Midas Touch
Beginner · ≈ 4 min story · 2 min read
King Midas loves gold more than anything, so when a fairy offers him one wish, he asks that everything he touches turn to gold. At first it feels like magic: vases, chairs, flowers, all shining. Then he cannot eat, and his little daughter Marigold runs into his arms and freezes into a golden statue. Heartbroken, Midas begs for his wish to be taken back, and learns that the people we love are the real treasure. A gentle bedtime tale about greed, regret, and gratitude, with a warm and happy ending.
Long ago, there lived a rich king named Midas. King Midas had a daughter named Marigold. He loved Marigold very much. But there was something else Midas loved... Gold. Lots and lots of gold. He wanted to have all the gold in the world. One day, a magical fairy appeared before him. “King Midas, I will grant you one wish.” Midas's eyes lit up.
“One wish? Anything I want?” The fairy nodded. Midas did not even have to think. “I wish that everything I touch turns into gold!” The fairy looked at him carefully. “Are you sure that is what you truly want?” Midas nodded eagerly. “Yes! More than anything!” And so... the fairy granted his wish. The next morning, Midas woke up and touched the vase beside his bed.
In an instant... the vase turned into shining gold! Midas could hardly believe his eyes. “It worked!” He touched a chair. Gold! He touched a table. Gold! He touched the flowers. Gold! Midas ran around the palace, happily touching everything he could find. “I'm going to be the richest king in the world!” But after some time... Midas became hungry. He sat down to eat. He picked up a piece of food.
It turned into gold. He tried another. Gold again. “How am I supposed to eat?” Suddenly, Midas realized that his wonderful gift might not be so wonderful after all. Just then, Marigold came running toward him. “Father!” Midas's eyes widened. “Marigold, wait! Don't touch me!” But it was too late. Marigold ran into her father's arms. And the moment Midas touched her...
she turned into gold. Midas froze. His beloved daughter stood before him... completely golden and still. “No... Marigold.” Midas forgot all about his golden palace. He forgot about being rich. He hugged his golden daughter and began to cry. “I don't want the gold anymore.” “I only want my daughter back.” Midas finally understood his terrible mistake. He begged the Gods to take away his golden touch. “Please take back my wish.” “Marigold is more precious to me than all the gold in the world.”
The Gods saw that Midas had truly understood his mistake. So they took away his magical power. The golden spell disappeared. And Marigold came back to life. “Father?” Midas looked at his daughter. His eyes filled with tears of happiness. “Marigold!” He hugged her tightly. This time... she did not turn into gold. From that day on, Midas understood what being truly rich meant.
It wasn't having a palace filled with gold. It was having the people he loved beside him. And King Midas never wished for more gold again. moral: The people we love are more precious than wealth. Greed can make us forget what truly matters, so we should be grateful for the things we already have.
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