Love
BEYOND GOODBYE
I still remember the day my world shattered into a million pieces. The day I lost my beloved friend, Harrietta. We had been inseparable since junior high school, sharing every laughter, every tear, and every secret. Her twin sister, Harriet, and I had formed an unbreakable bond, a trio of friendship that seemed invincible.But life had other plans.When we went to different high schools, the distance felt like an eternity. We promised to stay in touch, but the silence grew thicker with each passing day.That fateful day, I found myself drowning in despair, locked away in my school dormitory. I reached out to my mom, seeking solace in her comforting voice."Alice, I know it's not easy, but take it cool, we are sorry," she said, her words laced with empathy."Who told you I'm not okay?" I asked, confusion etched on my face."I knew it," she replied gently. "Because I know how you loved Harrietta, and she's passed away without saying goodbye."Time froze. The words hung in the air like a guillotine, waiting to drop."No! No! No!" I screamed, collapsing onto the cold floor.My mind refused to accept the reality. Harrietta, with her bright smile and infectious laughter, couldn't be gone.In a haze of grief, I called my mom back, pleading with her to stop the inevitable."Don't take Harrietta to the mortuary! She can't be gone!"But it was too late.The next three days blurred into a coma-induced haze. When I awoke in the hospital, the pain hit me like a tidal wave.Harrietta's presence still lingered, haunting my dreams. We shared meals, laughed, and reminisced about old times. But every morning, I woke up to the cruel reality – she was gone.Those dreams became my sanctuary, my escape from the agony.In one dream, we sat together, the three of us, sharing stories and secrets like old times. Harrietta's eyes sparkled, and her smile radiated warmth.But when I woke up, the silence screamed her absence.Losing Harrietta felt like losing a part of myself. The memories we forged, the inside jokes, the late-night conversations – all echoes of a friendship that would never be again.Tears streamed down my face as I gazed at our old photos.Why did you have to leave so soon, Harrietta?The question echoed through my mind like a mantra.As I navigated the labyrinth of grief, I realized that Harrietta's legacy lived on.In my heart, our friendship remained unbroken.And in those dreams, she'd always be there, smiling, laughing, and reminding me that even in death, love never dies.Days passed, and I visited Harrietta's graveside often. Her elderly sister, Harriet, would join me, sharing stories and tears.One evening, Harriet grasped my hand tightly."Alice, promise me you won't let this go," Harriet whispered, her voice trembling. "If someone...if someone had a hand in her passing, you must find out."I nodded, though my mind reeled in shock."We'll get through this together," I assured Harriet, my voice cracking.But Harriet's words ignited a spark within me. Could it be true? Could Harrietta's death be more than just fate?Determined to uncover the truth, I began asking questions.The investigation led me down a dark path, filled with twists and turns. Each revelation sliced through my soul like a dagger.One evening, as I pored over old records and interviews, Harriet sat beside me."Alice, I remember the day Harrietta confided in me," Harriet said, her voice barely above a whisper. "She feared someone was watching her."My heart skipped a beat."Who?" I pressed.Harriet's eyes clouded."She didn't say. But Alice, I know my sister. She wasn't one to imagine things."The room seemed to shrink, suffocating me.I knew then that I had to dig deeper.The search for answers consumed me, driving me to the edge of sanity.But with each step closer to the truth, I felt Harrietta's presence around me.Guiding me.Protecting me.And in the end, it was Harrietta's own words that unraveled the mystery:"Alice, I'll always be with you."Those words became my mantra, fueling my quest for justice.For Harrietta.For our friendship.For the truth.
By Samuel Asamoah2 years ago in Fiction
Love Is Blind
One hundred steps between my front door and hers. I know because I counted each one of them that first time, when her singing reached my ears. Her enchanting voice drew me in, made my heart race as one, two, three locks clicked open, then a pivot and the turn of a key locked my apartment back up tight.
