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Mar 2021

Thanks for this opportunity!

I'm Idris

Luck Be a Lady

Asha DeMornay met her soulmate on a street corner. Well, that's what she tells her friends, but in truth she met her soulmate on a crosswalk, in the hair's breadth between the sidewalk and the truck that very nearly ran her down.

The day had been typical. City-hot, muggy and smelling of car exhaust. She loved her big city, thrived on its sights and sounds, and even its awful smells. She had on her face mask, rendering the smoggy reek almost tolerable to her sensitive sinuses. She planned to see her sinusologist the minute his office started taking appointments again. It had been the better part of a year since she'd seen any kind of doctor at all.

She pushed past a throng of day traders outside the New York Stock Exchange to get to the traffic light. She pressed Walk and waited with all the other sharp-dressed professionals sweating in their N95 face masks between errands. She had a lunch date with her best friend. Tapas and margaritas to tide her over during her upcoming nerve-wracking acquisitions meetings. She had good books to buy, if only she could get the Powers That Be to loosen the purse strings.

Her mobile phone trilled in her handbag and she scrambled around in the clutch for the blinking mobile. She was putting out fires all day today. Authors tweeting madly, agents behaving badly. She was just an editor who wanted to buy and sell good books, make some readers happy as these books made her. Come on, guys, make this easy on me.

An email marked URGENT caught her eye and she groaned. It was from a reporter at Vox. Forget the margaritas. This calls for wine.

Just as Asha as debating the merits of deleting the email unread a sports-jacket clad venture capitalist bumped her from behind on his last-second dash across traffic. She swore and tipped off the curb, pointed heels first.

In that instant, the crosswalk signal switched from WALK to WAIT.

Asha flailed, dropping her face with a crash. She was rapidly losing her battle with gravity.

The traffic light turned green.

Oh shi-

A delivery truck roared toward her, the driver gazing down at his lap, preoccupied by a text.

Asha closed her eyes, thinking Definitely not gonna make that meeting and began to fall...

A pair of strong arms grabbed her around the waist and lugged her bodily out of the path of the racing diesel vehicle.

She landed on her feet. She felt her body. All the pieces were there. I'm alive? I'm alive!

She spun around. There was a surprisingly petite woman dressed from head to toe in athletic wear. Sports bra, running shorts, and expensive sneakers. She had arms like tree branches, legs like tree trunks, and the most gorgeous smile Asha had ever seen.

"You okay," she asked Asha.

"I guess so. Thanks for the rescue."

"No problem." The buff woman offered her hand. "Hey, I'm Lucky. Well, Lucretia, but everyone calls me Lucky."

"Asha," she replied. "And now that I've met you, I guess I'm pretty lucky, too."

Asha met her soulmate on the crosswalk where she nearly died, but she got to know her on the street corner. She'd never live down that pick-up line.

Here's my Entry.


"Destined Encounter"
My eyes are heavy, I want to sleep but I'm afraid that those scenes might visit my dream again.
How many times has this happened to me?

How many years have I been doing this?

Will I still be able to face it all?
Even after years enduring this every night and every time i feel like my own consciousness were being sucked into nowhere, i began to fall...one by one.

I closed my eyes without realizing it. But I also immediately opened my eyes as I was having difficulty breathing and my brain seemed to be sucked into the depths of darkness in the corner of my dream.
My heart beat was loud enough to make me deaf and my visions are blurry. I held my chess tight and take a deep breath. I was like being imprisoned and tortured...
My hot tears shed to my cheeks, a silent sob that i keep holding back to make a sound made me almost dying from pain that i was carrying for a long-long time.
My hand trembled as I opened my Drawer. I stared for a long time at the paper I had most carefully guarded in my entire life.
I gently stroked it and took it out of the drawer.

I opened my drawing book and the first thing i saw was a drawing of an an old imperial clothes. In the following pages of the drawing book, different era of clothing were worn by a one man, who i draw. Every decade ... every century ...every different era...

I have already draw.

But until now ...

"Why?" I bitterly asked myself.

I caressed carefully the very last thing I have drew.

