Apollo And Cassandra

He knew this day would come… He knew it all along that one day she would end up this way. And it brings him grief that she suffers. But it isn't his fault that she refused him in the first place, especially when she worshiped him and then spurned his advances. He doesn't know why she didn't listen to him, even after all that had taken place, he told her to take care of herself and to be more cautious. And now, he too has to suffer through all her grief and sorrow. Her own miseries add to his own perpetual sorrow which stems from her inaction. "Why doesn't she heed my advice?!" He ruminates, and asks himself if it is too late to help her... "Is it?!" "What do I do now? Do I tell her that I foresee more ill-tidings? Do I tell her that this is but the start of unending melancholy? But what if she won’t listen to me? Do I let go and hope that she’ll make it through on her own? Maybe she’ll listen to someone else and they’ll guide her… But what if they lead her to the desolation that I predict?" It can’t be helped, he determines. "It was all in her hands and she messed it all up for the both of us. And yet it’s not that I don’t care… I do care for her and I really hope that one day she’ll listen to me. Neither she nor I now has the strength to go through more of these misfortunes." He resolves to not put further thought into her or her ill-tidings. And with one final puff of breath he decides to let his love for her go but not before swelling with pride at the power of his curse and the price she has to pay for rejection.

A moment's happiness

"Are you happy?", she asked him. He wanted to ask her back what she meant by happiness and whether she meant happiness right now at this moment, or generally in life. He looked beyond her serene brown eyes and through the beige wall that held her medical degrees and certificates which spoke of her psychiatric achievements. He peered into a void that his heart was and asked himself what he defines as happiness? And what makes him happy? What makes him enjoy life better? Is it family, friends, gadgets, toys, games, sports, etc? "Well... Maybe." he thought but he wished he was more alive. More capable of happiness and of enjoying the happiness. He wanted to be euphoric, to dance, to enjoy the happiness that comes his way. "Maybe I'm not happy because I don't cry a lot. Ironic but true." he though to himself. There were tears in him which he hasn't emptied out in years. Pain which he swallowed. And excuses which hid his despair behind a mask of indifference. "Are you happy?", she asked him again. His wandering eyes met hers and all he did was give a gentle apathetic smile. Stories from a book that I will never write.

Paradox of Fiction

Dateline - August 4, 2012

We were both glad to be meeting each other.

She walked in with a smile on her face, glad that I was there. And so was I.

She later spoke about life, the people in it and what she aspires from it. And I of my past, my memories and the people I missed.

It was twilight.

She was pleased that she had found what she was looking for. And I was relieved to find what I was looking for.

She had rediscovered forgotten memories. And I had found trust. And a friend from half way around the world.

And in a mysterious way we were both contented. Comfortable.

I thought that if there ever was forever - this is what it is supposed to feel like!

No expectations. No preconceptions. Talking. Reminiscing. Not knowing when we'll meet like this again.

And the moments were sewn together so magnificently that the threads which held our memories blended into each other perfectly with no way to set them apart.

But as much as we wish to pause time and cling on to the instants that make our lives worth the pain, time shows us that everything must change and we must move on.

And so here I am... sitting in the same place where I had started. And she in the same place she was before the journey.

But we both reached a place we were not so sure of discovering at the beginning - Happiness!