AZUL
BEYOND THIS VEIL OF TEARS.
CREATION.
“Have you created your World?”
“Yes, I have. But I have a question.”
“What is your question, Puer?”
“You instructed me to choose five virtues. Virtues that I would want to be the pillars of the world I could create and inhabit.”
“That is correct.”
“You also said that when I am born that I would not know my place or station in this world of five virtues that I create.”
“That too is correct.”
“Well, my question is, if I am born into this world and it is not of my liking what am I to do? Can I change it after I am born and if so to what degree?”
“First I would advise that you do your best to choose wisely. Second. Yes, you will be able to make changes to your world after you are born. But the level of success will depend on your will and where and to whom you are born to. The lower the station the greater the struggle. If you are born into power and privilege the struggle will less but there may be other unforeseen difficulties.”
“I understand. I believe that humans call that - “the luck of the draw.”
“But know this Puer that whatever awaits you beyond this veil of tears, it is up to you how you live it and what you leave behind.”
“What are the five virtues that you have chosen to be your pillars?”
“The first is freedom.”
“Why freedom?”
“Well, everyone should be free. Free to speak and do what they want when they want to.”
“And your second?”
“Second is Strength.”
“Why strength?”
“Strength is important to keep people save and to overcome troubles and adversities.”
“Very well, and third?”
“Third is justice.”
“And why justice?”
“Justice is important. People must be held accountable for their behavior. Those who break the law must be punished.”
“Fourth?”
“My fourth virtue is bravery.”
“Of all the virtues, why bravery, Puer?”
“Bravery is important because we need people to step and be strong when times get tough.”
“Ok, and finally what is your last virtue?”
“My last virtue and by far the most important virtue - love.”
“Love? Why love?”
“We all need someone to love and to be loved by. If there is no love there is no sense in existing. Love is all we anyone really needs.”
‘Ok, Puer. Are you sure these are the virtues that want to be the foundation of your world? Freedom. Strength. Justice. Bravery. And Love?”
“Yes, I do. These are the virtues I hold to be the bedrock of the world I choose to be born into.”
Luck of the draw.
“Doctor you are needed in the lobby!”
“What is it nurse?”
“I pregnant woman just walked into the building and passed out from an apparent overdose.”
“Sweet mother of god. I will be right there. Call an ambulance to take her to the hospital. It sounds like this is more than an Urgent Care facility can handle.”
“Will do Doctor.”
“Doctor, you are here. This is what we know. The patient is three weeks late. Before she became unconscious she stated that she was a drug addict but stopped when she got pregnant but mixed-up pill bottles and ended up taking a drug she called gray death. We administered a dose of the Narcan nasal spray, but it appeared to have no effect.”
“Perhaps nurse it may save her baby.”
“Her water also broke right before you walked out. We were able to go through the contacts on her phone and we left a voicemail for her mother.”
“Great thinking nurse. Lets get her into one of the exam rooms and look under the hood if you get my meaning.”
“Got it.”
“How is she looking nurse?”
“Well Doctor the baby is crowing. More than that he is slowly working his way into this world.”
“What? Let me see. Why yes he is.”
“Be ready nurse to catch him when he is done birthing himself. Unbelievable.”
“Holy Azul. Hail the Santisima, full of love and grace!”
“What was that nurse?”
“He is blue doctor. A live and well, but blue from head to toe.”
“The mother is gone. No pulse. No other signs of life. Time of death twelve am.”
“Doctor the ambulance is here.”
“Any word from the deceased’s mother?’
“No doctor.”
“How is our little patient? Azul I think you said?”
“He is fine. Azul is blue in Spanish. I think he will be ok. But what a way to come into this world.”
“I know right. He is a survivor for sure. He will need to be. No mother. Inflicted with Argyria. Even the whites of his eyes are blue. He is going to have a long, hard row to hoe. If there is a god may it show mercy on this little soul.”
“Doctor you must see this. Come quick.”
“Ok, right behind you.”
“Prepare yourself. If you think his birth was off the charts, check this out. I will open the door.”
“Great Caesar’s gonads! What the hell?”
“Yes, Doctor, he is a full-grown man. Did not see that coming.”
“Is he conscious?”
“No but his vitals are optimal with no signs of distress. He is in perfect health.”
“This is one for the medical journals, Guinness World Records or the Marvel Universe.”
TRUE BLUE.
“Azul, where are you my boy?”
“I am in your office Doctor.”
“There you are my boy. How goes the studies?”
“I believe I just about memorized all the books in your office and everything on the internet.”
“Really? Do tell.”
“I just told you Doctor.”
“I know my boy. It is an expression of affirmation.”
