Big Crimson Love

“You are the most beautiful woman, nay, creature I have ever laid my eyes on!” cried the

Sailor in delight. Never had he ever met someone so beautiful, so magical, as the woman
he was talking to.

“Well, aren’t you a sweet man?” said the woman in the water. Her tail was swooning back

and forth as the most heartwarming smile appeared on her face. They had been chatting on the
shore for what seemed like hours. It started when the Sailor heard the Mermaid sing. Oh, that
sweet voice! It could lure any man to her, just like it lured the Sailor. Then, he saw her, and
they just talked. They talked, and talked, and talked.

“I can’t say I am. But you, my darling, have stolen my heart, and you are gripping it ever

so tightly. I am frankly somewhat ashamed that I let myself get seduced so easily. Oh, tell
me about your home, sweet princess. Tell me where you come from!”

The Mermaid giggled innocently at his compliments.

“Well, you are not wrong about me being a princess.” said the Mermaid.“My father is the

king of all of us Merfolk. We live not far from here, just a couple of miles away.
There really isn’t much to do there. Our pastime includes swimming, occasionally
collecting human artifacts, and some other activities. But we mostly just swim.
Oh, and we sometimes come to assist humans. I know our laws say that we
have to remain a secret, but many of us, such as myself, can see that you
humans have suffered a lot. It’s just so hard, you know? I have always
wanted more in life than just to swim but it seems like I can’t have that life.”
the Mermaid sighed. Goodness, even her sighs were beautiful to him.

“Well, to make you feel better, my life isn’t perfect either,” remarked the Sailor.
“When I was seven years of age, a dreadful fire claimed my house and the lives
of my parents. I was left orphaned an alone. That is when I learned how to survive.
I lived eight years as a street urchin: hunting wild animals, stealing from innocent
people, and many other horrible acts that I will never forgive myself for. One day,
someone found me attempting to steal his harpoon. He could have handed me over,
but he didn’t. He took me under his wing, and trained me to become a worthy sailor.
However, life is very difficult for me. It seems like there is always something new
to deliver, or somewhere else where there are pirates trying to loot and plunder.

But, I have recently been thinking about settling down. Starting a family.” the Sailor
turned to the Mermaid as a cheery smile appeared on his face.

“My beloved maiden of the ocean… would you kindly, please, leave the ocean and
join me on land, where we can live together forever?  Oh, please, I beg of you,
say yes!” The Sailor held  her hand tightly. The Mermaid blushed.

“My, that is quite a request…” The Mermaid said as she attempted to
embrace him. “I… I think it might just work. Oh, but I’m not sure if my father
would allow it. I will have to ask him. If he agrees, he’ll transform me into a
human. I hope he does.” The Mermaid looked down as she muttered something.
“I… I love you.” she said. That is all the Sailor had wanted to hear from her all day.
A confession of love from the melodious lady.

“I love you too darling. I will come back tomorrow to pick you up. Then, I will
introduce you to my captain and explain everything.” the Sailor replied. The Mermaid
nodded in understanding.

“I guess I’ll see you tomorrow. Goodbye!” the Mermaid exclaimed as she jumped back

into the ocean.

The following day, the Sailor went back to the shore in which he first met the Mermaid.

He went to look for her, but he could not find her.

“Darling? Darling, where are you?” the Sailor cried, but there was no response.

Suddenly, he heard a voice. A beautiful, enchanted voice singing the most
beautiful song he has ever heard.

“My love, I have found you!” the Sailor exclaimed. But when he turned to the direction

of the voice, he saw the Mermaid with another man. As the other man came closer,
the Mermaid embraced him, and dragged him into the water. The sea turned from
light blue to crimson red. The Sailor approached the area, just as the Mermaid
came out of the water.

“My love! There you are! I was looking all over for you.” said the Mermaid.

“I saw everything.” the Sailor uttered with difficulty.

“You… you did…? Oh, my dear, it’s not what you think! That man tried to
kill me!” cried the Mermaid, her beautiful, ill-intended voice was desperate.
The Sailor knew better though.

“I can’t believe that the woman I loved with all my heart…” said the Sailor
as he was taking out a harpoon, “would be my greatest prey.” Tears streamed
down his face.

Benajah, Nsey. “Mermaid Generic.” ABC News, Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 10 June 2018, www.abc.net.au/news/2018-06-11/mermaid-generic/9849844.

