There were twin cities, once. Because of the stone they could quarry, one city was black and the other was white. They were called by those that lived there The City of Shadows and the City of Light, though their official names had far less poetry in them. They sat on either side of a great tidal river that was so wide it was hard to see one bank from the other.

Jem and Ez met in their boats in the middle of the river. Ez gave Jem a curling stone – the key to fulfill a prophecy so old it had been forgotten by all but the angels. When Jem turns the key, the cities will never be the same again.

Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy the story. If you do, and want more – become a podcast patron on Patreon! Patrons receive bonus stories not found here (there are many waiting for you already, and another added every four weeks), and other goodies - including my undying thanks. Literally undying... even after I'm dead and gone, my thanks'll be hanging around, haunting stuff. You can find out more about what’s on offer and subscribe at ⁠patreon.com/canitellyouastory⁠

You can also follow Can I tell you a story? in these places:

IG: ⁠instagram.com/canitellyouastorypodcast⁠

FB: ⁠facebook.com/canitellyouastorypodcast⁠

Many thanks to Satya Matteo for creating the music for this podcast – if you’d like to check out more of his music, you can find him in these places:

satyamatteo.bandcamp.com/⁠

facebook.com/soundoftheheart/

instagram.com/satyamatteomusic/

I’m sitting on my uncle’s headstone, drinking a glass of claret. He always used to tell me: be careful what you wish for, which never made much sense to me. Why on earth would I want to do that? Wish wildly, wish with abandon – that’s always been much more my style.

Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy the story. If you do, and want more – become a podcast patron on Patreon! Patrons receive bonus stories not found here (there are many waiting for you already, and another added every four weeks), and other goodies - including my undying thanks. Literally undying... even after I'm dead and gone, my thanks'll be hanging around, haunting stuff. You can find out more about what’s on offer and subscribe at ⁠patreon.com/canitellyouastory⁠

You can also follow Can I tell you a story? in these places:

IG: ⁠instagram.com/canitellyouastorypodcast⁠

FB: ⁠facebook.com/canitellyouastorypodcast⁠

Many thanks to Satya Matteo for creating the music for this podcast – if you’d like to check out more of his music, you can find him in these places:

satyamatteo.bandcamp.com/⁠

facebook.com/soundoftheheart/

instagram.com/satyamatteomusic/

I sit on the shore with a photograph I've never seen before, remembering another photograph, that tore my family apart. My therapist says I need closure, but I'm pretty sure that hope is dead. Pandora's white moth, crushed underneath the rest of the mess when she finally opens the box...

Thanks for listening. I hope you enjoy the story. If you do, and want more – become a podcast patron on Patreon! Patrons receive bonus stories not found here (there are many waiting for you already, and another added every four weeks), and other goodies - including my undying thanks. Literally undying... even after I'm dead and gone, my thanks'll be hanging around, haunting stuff. You can find out more about what’s on offer and subscribe at ⁠patreon.com/canitellyouastory⁠

You can also follow Can I tell you a story? in these places: IG: ⁠instagram.com/canitellyouastorypodcast⁠ FB: ⁠facebook.com/canitellyouastorypodcast⁠

Many thanks to Satya Matteo for creating the music for this podcast – if you’d like to check out more of his music, you can find him in these places:

satyamatteo.bandcamp.com/⁠

facebook.com/soundoftheheart/

instagram.com/satyamatteomusic/