Winter Wish

Once upon a time there was an old man. A very, very old man, in fact he was older than humanity itself. He lived on Mount Olympus and it was his job to bring winter to the people. Even though he carried out his job with great commitment, he could not help but feel a deep pain in his stomach every time he looked down upon the world. There were his beloved people, in all their uniqueness. Big, small, young, old…but all beautiful to him. He would watch them, running through the streets and trying to escape from the world he had created. From underneath their rooftops, from the bus stops and Winter Markets he could hear their voices rise. And every time he did, his wrinkles got a bit deeper, his back more arched until one day he simply couldn’t do it anymore.

The gods saw his struggle and decided to reward him.
‘You have served as well,’ they said.
‘And as a reward, we shall give you a choice. You can either rest with us in eternal bliss or get one of your deepest wishes fulfilled.’

The man looked down at all he would leave behind.
‘I have watched over these people and I grew to love them a lot. I wish I could be amongst them. Care for them and be one of them.’
The gods nodded and smiled at him.
‘Very well. Your loving soul shall be split into many snowflakes and descent to earth. One flake for each of the thousands upon thousands of humans you grew to love so much.’

And so it happened. On a cold January night, snowflakes swirled down from the sky, covering the earth with a layer of the brightest white. However, the humans failed to see him. They all just casually left their footprints on his soft surface. Carried him under the soles of their shoes to wherever they were going. All but one little girl who made a snowman out of him. With her tiny hands she molded every detail and every day she would return to add another object from her own room to give him his humanity.

The old man enjoyed the caring touch and attention so much that he decided to never move again. To listen to her soft voice and all the things she casually told him. Yes, he wanted to stay exactly there, but of course, spring came and with spring new warmth. As it goes when the heat starts to reclaim its place, the snow started to melt. He melted and melted, until he collapsed into himself, dropping all the things she had placed on him. He melted until there was nothing left of him but a puddle of water that disappeared in the city drain.

This seemed the end for this poor old soul who never managed to show the people the love he had always felt for them. However, the drain was connected to a water system and there he was split into water drops that would shower down on thousands upon thousands of skins that were eager for the comfort of a hot shower.