Cupid's Touch

“Red String of Fate .” Sketches, Doodles, and Tragedies, Tumblr, 24 Feb. 2014, 78.media.tumblr.com/2f1fd6da64f43290a6267717bb1ab7b4/tumblr_n1j758TsFQ1sqiwzqo1_1280.jpg.

I met Hugo on a snowy day in December. I had spent my day pretty productively - I brought together 4 different couples who were fated for each other. I know it sounds bogus that I claim they were truly fated for each other, but I’m actually quite certain... see, I have a gift of sorts. Some have called it a blessing, and others have called it a curse. I’m still not firmly decided on either. In essence, I can see soulmates. I know, some people don’t believe soulmates exist, but I say “don’t shoot the messenger” - you can take it up with Cupid, not me. Nearly every person has a “love line,” or a string wrapped around their wrist that connects to another individual. If both halves of the couple are ready to be in a relationship, I can see their names woven together within the rope. There were only two instances when I witnessed soulmates finding each other firsthand, and each time they touched their love line began to strengthen and pull them towards each other. Hugo’s love line was unique. It extended from his wrist forward and then just…. stopped right in front of me. None of the love lines I’d ever encountered had just ended so abruptly. Even if their soulmate was dead - which has happened - the line is just half as thick as a normal love line. This was something completely new. Hugo figured that something was off, most likely from the expression of utter shock on my face. He seemed to be the sensitive type, so I didn’t quite know how to break it to him, but he actually took it very well. Bear in mind, this was the first marginally interesting thing that happened to me in my two years of matchmaking, so I was very committed to figuring out what was wrong, and (as is to be expected) Hugo was too.

We ended up pulling an all-nighter, reading and re-reading the few books I had on the general topic of love lines, but it’s not exactly something many people can write about. When we weren’t reading, we were discussing theories or just getting to know each other a bit better. He went home that morning, leaving his number and plans to meet at the library to see if they had any books on love lines.(It was a huge reach, but it was the only option we could think of).

I went to the library a little bit early to return the books I had and perhaps find some new ones. I walked around the corner of the philosophy section engrossed in the back of my new book and promptly collided with someone. As I glanced up to apologise, we both laughed. It was Hugo, but something was different. His love line (although still sticking straight out towards me), was glowing a bright red. I felt a swoop in my stomach as the shade of the line began to spread over my face.

“Oh, are you okay? Why are you so red?” Hugo began to rub his head where we had collided as his eyes met mine, anticipating an answer.

“Oh, uh - I…. your, your line is…. It’s glowing. Red.” I stammered out. He promptly turned a proper scarlet to the very tips of ears as he connected that fact to our crash course in love line lore last night.

“So…… maybe we should… uh, talk about that?” He began to fidget with the hem of his shirt.

“I- I’ll…. Can I talk to you later? I’ve got to go… do something. For my mom. Text me and we can figure it out.” 

I turned and veritably fled the situation. On the street everything looked different. All the love lines floated nebulously around me, making my vision faded and semi - hazy. Even the line between a couple that was holding hands and obviously in love was a vague pinkish tone.

We met at a little diner down the street from the library that evening. I slid into the booth across from Hugo; neither of us managing to make proper eye contact.

“I think I’ve figured it out,” I murmured. “Firstly, as you probably guessed, we’re soulmates, hence the glowing love line. But when I left yesterday I realised every other love line was fading, and…” I hesitantly placed my hand on his, and realised how much brighter our love line had become since the day before.

“And ours has only turned brighter, which only happens when….”

“When two people are falling more in love,” He finished quietly, finally lifting his eyes from their intent study of the table pattern. “But I thought…. I thought you can’t?

“I did too, but…. Well, here we are I guess. I do believe it, though. ”

“But if you don’t have your power, everyone else will have to survive without….you know….. What you do, and we can’t have that. What do we do?” He looked at me, his eyes swimming with worry and a hint of what I (perhaps wistfully) could have thought of as love. We both knew the most logical solution, but neither of us wanted it to be true. I had thought hard that afternoon, trying to wrap my mind around the idea that I could actually fall in love with someone. But I realized this morning when we collided in the library that being with him I can be myself, and he makes me genuinely happy.



And I finally knew what to do. This power that I’d been given, it really wasn’t a blessing or a curse. It was a gift, a gift for me because without it, the rest of the world can stumble through awkward first dates and heartbreaks, but without that gift,

I would never have been brave enough to find Hugo or love.

