Unknown POV
I stood there watching the couple walk out of the restaurant hand in hand. Just by looking at their faces, I can tell they're delighted. They continued to converse for a while longer before getting into their car and driving away. I started my engine and drove, a grim scowl written all over my face, anxious to catch up with them.
We arrived at the apartment, and I can see from the car window how the couple gives each other sweet and lingering kisses. They both chuckled as the woman said something to the man.
The woman gave the man a warm embrace, and the man hugged back. She then opened the car door and waved to the man as he drove away, before proceeding to the apartment door. She pushed the door open and groped for the light switch. Her apartment's first level was well-lit. She slammed the door shut behind her.
I stayed there for an hour or so, not knowing how long I was there. I absolutely lost count of time simply by staring at her door and wondering.
Days passed, and I continued to watch her and her boyfriend connect and have fun. It is apparent how happy she was with this man.
I was also privy to the other side of their relationship. As perfect as it appears, it is plainly not. I watched their squabbles and battles about trivial matters. I witnessed her sobbing and the man beating the wall out of fury and frustration. Likewise, I observed how she sacrificed her pride by apologizing for something that was not even her fault. Not only that, but I noticed the man's egoism and how the apology prompted him to become much crueler to her. I saw how he exerts control over her; and realized that he is plainly manipulating her. And the woman cherished him, without a doubt, which is why she continues to endure him. The man used that love to inflate his ego, and he was constantly threatening her that he will leave her if she continues to be overly dramatic because of unresolved issues from the past.
The man is a freak of nature. Though I can say they were made for each other, like a match made in heaven. If only the woman was not so naive and the man wasn't such an egoistic jerk.
I studied the woman's face; she is lovely, like an angel. No, she appears to be a goddess sent from the heavens above. There is nothing wrong with her. I do not perceive any flaws, although she does have. That is, she loved and cared so much that she would rather be hurt and lose herself than stand up for herself and leave that man. She plainly does not realize or value her own worth.
I had been staring at her for what seemed like eons. I wasn't sure why, but there was something I needed to know about her.
Furthermore, I was already acquainted with her daily routine. She works in a movie theater ticket counter, where she sells tickets, popcorn, and beverages to moviegoers. Her shift begins at 9 a.m., and she will take lunch at 2 p.m. She will depart at 5, then go out with her pals or her weird lover. They frequently hang out in a park and then eat at nearby restaurants. He will then drive her home at 8 p.m.
She will begin taking off her clothes as soon as she reaches her house and reward herself with a steamy bath after a very strenuous day. She will wail endlessly in the bathtub on occasion. From the inside, I could clearly see everything about how lonely she was.
That freak irritates me terribly. He is a narcissist who is manipulative and abusive. He has a very high opinion of himself. Similarly, he would make a huge deal out of trivial matters and make her cry. Then she will go to tremendous measures to persuade him to accept her apology. Then they will make love over and over again as if nothing happened.
An innocent woman like her does not deserve to be treated in this manner. But what can I do if she is not even saving herself from the catastrophe she's created? She had every right to stand up for herself, to be brave, and to walk away from this man, but she never did. She decides not to. Instead, she allowed herself to be treated in this manner by that monster. And because of that love, she had become submissive to him, despite the fact that she obviously has the ability to change her own fate.
I had witnessed firsthand how amazing love can be. What it's like to be appreciated, valued, and cherished. How certain are you that no matter how chaotic the world grows, they will always be on your side? I've seen how it contributes to your development since you both support and lifts one other up. How the concept of love helps in making the world a better place.
But I also discovered how distressing it might be to be so passionately in love. It both diverts your attention and destroys you. It shatters your inner tranquility. Not only that, but it blinds you to your own worth and value until it's too late. It makes you want to kill yourself, sleep, and wish it was all a nightmare. It makes you want to crawl into bed, hoping that you will never have to face this cruel and painful reality again.
