Johnston, weary, hungry, and thirsty from the endless hike, crawled up the summit of Mount Pulag—all for the young love awaiting his return.
She’d come into his life so late. In his mid-fifties, he suffered from frequent asthma and heart attacks. Drinking water from a magical well at the summit, they said, could bring back his vigorous youth.
There, the exhausted Johnston downed a mouthful of water from the fabled well. Sure enough, magic worked: his face and limbs glowed.
But then he dropped to the ground, gripping his chest, gasping for breath.
Johnston died an irresistibly handsome young man.
I like this. I love the ironic twist in the end. He got what he wanted just couldn’t live to see himself.
Thank you so much for the kind feedback! But some people say I was mean to do that to old Johnston. 😀
Great twist on the classic theme of “Be careful what you wish for”. Reminds me of the story of Tithonus in Greek mythology, whose goddess lover asked Zeus to make him immortal. Unfortunately, she forgot to ask that he be bestowed with the gift of eternal youth. Poor Tithonus indeed lived forever, but kept getting older and older and more decrepit, and ended up begging for death to put him out of his misery!
Love that story in Greek mythology for the same reason I loved writing Johnston’s story. Thank you so much, Carol! I’m glad you seemed to love the story. 🙂
Another good yarn, Charita
Thank you so much, Glenn! As always. 🙂
Well written. You can cheat everything but death, it comes when and how it chooses.
Thanks for the kind feedback! I couldn’t agree more. 🙂
Excellent – so much travail – and irony.
I’m glad you appreciated the story. Thank you so much! 🙂
Love this story! Great twist at the end.
Thank you so much! I appreciate your comment. 🙂