Lovely Smile

Going Alone. Digital image. Chennai Voice. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://www.chennaivoice.com/2015/01/travelling-alone/>.

Sally told me that she had a wish, since the loss of her right leg and her family from the fire when she was eight. She wanted to travel to the seas, mountains, and any other places far from Prague. She didn’t have anyone who could accompany her until now, and she wanted us to travel together. I told her that I would surely go if that was her wish for her birthday, and she replied back with a lovely smile striking my heart. I was starting to love her.

It was her birthday. I went to a store to buy a hat for her as a birthday gift. I asked the assistant to help me in finding the most attractive hat ever. Sally and I promised to meet up at the central bus station by 1 P.M. but she wasn’t there when I arrived. Then, I saw a horde of people in the middle of the crosswalk. Sally was lying down. It was the crosswalk right in front of the station, and she couldn’t make it. God was too harsh on her. He took everything away from her, even her eager wish. She had been hit by a truck while she was crossing the road driven by a careless driver. She was moved to a hospital. Lying on a bed, she was unconscious.

“She won’t be able to survive over the night,” the doctor said pessimistically. “Get prepared.”

I couldn’t believe what was happening. Sally’s thin breaths thumped on my heart. I felt like my world had stopped after I saw her lying on the ground. However, her world still went on and it tried to kill her. I hoped that the time would stop if I couldn’t save her. I did really want the time to stop. At that moment, something peculiar happened. The I.V. stopped dropping, Sally was frozen and the people and the scenery outside the hospital all froze. It was frightening; my wish had actually come through.

A long time had passed. Everything was still frozen. My wish made me alone. I was secluded from the world. Yet, Sally would’ve died without this confining wish. I realized that to best fulfill her wish; I should travel. I ran up to a store and grabbed packets of post-its, a small notebook and a pen to keep records. I was going to prepare the best birthday gift ever. I went to the Americas, Asia, Africa, and Oceania.

At last, I came back to the hospital. I didn’t know how many years had passed. However, not even a second had passed in the real world. The time affected only me and it made me old.

Coincidentally, the world thawed at that moment. The world was back at place, with great sceneries, with the life revived.

Sally was still lying on the bed with beauty. I started to tell her about some great places around the globe, such as Eiffel tower in Paris, Statue of Liberty in New York and the Chinese Great Wall. I told her about lots of fantastic places for quite a long time, referring to my worn out notebook. When I reached to the last page of the notebook, I didn’t have anything left to tell her. I stayed silent for a while.

On T.V, a news anchor was delivering the news about my post-its. I stuck birthday memos for her on each of the famous monuments wherever and whenever I visited. After the world unfroze, those notes appeared at the same time in unison, and that was my gift. It was the most unique and special gift I could give her. I told Sally, “Thank you Sally, thanks for listening to this old man’s long story and I hope you’d appreciate my gift...” Her heart started to beat slower and slower. Last moment before it stopped, she replied back with a lovely smile, which struck my heart once again. 

Now and Forever

Now and Forever

Her messy hair and dark circles resembled the days she had spent waiting next to him, hopeless and mindless. An instant second from a car crash which was followed by what seemed to be an eternity in a coma: no sign of any consciousness.

It was a Friday night when she rushed into the ER without any cognition of what took place. Clueless. She lingered anxiously and impatiently outside the operating room. A few hours later that someone surged out the two doors.  

"He's lost a lot of blood, but we tried our best."

The room was extremely quiet and empty. There was nothing more than the hospital bed, ventilator, heart rate monitor, and IV holder. She hadn’t showered nor had she changed, and the coffee in her hands had already turned cold. She sat in a chair next to the bed and considered having to let go, leave, and move on. Thinking about that simply reminded her of all the times they had spent together. Like when they would sit on her rooftop at 2 a.m. in the morning. They would talk about the world, their dreams, and what the future would be like. She would stare into his eyes, those eyes that had always seemed to consist of an infinite number of galaxies. Then, he would look straight back into her soul and see through her scars. Those were the moments she held onto tightly and deeply cherished. Loving him was inevitable and she could never stop.

She watched over him with her dark and tear filled eyes and placed her head on top of his chest. She listened as his heartbeat slowed down…..and gradually stopped altogether. As her tears slowly streamed down her cheeks, she opened her mouth: “Just wait," she whispered, “I’m coming to see you.”

