love
All you need is Love, and Love is all you need.
A Chance Encounter - Part 1
Months had passed since his funeral. The furthest I had attempted to venture out of my house was work. I sheltered myself from the outside world, hoping that the pain would slowly disappear and I could just move on with my life. Every offer to go out scared me; I turned into a hermit and was becoming more and more comfortable with never seeing another human being again. I guess it was just a defense mechanism. I never used to be like-well, no, I was, but not to the same extent. My anxiety always kept me a little on edge about the world around me, but this, this was on a whole different level.
By Jennifer Fayn8 years ago in Humans
Short Story: Paula
Paula fell deeply in love with David the first time they met in that tiny church in Roanoke, Virginia. Neither of them wished to be there. Paula's stern, pious grandmother and David's preacher father had caused them years of lost Sundays in back breaking pews, kneeling uncomfortably on plaid carpets as they spent more time pondering the gothic architecture of the church than listening to David's fathers stultifying sermons. When they weren't pondering the carpets or the cast iron spires and strange, almost chiaroscuro lighting, they were bonding over their mutual distaste for most other forms of life.
By Sean Patrick8 years ago in Humans
After Him
He opens the windowed door as silently as possible. We know what happens if we get caught and we have no desire to ruin our last year. The chill of a November night bites at our cheeks and noses. The cold is getting worse; winter is getting hauntingly closer. He smiles at me over his shoulder, a big toothy grin that confirms what I already knew: we were golden. I hold the rough, polyester curtain back so that he can walk through the doorway. I can barely see him once he enters the darkness of the backyard. I take the door from him and my hand brushes his. I ignore it and step trustingly into the nighttime after him. The wind pierces through my sweatpants and my leggings. I shiver before I turn to close the door slowly. I press down on the handle so that it doesn’t make the metallic click when it slots into place. When I spin back around, he is already halfway to the stairs. I follow him slowly. This isn’t the first time we’ve done this; it’s become a weekly occurrence, but it still feels risky every time. My boots shuffle along the light pink boards of the deck and I weave around the glass table, making sure that I don’t collide with anything. As the wind picks up, I pull my fleece blanket tighter around my body. He’s already at the bottom of the steps leading to the soft grass. I follow him at a steady pace, trying to be as quiet as possible. He waits for me in front of the towering pine trees that create a barrier between us and the neighbor’s yard. We had cut a rough path through the branches a few weeks ago. We were taking down the gazebo on the deck for winter and he grumbled about always hitting his head on the low-hanging branches. I told him that it wouldn’t be a problem if he was a normal height. I helped him cut them anyways. We shuffle in the dark through the tunnel, making our way towards the side of the house. His silhouette dwarfs my own, making this an exercise in trust. I could not see over him and so I followed him wordlessly. The emergency lamp on the side of the house flips on, creating a harsh, blinding light that forces us to pause before continuing towards our destination. We reach the empty space lined with pine needles and evidence of our previous encounters. He grabs two of the four milk crates that line the pastel green plastic siding of the ranch house. One is handed to me and we place them so that I can face him and he sets an industrial camping lantern between us. We only ever turn it on if the emergency lamp shuts off. It never does. It’s more a precaution than anything, but it makes us feel safer. He removes his backpack and the acrid smell of weekends past emanates from the bright blue drawstring bag. He grins up at me, not like his previous smile. This one is suggestive. He knows what we’re about to do. He knows I love what we do. He removes the grey toiletry bag from his backpack and unzips it. We throw caution to the wind every night we do this and it exhilarates me.
By Cameron Erickson8 years ago in Humans
Dear Future Husband
I don’t believe we’ve ever met, but I know when we do sparks will fly and birds will sing. I believe this because a part of me is a hopeless romantic... But I don’t believe because a part of me is the biggest jokester in the world and I kinda wanna throw up thinking about spending the rest of my life with someone one day.
By Brittany Rose8 years ago in Humans
The Sure Thing
Sometimes, like anybody, I have my moments of weakness. I have those wobbles of confidence anyone has. Sometimes, it's memory more than the moment. Sometimes, it's feeling yourself absorbing and building up negativity that will eventually explode. But I've got a sure thing.
By Amy Cookson8 years ago in Humans
I Moved to a Different Country for Love
Long distance! Many people have/ have had a long distance relationship, including myself. I was in one for a little under a year. It didn't end though. I made a life decision based on it, revolving around it. It was the most important thing in my life.
By Julie Olsen8 years ago in Humans
