She walked through curtains of shadow, the light of the sun just barely squeaking through the cracks in the canopy. Fallen leaves crunched lightly on the ground beneath her, the only sound for miles. There were no animals scampering about, no wind to shake the trees, nothing but the sound of her footsteps.
It was as if the entire world was holding its breath.
She came upon a clearing in the woods, where the sun was shining down from above with no obstruction. In the center of the clearing lay a man, eyes closed, arms folded across his chest. His face was the picture of happiness, the face of a man who has finally sat down after a long day's work.
She took a deep breath, then entered the clearing. She knelt down beside the man, her hand gently brushing his cheek. He had worked so hard. He had never complained, and he had always worked to make everything he did as perfect as it could be.
"Thank you." She said, "Thank you for making me strong, and for giving me confidence. Without you, I wouldn't have become the girl I am today." Her voice wavered, but it did not break. She kept a smile on her face, because she knew it would be what he had wanted.
She set a rose next to him, then departed.
Before long, another girl came upon the clearing. She also knelt next to him, but she could not contain her tears. They rolled down her cheeks and fell to the ground, "Thank you." She managed to say. A few minutes passed before she composed herself, "I was lonely, but you gave me company. You showed me friends, and the value of relationships. Thank you." She pulled herself to her feet, leaving behind a white-petaled flower.
Brushing the tears from her eyes, she departed.
A while later, a third girl entered the clearing, her sorrow hanging over her like a cloud, black and menacing. She fell to her knees before the man and cried. It was a while before she could speak, but she thanked the man, just as the other girls had before her, "Thank you," She said, "For you have shown me that, even though there is hate in the world, there is enough love and kindness to defeat it." She paused for a moment, "You pulled me out of a dark place, and for that, I thank you."
Placing a flower as black as the night sky next to him, she left.
As the sun began to set, and the light began to fade from the clearing, a fourth girl arrived, her face already stained with dried tears.
She stood over the man, who looked as peaceful as ever, "Why-" She caught herself, shaking her head, "I'm sorry," She said, "I shouldn't be asking you that." A few moments passed before she figured out what she wanted to say, "Thank you for protecting my sister and I. We wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you." She dropped the yellow flower that was hanging from her fingers, "I'll make sure to return the favour."
With that, she walked away.
And the shadow of night fell over the man, wrapping him in darkness. But even as night fell, the man's light did not die. It shone brightly in the hearts of the four girls, and in the hearts of thousands he had reached with his life.
Written in loving memory of Monty Oum. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him. He was an amazing man, one who inspired us all. We love you Monty.