Pinimig. "You Need to Enable Javascript." Eyes Effy Stonem Beautiful Pictures. Gopixpic, n.d. Web. 28 Jan. 2015.

A Short Letter

I had a joyful feeling inside of me, a feeling of freedom and liberty. My girlfriend had left for 4 days to New York because apparently she had a meeting with her agent about her new book. I didn't even kiss her goodbye. I had four days to live again. My girlfriend and I had become just like an old married couple. We were only thirty, but our friends had forgotten about us, we never went out and the sex was terrible. The vegan food had striped another layer of color in my life. This break would be the best thing that had happened to me since our first week as a couple. Just like any other 30-year-old single man, I went out. I wasn't expecting to end my night at a 25-year-old college student’s bedroom, but that is exactly what happened. The last time I had slept with my girlfriend was six months ago. Of course I felt a sense of guilt in me, but the next day the same thing happened with a different girl. It felt wrong yet I still slept with a different, younger girl each of those four valuable nights. The morning after was always the same: I would write them a short letter on a post-it about me having committed a big mistake and how she wasn't the one.  I left it on their bedside table before they would wake up. It was cold and empty, but honestly I never cared about them. I hadn't called my girlfriend since she had left, I guess it was a vacation for both of us. 

Three hours were at my disposal. My free time was running out and I began to question whether or not I should come clean about my sexual encounters. The only way I could truly express my feelings was by writing a letter, just as I had done with those clueless girls. Writing a letter was truly challenging, but unlike the other ones I couldn't find the words to reveal what I sincerely wanted to say. 

It’s at that moment moment when I realized how idiotic my mistake had been and sitting there on my kitchen table with no one by my side made me realize: my girlfriend was everything to me. So many memories came back; whether it was us laughing at each other or simply sitting on the couch watching a movie, I truly missed her. The letter was long and deep, filled with memories and regrets. A vague smile would occasionally come across my face, but so would tears drop on that sacred paper. I thought about tearing it up and throwing it away, but I had unleashed too many emotions. It took me roughly an hour to write my letter. Only love could describe how I was feeling; it was different than what I had experienced with those pointless girls. I had put so much effort into my letter, it meant too much to me. I knew she had to be the one. I had finally realized the intensity of my mistake. With simply two hours left I went downtown,  entered the jewelry shop and bought her the perfect wedding ring. To make it even more perfect I made a romantic, calm dinner with candles and rich food which I had cooked myself. 

I waited with a flower in my mouth kneeling on one knee, but my knees were becoming weak as I attempted to remain still. She was supposed to have arrived already. Then I waited on the chair at the table, I was just wishing the tofu wouldn't get too cold. She was supposed to be here an hour ago, and my hunger was increasing. I took two little bites hoping she wouldn't notice. The letter was still sitting on her plate and the ring was safely hidden in my pocket. This began to worry me, so I called her and no one answered. I thought that maybe the flight was delayed. It wasn’t. I had lost hope for that perfect night of true love. I fell asleep on the chair wishing that I would wake up next to my future wife in bed. That was not the case. I was startled by a strong knock on the door, which woke me up with such intensity. The candles were still lit, but it felt really late, I was simply happy that everything would go back to the way it was. I swung open the door to find no one there, but some kind of folded paper on my door mat. I had discovered a letter that come all the way from New York. It was a short, empty letter; she simply wrote that she had committed a big mistake and how I wasn't the one.

Sorren, Martha. "Bustle." Bustle. Buslte, 22 July 2014. Web. 23 Jan. 2015. <http://www.bustle.com/articles/32671-what-did-the-letter-to-andi-on-bachelorette-men-tell-all-say-6-theories-on-what>.

