Valentine: The Saint - Part 7

ParvinThe crowd had appeared in the middle of the square for another reason than to welcome the dawn. They had come to kill the Roman traitor. The crowd was made of mostly  intoxicated men and excited young boys. The soldiers stood behind the crowd keeping order. They kept eyeing a large pile of rocks.

The small thin priest hunched in the middle of the mob looked over the crowd.  For weeks the rumors had stirred of the priest weakening the Roman forces. He had betrayed the town and caused the anger of the Emperor. All the goods and supplies were stripped from the people. Their houses had been ransacked and people pulled from their beds to be interrogated by the swarms of soldiers inhabiting their public spaces.

The people were forced to tell the actions and words of the priest. They soldiers told lies about the harm the rebel Christian had caused. He became responsible for the deaths of their sons and husbands. His execution was set the previous afternoon to be an example of what treachery and disobedience would result in. The men drank late together and talked of their hatred. Asterius was among the men but could not believe the words. He had remembered the kindness and love of the priest. He was never a believer in the Christian way, but always thought Valentine was a saintly man. He sat with the men of the town as they swore their vengeance. The time had come.

Asterius was behind the Valentine. He looked out on the faces of the mob and saw the scorn. He could do nothing to save the ailing priest. He walked up and untied his hands. Valentine’s face was filled with a peaceful disposition and his eyes looked far away from the hysteria. Asterius believed in this man’s holiness. He had seen many men come to this point and they all held fear. This man stood in peace. He looked at the priest and saw the God he had heard so many times from Valentine’s words. Valentine would not die in anger or hatred for the people who had betrayed him. Asterius was unsettled with this man’s faith and was about to stumble away when the priest’s hand grabbed his cloak. No one saw the exchange between the priest and jailer or the heard the words.

 “Tell them God forgives them for this action.”

The jailer was stunned for the words seem to come from a deep cavern and echo in great volume.

“Take this note to your daughter and her sight will be restored. Keep the blossoms as a reminder of God’s love for you and your daughter. He has taken pity on you and knows your faith.”

The man took the note and slipped it into his cloak. The words kept echoing in his ear as he walked away. He turned and walked through the crowd who had already started throwing rocks. He heard the roar as the priest was pelted. He knew when the priest fell. Asterius could see the horrible scene in his mind. The rocks would be all thrown when some of the men would walk up to the slumping body and begin to beat it with clubs. He hoped Valentine had slipped into the peace of death. Swing after swing would pound on his body and face leaving only the brutality of distorted flesh and blood as signs of this man’s existence.

He was home when they tied the noose around his head. The eyes of the crowd were filled with madness as they pulled him high above the rooftops and let him hang. He swung as the first heavy rays of the sun entered the city. The sun rose behind the body casting a shade on the crowd. He swung in the morning light as the people quickly dispersed. His body would hang for this sun’s life and be taken down with the night stars.

Asterius walked into his home and found his daughter looking out over the town’s square. She was blind but was crying at the sight of the priest. He went up and held her. She crumbled against his chest. Her sighs and heaves caused the stern face of the jailer to know true sorrow. He walked her to her bed and laid her down. He opened the note and the rose blossoms sprung to their full width. Their red covered his hand like blood. He covered her eyes with the petals and bowed his head. He waited.

Nothing was heard but the beating of his heart mingled with the sobs of his daughter. Then there was silence. He knelt down beside her and prayed to the God of Valentine. He did not know how long he stayed this way, but then he heard movement. She lifted her head and the petals fell from her face. She looked at her father with astonishment. She could see.

The light peered into the room and all was clear. She jumped up and hugged Asterius as he fell to the floor. He heard the words he had prayed for. The tears had changed from sadness to joy on his daughter’s youthful face. He lifted himself as his daughter ran to the window. He looked at the petals lying on the bed and saw the note in between.

 “From your Valentine, those who believe will see.” 

You can follow James Dugan’s latest writing on Facebook and on Twitter at jamesduganlb. Read more:

Valentine: The Christian - Part 1

Valentine: The Priest - Part 2

Valentine: The Prayer - Part 3

Valentine: The Comforter - Part 4

Valentine: The Prisoner - Part 5

Valentine: The Martyr - Part 6