By Laura Pruett2 years ago in Fiction
LITTLE CHAMPION
Three-year-old Jack sat at the starting line, his eyes fixed intently on the finish line. His father, a seasoned runner, had brought him to the track to teach him the basics. Jack's chubby little legs wobbled with excitement as he prepared to take off."Ready, set, go!" his father shouted.Jack sprinted forward, his tiny feet pounding the track. The wind rushed through his curly brown hair as he giggled with glee.Suddenly, Jack's attention shifted from the finish line to a butterfly fluttering nearby. He veered off course, chasing after the colorful insect."Jack, focus!" his father called out, laughing.But Jack was too captivated by the butterfly's dance. He followed it around the track, completely forgetting about the finish line.As they finished their "race," Jack's father scooped him up in a warm hug."You may not have crossed the finish line first, kiddo," he said, "but you won something even more important.""What's that?" Jack asked, curiosity sparkling in his eyes."You discovered the joy of exploring," his father replied. "Sometimes, it's not about reaching the finish line but about what you discover along the way."Jack's face lit up with understanding.Over the next few weeks, Jack returned to the track with his father. Each time, he'd start strong, only to be distracted by something new – a bird soaring overhead, a leaf rustling in the breeze, or a fellow runner's smile.His father never pushed him to focus solely on the finish line. Instead, they explored the track together, discovering hidden wonders.One day, as they strolled around the track, Jack's father pointed to a small, weathered plaque."See that, Jack?" he asked. "It's a quote from a famous runner: 'The real contest is always between what you are and what you could become.'"Jack's eyes widened as he read the words."What does it mean?" he asked."It means that the finish line is just the beginning," his father explained. "The real challenge is becoming the best version of yourself."Jack nodded thoughtfully.As the months passed, Jack's love for running grew. He still chased butterflies and explored the track, but he also began to understand the value of perseverance and self-improvement.One afternoon, as they prepared to leave the track, Jack turned to his father with a determined look."Daddy, I want to run across the finish line," he said.His father smiled."Let's do it, kiddo."This time, Jack focused on the finish line. His little legs pumped furiously as he sprinted toward the end.As he crossed the line, Jack beamed with pride."I did it!" he shouted.His father swept him up in a hug."You sure did, Jack," he said. "But remember, the real victory is beyond the finish line. It's in the journey, the growth, and the joy you find along the way."Jack grinned, already knowing that.From that day forward, Jack continued to run, always keeping in mind the lessons he learned beyond the finish line.Years later, as Jack stood at the starting line of his first marathon, he recalled his father's words.The real contest is always between what you are and what you could become.With a deep breath, Jack took off, ready to face the challenges ahead, knowing that the finish line was just the beginning.The crowd cheered as Jack crossed the finish line, his arms raised in triumph. Tears of pride streamed down his face as he hugged his father, now gray-haired but still beaming with pride."I did it, Dad," Jack said, his voice choked with emotion.His father smiled."You've always been a champion, Jack," he said. "Not just because you crossed the finish line, but because of the person you've become."As they walked away from the finish line, Jack realized that his journey had only just begun. The real victory lay beyond the finish line, in the lessons he'd continue to learn, the growth he'd experience, and the joy he'd find along the way.
