The price of a dream

 "If money is all you can offer, here, I have much more." I felt the cold metal hit my face. The earth embraced the rest with a soft sob. "Please sir, I just need a hand full of grains, its for my children. They are dying."

The thud of the door was all I got as a reply.

Its a pity, I had faith in gold. "If only I had some gold", I had convinced my self as I traded a man's life for his gold, but, even gold failed me today. What worth does gold have, when the Gods are out in vengeance. A world cursed by the Gods, death the only answer to all our prayers.

All I could hear was their cries, the pangs of hunger, the frail bodies. I could not stand it any more. Their cries became my only source of courage as I pushed my dagger down the man's heart. I searched for grains, but only gold did I find. My eyes brightened, for gold could buy solace to hunger, but the door shut on my face told a different story.

The walls to his house were easy to climb, and slumber played a part in his demise. The bundle of joy wrapped in the nature's gift to humanity, the handful of grains. His safe was not difficult to find. With my loot close to my heart, I fled the ravaging dogs, and the gnashing guards, grudging vengeance for their fallen master. The chase was long, arduous, tiring, but victorious I emerged as the hounds lost my scent, thanks to the turbulent stream I waded.

My house was just round the corner. My body was tired, the lack of food and sleep for the past three days had taken their toll, but the joy of finding the last hand full of grain for my children fueled my spirit. I pushed on.

The lights were dead and the house was still. There was no crying. "They would have slept of hunger, they will wake to a sumptuous meal", I monologued to my self. The door I opened had a different tale. The strong stench of death welcomed me as I pried the door open. My beloved lay motionless, with a dagger to her heart and a letter in her hand.

"They stopped crying."

Those were the only words. Next to her I found the lifeless bodies of my children. They cried their way to death, and a morsel I could not spare for their last meal.

The air grew thick, and grief engulfed me in its cold blanket. Three lives I took, and the Gods took three from me. Vengeance was served that day. Gods would be happy. A tear forced its way out of me. I had failed to protect what I swore to protect.


                                                    **************************************


"How did the simulation end?" Agness was curious about the new model they had developed.

"It was the closest we could simulate a global food crisis. Good job, I see a good research paper out of this." John replied, turning the dashboard into the view.

The last line of the dashboard read: 

"[18/09/2023 13:05:40] Total Death by hunger: 1.5 Billion

[18/09/2023 13:05:41] Simulation End."