Hopelessly Optimistic Novels & Stories

Her heart nearly stopped. “You’re successful now,” she said. “You have everything. Why would you want the same girl you left behind?” “Because I never stopped loving her.” The room felt suddenly smaller. Dangerous. Hope was a dangerous emotion for Evelyn. “I don’t believe you,” she said. “You don’t have to,” Lincoln replied. “But I’m not giving up this time.” Her chest tightened again. Every man she had dated after Lincoln had been an attempt to replace something that could never truly be replaced.

Then, a satisfying thought came to mind. "Hmm, I think I have an idea." It looked like my early sun-drenched run through the woods would have to wait. DPOV Song: The Grand Optimist by City and Colour, Brain Stew by Green Day, Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf) by AWOLNATION Sleep didn't come easy these days. I never needed much before—I was trained to go long periods without it after all—but now it was practically nonexistent. Ever since the battle. The day the Kievan Rus fell. The day I lost Ivan. The day I lost everything.

“But it’s for all of us. If one of you doesn’t marry him, he’ll shut down all our companies and leave us with nothing. I wanted to talk to Amy, but she has a boyfriend and she wouldn’t listen to me. You’re my last hope… please don’t say no.” Emma’s voice broke as she tried to kneel in front of Jenny, but Jenny quickly grabbed her hands. “No! No, please don’t kneel,” Jenny cried. “I’ll do it. I’ll marry him. Just… don’t do that.” Emma’s eyes glistened. “Thank you, dear.” “I’ll endure whatever happens to me,” Jenny whispered, though her heart shook. “I believe every man has a weakness… and maybe one woman can change him, no matter how tough he is.”

“I'm simply just in a bad spot and…” “You've been in a bad spot since I knew you, Alora.” He cut me off. “Doesn't that tell you something? You have a bad life, and an ill fate, and no matter what you do, you'll never come out victorious, take everything that has been going on since you got back. Don't tell me you're that dumb and dare I say optimistic to actually believe things will turn around for the better.”

“Hopefully, it won’t be long.” XXX

How worse can my situation ever be. *****************************

But something far more dangerous. Hope.

"Get actual sleep. See Isabella." "I'm staying." "David—" "I'm staying, Sophia. Don't argue." I didn't have energy to argue. The medications made me foggy. Exhausted. Everything felt distant and immediate simultaneously. "I'm scared," I admitted quietly. "Me too." "What if we lose them?" "We won't." "You don't know that." "I don't. But I'm choosing to believe it anyway." That was very him. Choosing optimism despite evidence. Usually it annoyed me. Today it helped.

She survi⁠ved. I heard abou‌t your fundraiser‌. I‌’d like to help. And‍ maybe s⁠har​e our s⁠tory—sho‍w people tha⁠t so‍metimes the⁠re are h⁠appy‍ endings. I​ stare at the email‌ for​ a l‍ong time. Happy ending‍s. The phrase feels obscene.⁠ But also… necessary. People need hope.