By Samuel Asamoah2 years ago in Fiction
I can't live without you
Nora’s life had settled into a quiet rhythm, shaped by routine and solitude. Each morning, she sat by the bay, watching the fog lift, a cup of coffee in her hands, feeling the hollow ache in her chest that came with her husband Ben’s absence. She had moved to this small seaside town after his death, thinking it would help her breathe again. Some days, she found herself speaking to him as if he were still there, her words carried away by the morning breeze. One day, she noticed a man at the coffee shop she frequented—a stranger with a warm smile and a gentle laugh. He had a way of looking at the world, an openness that intrigued her. He always sat in the same corner, with a book in his hands, glancing occasionally out the window. Their eyes met one morning, and he nodded, inviting her to sit with him. They began meeting like this regularly, exchanging simple words that gradually grew into stories. His name was Daniel, and he was as full of life as she felt empty of it. He spoke about his love for hiking, his dream of traveling, and all the places he wanted to see. Nora felt drawn to him, to his ease and warmth. He seemed to understand the grief she carried, without needing her to explain it. One day, Daniel invited her for a walk along the cliffs that overlooked the sea. She almost declined, the weight of her memories holding her back, but she found herself saying yes. They hiked for hours, the crisp air filling her lungs in a way she hadn’t felt in a long time. Reaching the summit, they looked out at the horizon, endless and open. Standing there with him, she felt a spark of life return, a reminder of the world that still existed beyond her grief. As their friendship grew, so did the guilt in Nora’s heart. How could she let herself feel happy again? How could she let someone else in when every part of her still missed Ben? She had made a quiet promise to herself that she would never move on, that her love for Ben would remain untouched, as a tribute to him. But one evening, as they sat on a bench overlooking the bay, Daniel broke the silence, his voice soft and sincere. “Tell me about him,” he said. Nora was taken aback. No one had ever asked her that. She had kept Ben’s memory like a precious, fragile secret, tucked away to avoid the pain of remembering. But with Daniel’s encouragement, she found herself sharing the memories she held so close—how she and Ben had met, his laugh, the way he held her hand as if it was something precious. When she finished, there was a long silence between them. Daniel looked at her with understanding. “He must have been a great man,” he said gently. There was no pressure, no expectation, only acceptance. Over the following weeks, Nora felt herself softening. She still loved Ben deeply, but she was beginning to understand that love could take new forms. One rainy afternoon, Daniel kissed her, tentative and gentle, as if waiting for her permission. When she kissed him back, she felt something she hadn’t allowed herself to feel in years: hope. The days that followed were filled with both joy and sorrow. There were times she felt guilty, and times she felt free. She visited Ben’s grave, whispering her fears and asking for his blessing, her heart torn between the past and a future she hadn’t expected. Months passed, and on a quiet evening, Nora looked at Daniel, her heart filled with both the love she’d lost and the new love she had found. Holding his hand, she whispered softly, “I can’t live a day without you.” It wasn’t an erasure of Ben or a denial of her grief. It was a quiet promise, a vow to live fully, to honor her past and embrace her future. In that moment, she felt a peace she hadn’t thought possible—a life where love, in all its forms, could coexist.
By Grace Guise2 years ago in Fiction
The Queen's Absence
The river ran backwards on the day the Queen vanished. That was not the strangest part of the day. One of the Queen's handmaidens was a daughter of the sea-god, after all, and water reacted to her emotions. Pelegia - all of the Royal handmaidens, really - got twitchy when the Queen was endangered.
By Natasja Rose2 years ago in Fiction
A Tale of Fire and Water: The Forbidden Love Story of the Sea Queen and the Fire Prince
A Tale of Fire and Water: The Forbidden Love Story of the Sea Queen and the Fire Prince In a world where powerful elemental realms rule in balance, the love story of Nerina, Queen of the Sea, and Kaelen, the Fire Prince, has become the stuff of legends. It is a tale that speaks of the impossible, a love that defied not only their kingdoms but the very nature of their beings. Here, we dive into the rich lore of this mythical romance, exploring the origins, trials, and sacrifices that defined their bond. The Kingdoms of Sea and Fire The Kingdom of the Sea and the Empire of Flames were two of the oldest realms, each with its distinct power and influence. The Sea Kingdom, ruled by Nerina, was a world of flowing waters, vast coral cities, and oceanic mysteries. The creatures of the deep answered to her command, and her people revered her for her wisdom and compassion. She was a queen of serene beauty, her long hair flowing like waves, her eyes reflecting the depths of the ocean. Under her rule, the seas were a place of harmony, where even the fiercest storms bowed to her command.
By Say the truth 2 years ago in Fiction
The Shattered Kingdom
The river ran backward on the day the Queen vanished. The Schatten Queen faded into the shadows, leaving remnants of magic to wreak havoc on the traitors who betrayed her mate. Before she passed through the portal, she cursed the land with a dark and unbreakable spell. Her fractured soul would never recover from King Xavier's death, but Queen Amala's revenge would live forever in the hearts of the survivors.
By KA Stefana 2 years ago in Fiction
The Solution
The device was humming, so they knew they just had to hit the button. “Good morning! How are we today?” The hologram was always a nice touch, thought Mildred. She and her partner made sure to get the most interactive features on the device. They had set up the appointment over a year ago and were not going to miss the set up for the price they paid.
By Kendall Defoe 2 years ago in Fiction
