From a distance, sunlight reflecting from the City of Gold conveyed all its perfection and none of its flaws. Unlimited value gleamed bright from every solid gold brick and mantle. Yet, ask any resident how it was created and they will struggle to answer for none dared to question its glory. Success, they had proclaimed without definition of how; victory they had shouted without naming their victory.

News in this great City read like tabloids. Legendary tales of imminent future wealth adorned the coffee tables of the most self proclaimed; each bragging in voice what they could not accomplish in spirit or fathom in action. Enlightened minds adorned rooftops to speak of unrestrained taste and egregious sensuality as the celebration of life. New celebrations were invented to honor newly named profits with obvious future potential. All agreed and drank to the unprecedented victories ahead.

Through course of nature, the waters around the City began to rise. The citizens responded by reinforcing the outer walls. When water reached the gates, they closed them; when it reached the windows, they sealed them shut with gold bricks. They worked tirelessly to erect barriers until at last, the water began splashing onto the City streets. The shiny gold walls groaned under the stress and bowed with the undulating pressure so that none could rest peacefully.

At dawn of the last day, each man and woman awoke to a choice, continue their belief in a delusion of safety or abandon the City of Gold to face a life beyond its false splendor. Within moments the citizens were divided. Those who felt proudest, stood firm to deny the change and those with the courage to change, erected simple wooden boats to carry them away.

Amongst this second group there was also division, for some could not understand why they must abandon the treasures they hold dear. Many secretly packed their boats with gold in place of food and water. Some even built boats of gold to carry them away.

Trickling, then rushing water began to fill the City. The proud citizens brought wine and music to the rooftops, convincing themselves fully that these temporary concerns would pass of their own accord (and certainly much quicker with fine wine).

Simple wooden boats, filled with the tools of survival, rose quickly and nimbly with the water. Those loaded with gold rose more slowly and the few of gold never left the ground, forcing their occupants onto the rooftops. A growing, desperate longing for escape began to rush over the proud as the waters rose.

When the rooftops were at last flooded, only the nimble vessels navigated to safety. The slower boats tried to follow, but found themselves unable to escape the burden of the proud. One by one, they dumped gold to hasten their escape only to gain more passengers carrying more gold until there was simply not enough buoyancy to keep them afloat. The survivors commented that each proud citizen died in celebration of everything they loved, and loved only that which led them death.