“Humans. What an odd species. I guess there is always more to learn.”
‘Yes, Azul there always is. Just when you think you have it all figured out, something new will so its ugly head.”
“Ugly head?”
“Another expression. Sorry about that. We humans have a bunch of them.”
“Azul do you know why you are blue?”
“Yes, Doctor Smith, I do.”
“No need for all the formality. Just call me Smith.”
“Yes, Smith. I do. It is a rare condition called Argyria. It is caused due to prolonged physical exposure to silver.”
“How do you think it came about in your situation?”
“Well Smith, my mother was very lonely. She had no one since her mother died. She saved an old prepaid cell phone that was her mother’s. She would call it just to hear her mother’s voice when it went to voicemail.”
“Ah, that is why her mother never showed up.”
“Excuse me Smith?”
“Never mind my boy continue.”
“Well Smith, the only thing her mother left her was a set of silverware used or it appears not used for eating.”
“Quite right, Azul. You could call it a keep’s sake. You don’t use it. You just keep it for the sake of keeping it. Also called a memento.”
“You humans make no sense. But okay. She also used various cremes and lotions for stretch marks, burns and wounds. Also, since she gave up narcotics when she realized she was pregnant she sucked on lozenges to help her with her cravings and help her to stop smoking. She also used eyedrops because of dry eye and all these products contained silver. Hence my blue skin, eyes, and internal organs. I am bad and blue to the bone.”
“Why yes you are Azul. Yes, you are.”
“It has been a week since you were born. You can’t wear scrubs every day. I will have nurse Melody take you shopping for some new clothes tomorrow. Also, you can’t continue to live in the supply closet either. Tomorrow at the end of the day after you come back from shopping plan on coming home with me. I have a spare bedroom over my garage. You can live there for the time being.”
If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
“Thank you, Smith.”
“Think nothing of it.”
“About what Smith?”
“Funny Azul. You are catching on.”
“Catching on?”
“Stop it, ha ha. Do you want to see an old man wet his pants?”
‘No, I do not”
Fit to be tie dyed.
“Nurse Melody, just call me Blue.”
“If you just call me Melody?”
“Okay, Melody how does this shirt look on me?”
“Tie dyed? Hum, I don’t know? How about a bowling shirt?”
“So, pedestrian, so common man. I love it. The blue one. I would like seven. One for each day of the week.”
“Okay Blue, now what about pants?”
“How about these 501 jeans?”
“Yes, but not the stone wash, or acid wash. Or it is chinos for you, Sir.”
“Dark blue it is. And shoes? Are these moccasins cool?”
“Cool? Listen to you? Yes, they are cool.”
“So, seven pairs of jeans, one for each day. Okay?”
“Okay, and a pair of moccasins. What about sox and underwear?”
“I will pass on those.”
“Okie dokie then. Commando it is.”
“Commando? Another human expression?”
“You are catching on my friend.”
“Friend? Yes, friend. I like that. Friend.”
“Now let’s address the stank factor?”
“You mean my body odor, don’t you?”
“Yes, indeed I do.”
“Is it bad?”
“Yes, but we all have hygiene challenges of sum kind.”
“Melody what is yours?”
“Seriously, Blue?”
“I’d rather not say. Wow, before you can socialize with other folks you need some etiquette training.”
“I have seen this term before. Then will I be able to go to the cotillion with the rest of the debutants?”
“Now, you are just being an ass.”
“Here is a bag of toiletries I picked up at the drug store.”
“For the stank factor?”
“Yes, and don’t forget to floss. You are going to be living with the doctor. Please, please, please do not do anything to embarrass the man. Be on good behavior. Got me?”
“Yes, Melody my friend. I will behave myself.”
“I am counting on you Blue.”
“No worries. I will study more about human behavior and social graces and perhaps you two will be able to release me into the jungle you call society.”
“Maybe. Perhaps one day you will be free to wander and explore this big blue marble.”
“Freedom? I surely hope so.”
“Alrighty then. There is the doctor’s house. Here is the key to the apartment above the garage. Go in and make your self at home. There is food in the fridge. He is giving a lecture at the college and will be home late. He said to make yourself at home and that he will see you in the morning.”
“Good night Melody. Thank you so very much for all that you have done for me. I won’t let you down.”
“Good night Blue. Get some sleep and I will see you soon. Adios my friend.”
A WORLD APART.
Azul didn’t sleep. But he found a way to rest. He meditated. He took a pillow off the bed and made himself comfortable on the floor. Then he assumed the full lotus position.
Azul in his short life wondered if perhaps he was a god, or maybe an alien. He knew something wasn’t right. Yes, the Argyria explained his skin color but what about all the other factors.
