David Madore's WebLog: Gratuitous Literary Fragment #35 (Truth)

Οἱ τοιοῦτοι οὐκ ἂν ἄλλο τι νομίζοιεν τὸ ἀληθὲς ἢ τὰς τῶν σκευαστῶν σκιάς. It is from Plato's Republic. It translates as: Such men would consider as true nothing other than the shadows of artificial objects. Just a reminder. Although one who has seen a glimpse of the Truth is not likely to forget.

Have you ever had a wish fulfilled and cursed yourself for wishing? Enlightenment is what I asked for, enlightenment is what I spent fruitless years of meditation striving to achieve, and enlightenment is exactly what the mocking goddesses of Fate granted me for my prayers. For three seconds I was given the power of seeing beyond the silver veil of what we call reality.

It is since that day that they call me mad.

There is no repose for me now, for there is no drawing away from what lies beyond the veil. I cannot tell you what it is I saw, as there are no words to describe Truth—words are what bind us inside the cave, words are the guardians of the familiar falsehood. Nor would I be so kind and so cruel to bestow upon you the power that was unleashed for me. You could call me God, as the serpent prophesied: ונפקחו עיניכם והייתם כאלהים—then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods. You would crawl on your knees before me if I chose so. But you shall not: there is but one desire in me now—to lose this knowledge and be a man again, bound by the familiar fetters that I have been foolish to cast away.

And this is the one thing I am unable to do.