transparent view do not motivate me. If it would be praised as some sort of tool for its unearthly qualities, there could be a discussion. "Always Diamonds" is brought to my attention. Whether for a ring for marriage or for some supreme gift to a loved one, it baffles me. "Always Diamonds" reminds me of a fierce narrative. A brutal story of unprincipled self-conceit. The draw of an enchantress combined with futility.
This myth resembles folklore. It collected plenty of notoriety. Some suggest it as the opposite with notability for the lessons it offer. A form of art to converse on literature. Thoughts on life after death became meaningful. Also, concepts of beauty are mentioned and ideas of how to label such things. And with many fables, some people believed it all to be true. Nobody is alive today to bear witness to such past events, but we can all imagine the story.
The tale takes place in North America, long before modern settlers. The land was bountiful and majestic. There were clear water rivers, green forests, and healthy animals roamed. The sky was always blue with few clouds. Sunny days were common. Mountains appeared in the distance, seeming like a mirage. The fertile land stretched on in what felt like forever. It was Manifest Destiny before people deemed it that. In the country resided a leader. He was of a royalty. His father was the leader of the land before him, and his grandfather before his father. The leader found a pretty lady to be his wife. She was elegant and kind. The two spent their time living free. Always happy without a care in the world. One forsaken day, the wife became ill. The cause was unknown. There was no real documentation of time but the myth, established that they lived healthy for a couple of years. Now the sickness and death of the wife occurred quick. A time lapse of only six months. The death was a tragedy.
The leader dealt with the loss of his wife poorly. He fasted. He was miserable. And he rarely left his chambers. The kingdom was not at ease. The subjects were worried he may even harm himself. The leader reflected and recalled how his wife appreciated diamonds. All the things reminded him of diamonds, the spas, the gardens, the palace itself. The fable even suggests that the tradition of a wife wearing a diamond ring began with the lovers. As the leader gifted his living wife a diamond ring. Only two seasons ago they embraced the palace together. The kingdom loved seeing both of them together.
Contemplation led to a decision. The leader would build a shrine for remembrance and mourning of his wife. It would be beautiful! The first task at hand was crafting the coffin. It would be of the smoothest wood with diamonds embedded on the corners and the center. It took weeks to mold the amazing coffin from idea to product. Word spread of the marvelous creations the leader was prepared to make. The followers were at awe from the finished casket alone. The leader put the cist on display. The diamonds were magnificent in the sun. This followed a speech by the leader and his staff. He proclaimed that the box would be situated in a spectacular tomb. In the coming months, the tomb was projected. It contained colorful glass windows embroidered with diamonds. At night when the moon light shined through the aperture it was a sight to see. On the walls of the tomb were drawings of moments shared between the husband and wife. It possessed the caliber of images that could be rendered by a camera. The villagers could not believe it. They wanted to pay their respects. The leader ceased their actions and stated, "Do not welcome this tomb, as it will be enclosed in a stupendous building. Then, it will be finished and we all shall embrace it." Many believed the leader was obsessed. They thought this venture was becoming ridiculous. All were afraid. Townspeople and associates would not dare bring the leader down to earth.
The construction would take a couple of years to complete. It mimicked a chapel. It was developed with pillars with custom diamonds. The layers were extravagant. From the outermost layer presenting a chapel, in the middle a tomb, and innermost a coffin. Finally, in awkward celebration, everyone said their prayers to the dead wife. Inside the coffin she rested. She was dressed in brilliant garments with a diamond ring on her finger. The entire day was dedicated for her appreciation.
Alone, in the palace, was the leader. He was not fulfilled. The chapel was created to be in perfect view from the palace. His team provided bad news that the kingdom was now in great debt. The only thing the leader could say was, "I cannot look at that monstrosity…"