The man with a hundred faces

There once was a man who sold bright colours to a washed-out world. He was a man of humble beginnings whose reputation grew along with the demand for his colours.

As word spread, people wanted to know more about the man, so he travelled, and told his story everywhere he went. And people started to love the man because he shared because he shared something true with them.

Until, one day he was greeted by a vast crowd and found that he could not talk to everyone. So, he grew a second face. And the people were happy because they felt valued.

And as towns turned into cities and the cities turned into counties, he grew more faces. And to begin with, the people were happy.

But each face had a slightly different voice; a different set of ideals; a different mission, and soon the man’s story became disjointed.

One day, he overheard a conversation.

“I no longer know him. Which face am I talking to? The one I fell in love with or the one that only wants to sell me more bright colours?”

The man with a hundred faces had become unrecognisable.

And as the man with a hundred faces cried a thousand tears, he became aware of a colourful bird watching him. 

“I am lost,” grieved one face. “What should I do?” asked another.

“Tell me your story,” the bird said. “I will sit and listen.”

So, the man with a hundred faces told his stories. At first, all his faces spoke at once, but as the bird asked questions, the faces began to fade away. And soon, the man had a single story. The bird collected the story and held it close. 

“This is your story,” said the bird. “You can share this with everyone.” And the man projected his story into the sky. And the people cheered – for it was the story he had told them at the very beginning.