The Colors of the Moon🔊

Once upon a time, in a small village near the woods that lived off of farming and breath-taking scenery, lived a young man named Tom. He was a promising painter, a precocious talent often dubbed as the Renaissance man of his little settlement. Unlike others, Tom didn't see the world as it appeared; he saw the hidden beauty, the unobserved emotions, and the unknown hues, all which he eloquently portrayed in his canvas.

Rumor of Tom's skill reached the eyes and ears of the wealthy, eccentric Lady Pearson, who decided to visit the small village. Lady Pearson was known for two things: her love for art and her unyielding determination to own what she fell in love with. Finding Tom's artwork as a breath of fresh air, she was determined to own a masterpiece painted by him.

Lady Pearson approached Tom with an irresistible offer. She demanded a painting of the picturesque full moon, a spectacle revered as a divine barrier between heaven and hell. The lady promised Tom unimaginable wealth and fame. Overwhelmed, yet anxious, Tom accepted the offer, fully aware that his painting would not only represent his talent but also his village's honor.

Throughout the month, villagers watched as Tom worked tirelessly, observing, sketching and painting the full moon every night. They saw his fascination and dedication, their hopes and expectations mounting with each brush stroke. Yet they whispered in hushed voices when he would halt his work, staring forlornly at his unfinished painting.

As days turned into weeks, Tom too was filled with doubt. He felt like his painting was missing something, something elemental that distinguished a scene from reality. As the deadline loomed menacingly, Tom was found deep in thought, a familiar agony of unfulfilled creativity gnawing at him.

One evening, as Tom gazed at his unfinished painting, his old grandmother came to him. She handed him a family heirloom - a small prism. It was from his grandfather, who had been a great painter in his youth. As the last rays of the setting sun filtered through the prism, it cast an enchanting spectrum of colors that bounced around the room.

Tom was awestruck. Slowly, an idea formed in his mind. He realized that it was not the moon he was portraying, but the omnipotent light it reflected. The moon was simply a canvas on which the sun imprinted its magnificence. With new vigour, he worked on his painting, the prism becoming his muse.

When the painting was unveiled before Lady Pearson, she was stunned. The moon that Tom had painted was unlike any other. It was a blend of hues that was enchanting. She examined it closely and realized the brilliance behind the myriad of colors.

Delighted, she rewarded Tom with more than what she had promised. His fame spread far and wide, and the legend of the village's prodigious painter and his moon was born.

In the end, Tom found the missing element he had been seeking. It wasn't the moon he had painted but the complete experience of watching the phenomenon: the touch of the cool night air, the sound of the rustling leaves, the feeling of peace, and most importantly, the hidden colors that only few could perceive. The prism did not just reveal the colors of the moonlight; it unveiled the colors of his own passion and his artistic message - that true beauty, like light, was always there, waiting to be discovered.