The Hunt

           Every few years, something called The Hunt takes place in my town. My town? It’s pretty small, we’re about five hundred people. We’re like a big family, everyone knows everyone and we all live to help each other. The Hunt: is a big event that has been part of our society for hundreds of years. It starts out with a big boom and then it all begins; chaos breaks loose. Soldiers from the big city arrive within the hour of the boom and start to take the children. The ones that are taken are never to be seen again. No one knows what happens to them, but there are myths that these children are used as our meat. They get stuffed until they have enough meat on their bones and then killed to provide for the entire country. Anyone who resists gets executed on the spot. Everyone is scared of it, no one talks about it, and if you happen to mention it, people tend to stare at you with great fear in their eyes. George, my neighbor, always tells me stories about The Hunt, but they’re so gruesome they must be made up. How could human beings do such things to each other? George told me about Mr. Green. Yes, he was a bit odd and had his moments where he completely lost it, but the stories George told me? They couldn’t be true. He told me that Mr. Green had witnessed his own wife’s execution, after his three children were taken away.  She was executed because she resisted against the soldiers when they were taking away their children. Mr. Green has never said a word to anyone ever since. He tends to stay inside with the doors locked and the blinds shut. No one knew a thing about him.The next Hunt is in about three to four weeks from now and my parents are getting more nervous with every day that passes. We had a cabin in the woods where we would hide out during The Hunt. Everyday we took some supplies there. People became more paranoid and more careful. Careful to whom they would speak, share their information with, and even ask for help. Only two days until it starts –my parents are telling me to stay inside at all time. One-day left, I’m scared. My mother told me that we’re leaving as soon as it gets dark. 

After waiting for hours, my dad came up to my room and said that we were leaving. I was nervous, scared, and my heart was beating so fast, I could feel it in my throat. We were walking in the dark, we couldn’t see a thing, and we were all scared to death. My brother started sobbing and my mother couldn’t stop shaking. My father kept saying that everything would be fine, as long as we stuck together and kept on moving. When we finally got to the cabin, we knew something was wrong. Nothing was in the place we had left it in. The cabin looked searched. My mother grabbed my arm and pressed my brother to her body. My father pulled out a gun and I gasped. It was against the law to own a gun or any kind of weapon. We were barely allowed to own a kitchen knife. He put his finger to his lips to tell me to be quiet. I did as he said, but so much was going through my head. Where did he get that? Why didn’t he tell me sooner about this? I had so many questions and no one was giving me answers. We stood there for a few minutes, listening if there was anyone. Every noise we heard we shifted and with every noise I grabbed my mother’s arm with more power. And then, all at once, with a big boom, someone kicked down the door. I was blinded by the flash flights and felt helpless. Someone had taken me from my mother’s side. I tried to get away but he was too strong, I tried kicking him and I kept on kicking him until everything went dark.When I woke up everything hurt. There was this endless pain in my right arm: the arm that was held by the soldier that pulled me away from my mother. I opened my eyes with difficulty. I looked around me. There, in the corner, was a figure. It looked big and intimidating. It was looking at me. I couldn’t see its eyes, but I just felt it staring at me.

“Where am I?” I asked. It didn’t answer so I asked again, but this time louder and with more power, “Where am I and where are we going?” It stayed quiet for a bit and then he answered. He had a deep voice that sounded surprisingly friendly. “You’re on a train on your way to the city”. The city? What’s in the city? Why am I going to the city? “You have a lot of questions don’t you?” He said it in this voice, he sounded surprised.Hours had passed when the train came to a sudden stop and the figure started to smile. “We’re here.” 

He grabbed my arm and pulled me up. The door opened and the first thing I saw were high buildings, made up from glass shining in the early morning light. I was stunned and the man started to laugh, but not very loudly, but softly as if he were trying to make me feel more comfortable. They took me to one of the shiny buildings and told me to stay seated in one of the rooms, which had green chairs. I did as I was told. At the end of the room was a door through which a lady with red hair walked in. She signaled me to her and I approached. She said to follow her; she started to walk towards the same door she walked in through, and I followed. The room was made up of four walls, of which one was completely made of glass. My eyes automatically went to the glass and what I saw was the truth. The myths about the fate of the taken children weren’t myths; they were real. Everything was real; the children being stuffed, held in one place like animals, and the slaughtering.

"Stocks." Dreamstime. N.p., n.d. Web. <http://thumbs.dreamstime.com/x/glass-skyscraper-blue-sky-23720483.jpg>.

Distortion

"Love Couple Girl Cute Beautiful Hipster Vintage Indie Grunge Boy Cuddles Dark Vintage." • Grungewhoresss •. N.p., n.d. Web. 15 Oct. 2014.

People always talk about sunrise.

How it looks so beautiful from wherever they are. People wake up at 4am just so that they can see it happen. People believe that the sunrise cleanses them, calms them, they love it and crave it and it lights up their features and just betters their day. 

