The Eternal Clock🔊

It was 1865, in the heart of New York City where life was filled with the sound of horse-drawn carriages and bustling vendors, among this chaos resided a humble clock shop named 'Timeless Timepieces', maintained by an old, thin man known as Abraham.

Abraham was known throughout the town as a man whose never aging face was analogous to his trade - time. He meticulously crafted each timepiece as if coaxing the soul into every gear. His most intriguing piece was an antique clock he referred to as the 'Eternal Clock', reputed to possess the power of changing one's destiny.

Abraham had a young son, Benjamin who was inquisitive and eager to understand the mystery of the Eternal Clock. The dusty piece contrived on only two occasions - the day of his birth and when he had turned twelve. Year after year it sat stationary, notwithstanding his father's efforts at restoration.

One dreary night, as the wind battered the windows of the shop, the Eternal Clock began to chime. Dread splayed across Abraham's face as he watched Benjamin turn eighteen. As the clock struck midnight, Benjamin suddenly collapsed. Abraham rushed to his son, but Benjamin was trapped in a sleep-like state. The doctor declared it an inexplicable coma and left the distraught Abraham alone, praying for a miracle.

After nights of desperate prayers, one night as Abraham gazed at the clock, a soft light started to glow from it. A spirit appeared, introducing itself as Kronos, the Greek God of Time. He revealed the truth of the Eternal Clock. He said, 'To liberate your son, you must make a sacrifice, only then can the wheel of destiny be turned. The clock would not function again until you've sacrificed your most beloved possession.'

Abraham was perplexed. The only thing he genuinely cherished was the clock shop, the embodiment of his hard work, knowledge, and love for his craft. Without a second thought, he decided to sacrifice it for his son, for, at that moment, he realized what truly mattered were not the timepieces he had spent his life crafting but the time he spent with his son.

The very next morning, he sold the shop. As the new owners took over, the Eternal Clock chimed once again. Benjamin stirred from his coma. Father and son hugged each other, rejoicing in their reunion. Life was harder without the shop, but it was filled with laughter and shared moments.

Benjamin, inspired by his father's sacrifice, took up watchmaking. He laboriously studied to outshine his father's talent and compensate for the lost shop. Alongside, he took up a job and managed to buy back the shop. The day he hung the signboard of 'Timeless Timepieces', Abraham, overwhelmed with joy and achievement, passed away peacefully.

Years later, Benjamin kept his father's legacy alive, incorporating Abraham's teachings and adding his unique flavor to each piece. The Eternal Clock resumed ticking, marking the beginning of an era where Benjamin propelled 'Timeless Timepieces' into a world-renowned enterprise. Although the clock still contained the essence of the old man's sacrifice, it now echoed Benjamin's love and dedication.

The tale of Abraham's sacrifice and Benjamin's diligence echoed throughout the ages, symbolizing the true essence of time not being confined to the ticking of gears, but the moments and sacrifices it encapsulates. Time was not just a measure of life, but life itself.