A strong man was wearing an expensive dress and from his posture I can tell it that it has an overwhelming authority.
I smiled in pain and sorrow.
I have already collected all of my memories of you...But why?
"Why i cannot see your face after all of these years of pain i have endured?"
A silently cried in agony as i hugged tightly the book.
"Where are you?" I whispered crying.
I WOKE UP with a head ache. And careful knock caught my attention.
"Come in."
The door opened a little and there peeked out a small child.
"A-aunty ..." I listened to her worried voice.
I smiled. "Morning." I greeted.
"Good morning!"
She ran up to me and jumped on the bed. I patted her head and smiled.
"Where's your papa?" I mentioned my Older brother.
"Papa's out Aunty,"
I nodded and stood up, starting to clean up my room.
"Then what do you want to do while i'm here? We can play again whole day if you want."
"What? Really? A-am i really allowed to play?" Her puppy eyes melted my weak heart for cute kids.
I chuckled and pitched her chubby cheeks. "Of course you are!"
Her eyes widened in excitement. "Then-then can we go out and play on the park?" She asked me hoping i'll let her go.
"Sure! But first we need to take a bath and eat okay?"
She repeatedly nodded her head " YES! YEHEY! We're going to the park! we're going to the park!" She run out of the room singing and calling her nanny telling the good news.
I shook my head and continued what i was doing. I stopped for a moment when i saw the book that i was holding last night until i feel asleep.
I picked it up and stared it for a minute.
I smiled and stroked it softly. "Morning,"
"Last night i saw you smiling in front of me, holding a flower that you just picked and called my name..."
If ever someone saw me talking to a drawing, i'm sure they'll think of me that i have finally lost my mind. I laugh and shrugged my shoulders.
My smile became a bitter smile. "But today isn't today as well hm?"
I slept and dreamed of you, remember the every piece of that dream until it ends and woke up like nothing happened. But every dream i have since i was a kid, your face is still a mystery to me.
"When will i able to finish you?" I asked the drawing in front of me, hoping it'll answer back.
I Laugh and sigh. I'm crazy...yes...I already have lost it.
**
"Aunty! Aunty!" Abygail happily jumped while looking up to the sky and running chasing the butterfly she saw.
"Don't go too far Aby,"
"Okay!"
I sat on the grass under the tree and placed the picnic basket on the other side and took out the drawing book and pencil and began to draw.
Time passes quickly and i didn't even felt it. Aby's playing with the other kids not too far from me. I went back to drawing when there's something caught my vision and made my heart beat so fast. I immediately put down my drawing book and when I saw that person clearly and looked in my direction, thousands of images flashed in my head as if water had dripped from a glass.
My heart throbbed so loud, it pierced my heart and the chills down to my spane. My Eyes widened and hot tears falls to my cheeks.
Our eyes met and his smiles vanished looking at me straight. My body freeze and different emotions hit my heart.
ha...
How come..."You still look the same..." I whispered as every memories with his face intact flows to my head.
How come i'll see you here...Smiling under the sun. Community Verified icon
For so many years i have already regained our memories. And the last piece of that memories break my heart to dust.
I see...
Now i know why i still keep remembering you every lives i had. Now i know why my heart keeps aching like it was ripping apart. A scenes of you dying in my embrace telling me that you still love me at find me even the afterlife. A memories that even in my last breath my heart still beating for you. And a promise i had made in my previous life...
I saw him half running towards me, chasing the basketball that slipped in his had. I followed his moves, remembering every corner of his face so next time i couldn't forget him. When he got the ball back he look at me. I cannot waste this opportunity that heavens gave me.
He walked slowly and carefully towards me. Our eyes level was different. I was looking up to him like he's too far too reach.
"Uhm..are you okay?"
His voice made me unconsciously tear up again. I thought this opportunity would never come. I thought I would never hear your voice again.
I smiled while trying to wipe my tears. "Yes..." I said. "Yes, i'm really okay....happy..to see..you..again.." Every words came out of my mouth was in whispers a words that i want to tell him out loud and hug him so tight.
But I couldn't.
"Here," He handed out his handkerchief to me.
"I cannot stand to see a lady crying...it's...also breaks my heart," A warm yet pain in his eyes was visible to his face.
I know...I know that very well.
I accepted his handkerchief and wipe out my tears.
"Here, please also accept this flower," stopped and stared at the flower he was holding. This is the same flower he gave me in my memory of last night's dream.
"Where...did you get that?"
"Where did you get that?"
A same scene from my dream flashed to my mind.
"I just picked it up,"
"I just picked it up,"
Same answer and same smile flashed to my head. It's just the same like in the past...
I smiled and reached it.
"Thanks..."
This is the same flower that made me feel pathetic yet happy.
I stood up and faced him. I stared and memorized his face. I saw his lips moved.
I know what is next after this. I know...because every encounter we had in our past life he's always asking the same questions.
But this time, he wont be the one asking.
"Wha---"
"What's your name?" I cut him off and asked him for his name.
I noticed him freeze when i asked his name.
Right...
If i cannot forget him. I will cherish him forever.
Later on he smiled and offer his hand. Looking straight in my eyes, waiting for my reply.
"I'm Scott, Scott Vouge,"
"Your name suites you well," I reached out his hand.
The familiar electricity that flowed from there reminded me of the promise I had made before i died.
"I'm...Nayeli,"
Your new name will never be forgotten even the end of this world shall remain. Because this name will be the last you'll tell me.
"Auntyyy! Papa's here!" A shout from Abygail remind me that whatever i was holding back, whoever i'm facing right now.
I should let it go his hand.
I turned to aby's direction and smiled. I let go of his hand, and the warm i felt when holding him vanished and cold covered my whole body.
I turned back to him and picked up the basket lying down on the lawn.
"I should be going now..." I said and look at him for the one last time.
My heart began to ache again. My hands are shaking. I look at him carefully, because there's no next time again.
"Thank you..."He's staring at me and I couldn’t read his expression.
I'm thankful for loving me repeatedly even afterlife's we had before. Thank you for dying for me from the start til the end. I missed you so much...i've long for you...I'm sorry and I love you.
"Thank you for everything," Tears from my left eyes run down to my cheeks.
I'm lucky that he cannot remember me. I can cry without him knowing why.
I turned around and started walking away from him.
I will do what i promised before.
A promise that will never met him again, so that his end won't be the same again.
"I will come find you...love you and die again for you."
My heart shank and stopped, my feet freeze and my ears went deaf. A bunch of tears flows from my eyes, widened in shock and filled in different kind of emotions. My whole body feels weak. My throats hurts.
"I will be the same...even if you choose a different path,"
I slowly turned around and my heart broke by seeing his warm yet sad smile. I dropped the basket and covered my face.
" I'm sorry...i came so late, I will reclaim your heart no matter what."