Athena's POV "You mentioned that I was the only person who never judged you. But you still let them judge and belittle me because you love them too much. Loving you was never easy, but I chose to love you in every way possible every day, regardless of the circumstances or obstacles. Nonetheless, you gave up far too soon and far too easily. You never gave me a chance to prove myself to them because I don't believe you trust me on this, which is excruciatingly painful. And the worst part is that I'm getting used to it because You. Let. Them. And, by the way, I still adore you. But, yes, I despise you." I read the text again, sighed deeply, scribbled a few final phrases, and eventually shut my laptop. I had been so focused on my clients recently that I almost had no time to finish writing my own book. Likewise, I had been a writer since I was a child. I was a loner who does not trust easily and has very few friends. My parents
Athena's POV The table setup was truly romantic. The roasted chicken is in the center, with both the vegetable salad and baked potatoes on the side. I reached into the minibar for a bottle of Crimson Chardonnay and strategically placed it on the table. This was my favorite wine for many years, and I hand-picked them when I went to France on a business trip paid for by the company I work for as an author. I am not a typical heavy drinker, but I believed I would need something to settle my nerves when the world is spinning out of control. I smiled as I inspected the table with satisfaction. Then I glanced at the wall clock and realized I still had 20 minutes till Cloud arrived up for our dinner. After a difficult and grueling day, I made the choice that there was still plenty of time to recharge and refresh. I began humming as I went upstairs to my bedroom and grabbed my towel, then entered the bathroom located in my bedroom. Because it was suc
Athena's POV As I walked to the neighboring railway station on my way to work, I saw the commotion in my neighborhood. My neighbor, Janet's house, was surrounded by the yellow barricade tape. TV news reporters are capturing and transmitting the spectacle, with the cameraman clutching his precious camcorder, while other reporters are strewn all through the house. I came to a standstill as I watched a detective and the chief of police emerge from the house, dumbfounded. The reporters hurried past them, seeking to acquire some information and make a statement about the situation. They waived the reporters away before getting into their cars and driving away, leaving the reporters and eavesdroppers alone. I happen to stumble onto a bystander and question the cause of the upheaval. His response is one I will never forget. "Janet was a wonderful neighbor who was murdered by some vicious and lunatic psycho. Everything about h
Unknown POV When I entered the basement, I unearthed all of my collections in glass jars that had been soaked in a soluble solution to keep them from decaying. Each jar has its name emblazoned on it so that it can easily be identified. I opened another empty jar and poured a diluted solution into it, almost completely filling the glass. Then I opened the fridge and took out a resealable plastic bag that I had placed there the night before. I put on my hand gloves and opened the plastic back to take the thing out from the inside. I tilted it up against my face to get a better look at it, then breathed its exquisite scent. I entered the window and started to notice the bright, full moon shining above me. I looked down at what I was holding, which glistened in the moonlight with its shimmery, scarlet composition — the heart. I sighed contentedly and returned to my glass jar collection. I then carefully placed the
Cloud's POV I was resting on my bed, sluggishly, when I realized I had not even eaten my lunch yet. I yawned lazily and walked downstairs to cook my meal. I have decided to spend my weekend at my house to relax. I am still stuffed from last night's meal with Athena. Her foods are very scrumptious. It can gratify any picky diners and hungry stomach. And it made me adore her even more for it. As I remembered the previous night's dinner, it was as though my stomach recognized its familiarity with its dishes and growled fiercely. I busted out laughing as I opened my refrigerator and took out some hot dogs and eggs. I began cooking, recalling the first time I saw Athena in her kitchen preparing dishes for us. She appears to be confident as she hums while cooking, whereas here I am, battling to remove the yolk from the egg as a whole. As soon as I finished cooking, I began eating my lunch. I tried to envision myself enjoying Athena'
Megan's POV I was horrified as I glanced at the attractive man at our cafeteria door. He resembles an angel who has descended from heaven. The main difference is that he appears to lack wings. And he looks brand new in this environment, like a fresh kill. Oops. Perhaps a recently hired employee from our company? I could not recall the last time I spent time with a man. When he began to speak in a frigid, baritone voice, I have become determined to strike up a conversation with the new man. "Why haven't you responded to any of my calls or texts?" Confounded, I started to look at the person he was asking and realized it was Athena. Wait, what? "Could it be because I am in the middle of my work?" replied Athena, rolling her eyes. "Even so! Have you understood how much fear I have had to endure simply to find out if you are totally safe and sound?" he answered. "Well, isn't it possible to call bac
Unknown POV I was staring at the woman as she walked into her boyfriend's apartment. I decided to park my car on the corner, a few inches away from the house, so that I wouldn't be easily noticed and arouse suspicion. I waited for the woman for more than three hours. I then noticed her exiting her boyfriend's front door and making her way to a nearby train station a few minutes later. I was following her from behind, and she was aware of my presence. "Hello, are you lost?" she asked sweetly. I sheepishly smiled and invited her to hop in my car, saying that I am willing to drive her safely to her destination because her lover had failed to do so, I added to myself. She hopped in, closed the passenger-side door, and turned to face me. She stated solemnly, "Thank you for your thoughtfulness. I will be eternally grateful for this. I hope to be able to repay this favor you have done for me in the near future." "Ther
Athena's POV We leave the restaurant hand in hand, headed to the park where we used to hang out just to gaze at the sky while having deep conversations. We had just finished a sumptuous meal at our favorite diner when we observed a crown circling the corner of the block. There is yellow barricade tape around, as well as cops and a detective. I recognized the detective because he looked similar to the one I saw at Janet's crime scene. Aside from the authorities, there are some press reporters and cameramen on the scene. "Is there a new film on the way? Is this some type of recording?" I overheard Cloud inquire. "No, I don't believe so. From a distance, I recognize the detective. He's the same person who's been working on Janet's case," I responded courteously. We approached the site slowly because we were inquisitive. Cloud, who was so protective of me, sought to cover my eyes. But I flashed him a consoling glance and s