The Old Man and the Stars

 Once upon a time there was a man who lived by the sea.  

Every night, just before he lay down to rest, the sea would whisper into the heart of the man, telling him to look up.  And every night the man would ignore the sea, thinking briefly as he slipped into sleep that he had too much work to do the next day.

On a day when he had become an old man, he was hauling driftwood from the shore just as the sun set beyond the sea.  He had hoped to get another task done before turning in for the night.  But in the dark, he tripped and fell flat on his back. Stunned for a moment, he heard the sea whisper in his heart.  He opened his eyes.  That was when he saw the stars.

The sea ceased to whisper then, for there was no more need.

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