The wind began to pick up, whistling as it passed through the trees. Suddenly, Vladimir thought he heard a whisper in his ear. It sounded as if a voice said “Hurry,” urging him on towards some unknown action.

Instinctively, he looked up at the sky and saw that the thick clouds were coalescing; in a moment, the light would be gone. He sighed deeply and returned his gaze to the ground, looking away from the golden illumination at the very moment the sun disappeared behind the clouds. Vladimir’s deepest fibers told him that he had just consigned himself to the darkness forever, but he felt no remorse.

In his heart, he knew it was where he belonged.

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