The worlds among the river of stars overhead number in the hundreds of billions, unceasingly releasing light and heat over trillions of years. But on this long beach, a brilliant grain of sand will sometimes appear, blanketing the entire horizon's radiance with a twinkle and smile. The waves will eventually wash away every grain of sand... but those who remember that ray of light will thusly sing: "The cosmos envies his splendor." An infinitesimal, yet grand victory.