That’s what he was to me, the sunrise

--

I silently walked up the stairs of the dingy apartment I had managed to live in for a year. The stairs creaked every step I took, which made me clench the pack of cigarettes I held in my pocket even tighter. I wasn’t necessarily a smoker per say, but sometimes my anxiety just got the better of me, and all I could think of was inhaling tar and nicotine at 3am on my rooftop. I reached the big steel doors that were discoloured and peeling from their lack of attention and let out a big breath. Stairs were really not my thing, well, anything physically demanding was not my thing. I slowly pushed aside the doors with the side of my body as I pulled out a cigarette and lighter. 

“You know, smoking kills”, I heard someone say. 

I turned around and saw the silhouette of a male around my age sitting on the edge of the roof looking straight at my hand currently occupied with a lit cigarette.

“You know,” I said. “so can sitting on the edge of a rooftop.” 

He looked stunned at my reply and I just scoffed and took a long drag of the now almost-finished cigarette between my fingers and sat on the floor. He slowly removed himself from the edge his position and stalked towards me, “Mind if I have one?” he asked as he sat beside me. 

“I thought smoking kills?” I smirked as I handed him a newly lit cigarette (and helped myself to one too). 

“I’m already dead.”

—

I felt peppery kisses all around my face and neck as I slowly woke up. I curled my arms around him and held him closer as I smiled at the colour he brought in the cold November morning. 

“I might’ve burnt the kitchen”, he said.

I opened my eyes and saw the blue eyed boy half smiling down at me as I stared at him

“Lucas, how in the hell can you not even make a pancake?” I asked, internally groaning.

I looked at the boy sitting on the counter watching my hands move around the kitchen. 

“I don’t know,” he said. I wanted to make you breakfast in bed, but it wasn’t very edible when I tasted it.” 

I shook my head and put a chaste kiss to his lips as I took over cooking.

—

“I swear to god there was a lake here” he grumbled as he pulled up to some deserted spot in the forrest. 

“There was a lake here- like fifty years ago” I laugh as I pointed at the sign covered in moss. 

He pouted as he saw my amused face and I just laughed even more, for once Luke had actually wanted to go out in public but it ended up failing and I guess that just explained our luck.

—

“Why don’t you ever want to meet my friends?” I yelled while crying. 

“I told you, I can’t go out, I don’t go out” he yelled back, equally distressed. 

“You’re just a f***ing coward, a f***ing coward who doesn’t love me and I love you so much it physically aches” I ended up screaming well I slowly slid down to the floor, sobbing and clutching my sides. 

I felt two hands snake around my waist and pull me up. 

“I love you, I’ll always love you” he said with a kiss to my forehead as he laid me on the beaten up couch in the living room.

“Always”

—

I whispered Luke’s name multiple times as I had woken up to a thunder storm and everything in my room looked like it was possessed. I shook him as much as possible but he still didn’t budge. I sighed and sat up in bed, leaning against the headboard. I had been awake for almost an hour but with every clap of thunder I woke up even more. 

“Jaimee?” I heard Lucas lightly call.

I looked down and saw his bright blue eyes looking up at me in concern. I sighed and lay back down as I cuddled him. 

“Is the thunder scaring you?” he asked, chuckling as I jumped when I saw the room illuminate from another lightning strike. 

I slowly nodded and pushed my head into the crook of his neck as he lifted my shirt and drew patterns on my back, slowly lulling me to sleep.

—

Lucas played guitar almost as well as he sang; he’d been a cheesy boyfriend and ended up serenading me with my favourite song. Although he got most of the lines wrong, it was cute. I couldn’t help, but fall deeper for him every day. His blonde hair was always styled to perfection, even in the mornings - he looked like a goddamn Calvin Klein model.

—

I woke up to the lights flickering on and off throughout the building. 

“Lucas?” I called out. 

We’d fallen asleep on my bed together but he wasn’t on the bed. I rolled over to his side and looked towards the door. I got out of bed and headed towards the bathroom. I gasped as I saw him lying on the floor with barely any colour. 

“Luke!” I dropped to the floor and touched his chest, his eyes flew open and softened as soon as they landed on me. 

“Always” he softly blew out.

