If one was to look up the meaning of the word promise one will find it means a declaration or an assurance that one will do something. And on a quiet street within a small town of Denton when the sun happened to shine a bit brighter than most days I made a promise. I made a vow past the tears blurring my vision to my parents to always try be a good person. I promised to keep myself away from any trouble that often came morphed in the shape and size of strangers or even friends. To my mother, Sophia Winston who had been sceptical in my choice to move to a big city in pursuit of my studies I made another promise to her unbeknownst to my father, Bernard. I promised never to allow just anyone to enter my sacred temple and that when the time came to give my heart to someone I'd only give them a part of it whilst always keeping a bigger part for myself. On that day I could tell my parents were terrified at just the mere idea of me leaving the community. It was a community that had wel
Within the life one is given the oddest things often occur taking us off guard. In as much as one strives to live their life based on a routine that has them knowing the next set of events as each second unwinds, life unfortunately pays no dues to those plans. In fact, life often places an unorthodox situation in our hands and how we react to it is literally up to us.Closing the door to the shop, I gave one last wave to Ms Friedman. Clasping the opening of my coat tighter to withstand the cold wind whipping past me, I grit my teeth tucking the box of brownies she gave me for free under my arm. Considering I had a serious sweet tooth, it was thrilling to work in a place that quenched one's caffeine cravings but had amazing sugary treats. If I wasn't careful I would acquire the Type 2 diabetes that my father suffered a lot sooner. I had spent the holidays back home watching my mother monitor what he ate like a hawk. And when I returned in preparation for the start of the semester,
Have you ever gone through something and despite it passing the feeling remains freshly engraved in your head? And no matter how much you attempt to forget it, any attempt to fill your head with anything else is futile? I never could relate to people who had those experiences until that night. It had been days and more often than I'd like to admit I found my eyes landing on the steps as if staring at them hard enough will cause him to appear out of thin air. A part of me kept questioning what wound up happening to him. Another part that I dared not venture further into wondered if he had done something terrible to himself.In order to cope I began convincing myself he had been some manifestation of my imagination. It had been working for some time especially when school began. Once I stepped through the doors of the lecture room I got a break from the mental torment. I grew excited to be back in an environment with people equally passionate about the worlds created by the differ
The flashes of blue imprinted within the scope of my mind made it hard to focus. Once again a flame has been ignited to burn fiercer beyond what I knew. I kept wondering how is it these emotions are attacking me for someone I hardly knew. And yet maybe it's because he's far beyond what the surface showed that the thirst stems from. I kept wondering how one can go from a dishevelled look consisting of crimson eyes and bloody knuckles to a flawless suit that probably cost more than my apartment. Donovan threw numerous questions my way that day after Nicholas disappeared. Although I found his concern endearing I knew I was more than capable of handling myself. He was reluctant to accept this truth but he had to either way knowing that I would do anything I chose to without ever needing him or anyone else's permission. With this ability of being able to think for myself having been instilled by my parents throughout my life, came an ability to learn when to smell bullshit from a mil
Pushing the plate away against the table I looked up at him, "Okay... talk," I demanded. His eyes snapped up to meet mine holding a glint in them. We had been sitting here in the kitchen for some time where the only sound prohibiting us from achieving total silence was the occasional scraping of cutlery against the ceramic plates. "That's fair. I guess in a way I have been prolonging the inevitable. So..." he paused rubbing his hands together as if he was about to partake in a strenuous task, "I was upset that night. And in the midst of that anger I wound up punching a wall - pretty stupid as fuck, I know," he chuckled humourlessly," But all logic escapes me sometimes and I wound up sitting on your steps just trying to hide away," he concluded waiting expectantly for my reaction. I eyed his profile, scoping out his panorama for any imperfections, for any loose string sticking out from his armour consisting of Italian fabric to disrupt the illusion. Falling short to the point of e
Problems... They often attack us when we least expect them and often cripple us to the point of being driven to wanting to end it all. Whilst others are driven to find solace in other alternatives that often ruin many lives. After telling Donovan we had to cut our time short, he understood making me promise to call when we got back to my place safe. So far Marcie and I were situated in my living room. She chose to make herself comfortable on my floor whilst I sat next to her with snacks littering the table. We had been binge watching some classic early 2000's movies like "The Notebook" which will always make me turn into a teary-eyed mess to "Not Another Teen Movie". Glancing her way cautiously seeing her laugh at a joke said on the screen was a relief on its own. I didn't gain pleasure from seeing my friends upset, "You can stop watching me like a hawk. I'm not going to burst out crying," she said not taking her eyes off the TV. Cursing under my breath at failing to be more di
There are times warning signs are thrown our way. Yet we throw that caution out of the window and step on the pedal not giving a damn about whether we survive or crash. The hushed tones conversing inside my temple told me to not allow the possible danger knocking on its door in and I was quite close to keeping the lock sealed shut. I really had been close...Stepping outside after saying good-bye to both ladies I promised to visit their home again. Once the door shut, I froze when just down the stairs he was standing, daunting yet alluring in his suit. It was no mystery that he had been waiting whilst Leo and Daniel were on the side talking between themselves immediately excluding us. I moved down the stairs praying to not look at his eyes again. Picking up on the sound of footsteps moving behind me, I didn't need to look back to know it was him. "I'm perfectly capable walking home on my own," I pointed out only to be met with a deep chuckle. The sound transcending space and time to
Slipping onto the soft leather seats, no matter how many times I replay that day in my head. I still couldn't remember how Marcie convinced me to occupy the passenger seat whilst she sat in the back. So there we were all in that vehicle, with him and I sitting on opposite sides. Whilst there was an invisible line between us that would require joint effort to willingly cross without any fear we'll trip and fall. I glanced his way taking in the way his hair danced. With one hand resting on the steering wheel he seemed so carefree with his eyes focused on the streets. He easily moved past other vehicles and though he was a good driver, I never did like his tendency to opt for speed. "Your friend doesn't like me very much, does he?" Although it was posed as a question, I knew he already had an answer and that no amount of persuasion would work. "He's just weary when it comes to new faces, Nicholas." "I thought we were in agreement that you'll call me, Nicky." Marcie snorted in the