IN THE SHADOWS OF Time
The Voyage
Fenella loved spending her summer vacations at her grandparents' cottage. Nestled amidst tall pines and overlooking a tranquil lake, it was a place filled with warmth and cherished memories. Her favorite part of these visits was listening to her grandfather's stories, which always seemed to carry a hint of mystery and wisdom from years past.
One sunny afternoon, while exploring the attic with Grandpa, Fenella stumbled upon an old painting hidden among dusty books and forgotten treasures. The painting was simple yet striking—a serene landscape adorned with delicate script that read:
"Lost! One Golden Hour
Set with Sixty Diamond Minutes.
No Reward Is Offered
For It
Is Gone For Ever!"
Fenella was captivated by the words and the melancholy beauty of the painting. "Whose words are these, Grandpa?" she asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
"Yer grandma painted that," Grandpa replied with a chuckle, his white tuft of hair bouncing as he spoke. He looked at Fenella with twinkling eyes that seemed to hold a lifetime of stories. She almost thought he winked at her, as if sharing a secret between them.
"Your grandma believed in cherishing each moment," Grandpa continued, his voice tinged with nostalgia. "She used to say that time is the most precious treasure we have, and once it’s gone, we can never get it back."
As the evening sun cast a warm glow over the attic, Grandpa shared tales of his youth—of adventures in distant lands, of love found and lost, and of lessons learned along the way. Fenella listened intently, realizing that each story was a precious gem, a glimpse into the past that shaped their family’s history.
That night, as Fenella drifted off to sleep under the comforting blanket of stars, she held onto Grandpa’s words and the painting’s message. She understood that life was a voyage filled with fleeting moments, each one precious and irreplaceable. And like the golden hour lost to time, it was up to her to treasure every diamond minute.
Moral : Cherish each moment, for time is our most valuable treasure.
Original Ending Line : "No Reward Is Offered For It Is Gone For Ever!"
The voyage By Katherine Mansfield