—

Jaimee Lee Anders was put into Sunny Grove Mental Hospital on May 1st as she was certain that she had fallen in love with a boy named Lucas over the past few months. Lucas Thomas Irwin had died in 1955 from jumping off the Real Towers building, which is still in existence today. It was in this building that Jaimee had taken up residence.Jaimee is currently being treated for multiple personality disorder, anxiety and mild depression. 

Andre Javier Flores

“How did I reach this situation?” he thought while sitting in a chair. ”I loved her. She just wouldn’t love me back. She tore me apart and now I am nothing.”

Hello my name is Juan Pablo. I live in Mexico and I think I am a reasonable guy. I just went through a rough breakup with the love of my life. We had been married for 5 years when she decided she was fed up and wanted to move on. The strangest, most unexpected event happened to me a few days after the terrible breakup. I went running as I normally do in the mornings. After a few minutes, I started to pant really hard and then suddenly, I felt a surge of pain go through my chest and I collapsed. I remembered absolutely nothing when I woke up in the hospital a few days later. I asked the doctors what had happened. 
They told me I had been in a coma for 3 days after my heart attack occurred. Then they told me Doctor Ignacio will be with me shortly to explain everything. Doctor Ignacio arrived after a few minutes. He then took me into his office, closed his blinds and started talking gently but firmly . 

He said: “Over the last few days we have been running tests on you and we have found out the reason why you collapsed in the middle of the street. We are very sad to tell you that you have a serious case of Heart Broken disease due to your recent breakup. This means every time your heart rate goes over 140 you will collapse and have a heart attack. To cure yourself you will need "The Book of Love.” But due to the fact that books of that genre are illegal in Mexico, due to their tremendous power, we are afraid that there is not much that we can do.”

As soon as I got home I looked up this “Book of Love.” I found out that the only copy was found in a Library in LA just off Hollywood Boulevard. There was only one problem. I didn’t have enough money for a plane ticket. I would have to find another way across the border, maybe an illegal way, but I didn’t care.

After talking to my friends and they talking to their friends, I found no one  who would be willing to smuggle me across the border. It was too risky. That is until I found Andrea. She said she could take me to the border but I would have to find my own way across. I was fine with this. Andrea was a very beautiful woman and I wouldn’t mind spending a few hours in the car with her until we reached the border.

She told me she that she was going in that direction anyways and that she would just pick me up on the highway.
She said, “I will come pick you up at 7 am on Sunday morning”.
I was there waiting for her at 6:30 a.m as I was eager to cure my broken heart. She arrived at 7 on the dot. I got into the car with a big smile on my face. I was happy that events were working out for me. We bonded well, I found out we both liked the same music, we both had similar ideas, we both had the same political beliefs, and we both liked Empanadas with black beans. I grew fond of Andrea. After the first hour I fell asleep for a bit. If I wasn’t so one track minded I would have opened my mind up and seen that maybe Andrea liked me too. That didn’t matter. I was too caught up with the idea of curing my broken heart. After a few hours, I felt like I had known this woman for years instead of hours. As we got closer to the border, Andrea started to explain to me how to cross it. She said that between 12:30-12:40 there was a change of  guards at the watch tower, and that this would be the perfect time for me to cut the wire of the fence and get into U.S.A. I had had a good time with Andrea and as we  left I was sorry to leave her. I gave her a small peck on her right cheek to say goodbye. That night as the clock struck 12:30, I jogged slowly over to the fence so that I wouldn’t raise my heart rate too much. I cut the fence and thank god I made it to the other side. Just when I thought I had gotten off scot free I saw a shine of a bright light behind me and a voice coming from a Jeep heading my way. I quickly ran towards the bushes and jumped in. I didn’t pay attention to my heart rate but noticed I had not fainted from a heart attack. This was strange.  I lifted my head up to see other Mexicans being arrested by the border police.

I saw a bunch of other Mexicans that had crossed the border and followed them furtively to wherever they were going. I found myself at the highway after an hour. We walked like this for a few hours until we got to Hollywood, LA. I was ragged and my chest hurt like nothing ever before and that was when I stepped into the library. I made my way over to the Love Section to find the “Book of Love”. I was relieved to find it quickly and opened it up at the Medicine and Cures page. There I found Heart Broken Disease. I sighed as I looked at the book because I had made a big mistake. On the Heart Broken Disease page it said, “The only cure for Heart Broken Disease is true love. I sighed once again and screamed with all my heart “ANDREA!”

I Love MexicoStock video:

I Love Mexico Stock Footage Video 2197315

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