Despair

Once, there was a man who had never known compassion, who had been rejected by the world, abandoned even by hope itself. One night, he sat alone in a dark, cold room, the weight of suffering crushing his light. Pain consumed him. Despair whispered poisonous thoughts into the deepest parts of his mind.

Then, a shadowy figure appeared in the corner of the room—almost bleeding through the concrete walls. It was sly, malevolent, and hungry, a whispering predator in the darkness, its presence vile and cold. As it spoke, its hissing, rasping growl cut through the silence, running shivers down his spine.

It offered him power. Everything he could ever desire, strength beyond measure—but at a cost: his soul, his values, his very essence.

The temptation was unbearable. He felt the power he would get. His once burning eyes were now filled with cold ashes. An evil smile spread across his face. The world had given him nothing.

But as he reached the edge, he felt it—a spark inside, something he refused to surrender. Broken, exhausted, drowning in despair… yet he said no.

And in that refusal, everything changed.

He realized later that what had saved him was not strength from the outside, not power bought with his soul. It was the very thing he had refused to give away: his inner light, his humanity, his choice. From that day forward, he no longer sought anything from the world. He held the one thing the world could never take from him: his choice.

In a merciless world full of cruelty, weakness and death,
he chose love, compassion, strength and life

He refused the wicked choice and chose love.
He makes that choice every day again and again.

That gave him more power and strength then the shadows ever could.

If the world ever offers you power at the cost of your soul… remember him. Remember the man who refused. Let him guide you.

-Yanni