the future betrays us all

Upon now his favorite rock, overlooking the paths of the Bulvog packs, Galen once more takes his meditation. He has grown familiar with these regular communion with the residents of his own history. But there was something different, something new each time.

This time, it was even more different. Something of another strong feeling, not of his own, of anguish and regret, like the one he felt the last he felt from Andros.

A face flashed acrossed his mind, calling for his name. It startled him from his meditation.

"Kalia". He recognized in silenced breath.

"Master"? A young attendant woman bringing food asked.

He nodded to her with a smile. She smiled back and proceeded to her duties.

He looked upon her with some remembrance, noting the plain truth of her youthful beauty.

"Have you engaged with any young man?"

The girl looked up, blushing, she replied, "Yes, master."

"Is he a good man?"

"Yes, I believe so. Young Curanus. I believe you know him well."

"Yes. He is a good man. You should marry soon. For life is short, and full of regrets."

"We have time. We have our future."

Galen felt a great sorrow for her.

"Change is good and necessary?"

"Yes, master."

"We change the present by betraying our past. Those holding onto the past, always feel betrayed by the future. The future retains no loyal to what we hold sacred. The folly is not the unfaithfulness of the future. The future cannot be tamed like a pet, no matter how much we nurture it and shape it. The future betrays us all, sooner or later."

She looked puzzled by his words.

He smiled back, and continued.

"I was engaged once, a long time ago."

"What happened?"

"The future. It betrayed us both, and we were apart."

"What happened to your betrothed?"

"She could not forgive me, nor the future. She wandered this place for countless years, looking for me. But she could not. She found only despair and betrayal. She despairs still."

"Why couldn't she find you?"

"Because she betrayed me also. We are separated from the things we betray. We grow, we are separated from our past, because we betray our past. We continue onto the future, following the future, until one day, we cease to believe in the future, we betray the future, or the future betrays us, and we are separated from the future. Sooner or later, we all betray each other.

"And I am the greatest of all betrayers...."