Fireflykit stood in a grassy field. The field was large and spacious, stretching out for eons, infinite in distance in every direction. He glanced around anxiously, taking in his surroundings. A long, dirt line divided two halves of the field. On one side of the line, the Spirit of Benevolence stood. A gentle light enveloped them, warming their presence, causing shadows to flee from before them. On the other side of the line stood the Spirit of Selfishness. They were shrouded in faint mist, with a shrewd, calculated smile. The Spirit of Selfishness spoke first. “Who will you choose, Firefly? You can only choose one of us.” Firefly stepped away from the Spirit of Selfishness, immediately leaning towards the warm, soft glow of the Spirit of Benevolence. This only caused the Spirit of Selfishness to laugh softly. “Firefly… don’t be so hasty in your choice. If you come to my side, there is safety. Self-perseverance. You never have to lean on the strength of others again. Once you’re made an apprentice, you run free… free to do whatever you like. I can give you so much, Firefly…” The Spirit of Benevolence remained silent, watching the exchange. Firefly glanced between the two, hesitant. Why did this choice feel so difficult? It should’ve been an easy pick, but… Firefly turned to face the Spirit of Selfishness. “… there’s so much that I want. You have a lot that I want…” He turned to face the Spirit of Benevolence. “Yet… my heart is with you…” Silence. Firefly’s heartbeat thrummed, setting a metronome of anxious waiting. Then, Fireflykit laughed. “I… I don’t have to choose.” He sat down on the dirt line, glancing between the two. “Here, I… I can have both. I can have a little bit of benevolence, a little bit of selfishness, I can have the best of both worlds.” Firefly believed he had outsmarted both Spirits. He believed he had found the best outcome. The light of the Spirit of Goodness faded. Darkness encroached into firefly’s vision. Fear settled in firefly’s heart. Out of the darkness stepped the Spirit of Selfishness. Firefly instinctively stumbled back. “No… no, no, no, I didn’t /choose/ you. I didn’t /choose/ anyone, I sat on the line! I stayed on the line!” The Spirit of Selfishness grinned, a twisted, evil grin. They leered forwards, eyes sparkling in the dark. “My sweet, innocent Firefly… I own the line. And now, I own you too.” Fireflykit awoke in his nest, drenched in a cold, anxious sweat.
“Choose ye this day whom you will serve.” Joshua 24:15