He had total recall. Unbeknownst to Smith and Melody he could read minds. He also had incredible strength. He tested his IQ, and it was unmeasurable with the standard tests. He was all knowing, and all seeing. He believed too that he was not mortal but hadn’t tested that yet.
Besides the shopping trip he had no other contact with humankind, and he had no desire to spend time with them. He thought they were ignorant, belligerent, selfish children that could not play well with others. If he had his way he would cleanse the planet of them and be done with them all, all that is except Melody and Smith.
The more he thought about it, he considered the idea that he may be Krishna. Who is an avatar of Vishnu which is the protector and preserver god in pantheon of Hindu gods? He felt more like Shiva the destroyer who was also alleged to be blue. Either way, Azul was not happy. But he didn’t show it or discuss with his two friends.
So, he thought he had a choice. He could either destroy humanity or help to protect them from themselves. He remembered his conversation with the gardener before he was born. He had designed and created this world. To destroy it and all the virtues and pillars on which it stands would truly contradict his intent. An expression came to mind – you made your bed now you sleep it in. He had come to appreciate these silly human sayings. He had to admit that they held some weight and most often could not be argued with.
He would speak to Smith in the morning and discuss his revelations with him. Azul would share with Smith all the things he had not told him. Those things he had been keeping to himself. He thought of another virtue he should have added – truth. Perhaps if there were more truth – objective truth accepted as fact the world would not be in such a state.
It frustrated him that a percentage of people could not or would not believe the truth that was presented right before their eyes. He appeared to him that people in power played games with the truth and information to manipulate those they were supposed to serve and protect. The more he thought about the people who inhabited his world the more he felt compassion for them. Another virtue to add – compassion.
He was still sitting full lotus when he realized he was not focused on his breath. He was struggling with his stillness. He had much that distracted him from his meditation. Azul realized he had a responsibility to those who inhabited his world. He created it and in doing so created them. He thought of himself their father in a sense. But also, their mother. It was his duty – another virtue to add, to look after them and to keep them safe and to help them see the light and guide them into it.
He stood and went to the bed and lied down. For the first time in his very short life, he slept. He fell deep into sleep and into the world of dreams. He dreamt that he was on the moon looking down on earth. He felt cold. He saw down below a beautiful planet of blue and green. In his blue heart he began to feel a warmth that spread throughout his body. He felt love for Melody both emotional and the physical kind. He felt a love for Smith that was like that of a father and respect for him that was like that of a pupil for his teacher. He slept for a good long time and savored these newfound feelings. He was slowly developing his human nature.
FEELING BLUE.
“Azul, are you awake?”
“Yes Smith. Come in.”
“How are you enjoying your new home?”
“Very nice. Thank you.”
“Nice shirt. A classic. I used to belong to a league. I could’ve gone pro.”
“But you chose medicine instead.”
“Yes, I did. I am a simple country doctor. I consider myself more of a healer.”
“Smith, I have not been honest with you. There is much I have not said that I should have.”
“Well, unburden yourself my boy.”
“Okay. Where to begin. I don’t think I am mortal. I have super strength. I can read minds. I only must ask the question and I have the answer. I feel I am here, but at the same time everywhere. I can see into the past, future, and complete aware of course of the present. All these things I have come to grips with, but I do not understand why? I first thought that I might be a god, or an alien. I don’t know. You are a man of science. Perhaps you have a theory on why I am the way I am?”
“Well, Azul, to be completely honest. I have no ideas. What you said about your mother explains your blue skin. Or does it? I don’t know. The gifts that you have, I cannot fathom even a theory. It is like you are a character of a science fiction novel. The fact that you seem omni potent and present makes one think of a god yes but what is a god anyhow but a character in a story. Religion and all its tomes are all just ancient fiction full of stories of man’s inhumanity to man using a god and tall tales to explain it all away.”
“Smith you are correct. Then why am I here and what am I meant to do and what does it all mean?”
“The age-old trifecta of questions. Pretty much sums up man and his quest to figure himself out.”
“If even I with all the powers and gifts that I have cannot figure it out – what is a blue man to do?”
“Perhaps just be, Azul. Just be.”
“That is not enough Smith. Not enough.”
The doctor shrugged his shoulders in consternation. And before he could stand to leave Azul began to shimmer in the bright morning light and he smiled at Smith as he slowly began to fade from view. The good doctor looked around like he had seen a ghost. As he struggled to get his bearings he heard the door to the apartment close behind him.
In the deep recesses of his mind, he heard a voice say – farewell doctor, I know what I must do – I must be the one, the all, above and below from the beginning and until the end – I Am Azuliel. The Arc Angel of Love and Compassion.