*********END*********
I dunno why... but i'm broken with his lines Q.Q
The "Destined Encounter" is not just a Lucky encounter to them. It was already planed by the destiny for their story. To remember that "Love" cannot forgotten even thousand of years had already passed. Too be happy, to be hurt and feel the pain. And to satisfy the Author's Imagination, I Thank you!

Here it is! I call it "Strays" similar to the Mark Richard short story hehe.


Jeremiah roamed the streets of Hailgan, looking for his beloved dog, Barry. It was easy to get lost or hurt in the streets of Hailgan, but luckily, Jeremiah was used to navigating them. The crowds of Haligan were known for not looking where they were going--they had stepped on Jeremiah before--and now he knew to stick to the side of the road to avoid them.

It was Jeremiah’s ninth birthday, and Barry had been missing for a year now.
Jeremiah remembered the first day he had met Barry. Jeremiah was whistling, dragging a stick along the fence of a house, when suddenly, a man sitting on the porch of the house called to him, “You! You stole a loaf of bread from my shop yesterday!”

Jeremiah ran as fast as his legs could carry him—but it was nothing compared to how fast an adult could run. Eventually, the man caught him by the back of his shirt. Jeremiah was in tears, claiming he hadn’t stolen the bread when he knew full well that he had. The man held up a closed fist, but miraculously decided to let Jeremiah go with a heavy sigh.

“Find yourself a family, kid. That way you won’t have to steal.” He had said.
He made it sound so easy. It wasn’t as if Jeremiah liked being an urchin. Quite the opposite. He had been abandoned by his parents three years ago and had been on his own ever since. It had just been awful experience after awful experience since then.

He would never forget the night his parents had lovingly put him to sleep with an affectionate song, kissed his forehead, and then turned out the lights.

Jeremiah felt the immense comfort he always felt when they put him to bed. He knew he was safe and sound, and would awaken the next day to go to school and play with his friends when he came home. Life was predictable, and a child his age couldn’t possibly envision what an unpredictable life would be like.
Until he had awakened the next morning and found that his parents were gone. He looked in all of the rooms in his small house—which amounted to four—calling their names. When he couldn’t find them, he began to panic a little. His parents had never left him alone like that. He checked in with the neighbors, who also said they didn’t know where they went to.

Bravely, Jeremiah made himself breakfast and went to school by himself. He had been incredibly quiet that day, as discomfort seeped into his bones and unseated him from a predictable and happy life. When he had returned home, he flung the door open cheerfully, calling for his parents, but they were nowhere to be found.

He had stopped going to school three days after his parents hadn’t returned home. He sat in the chair in front of his house, unblinkingly searching for his parents within the crowds that would pass by, but he never found them. Eventually, his stomach had started growling at him, and he had begun stealing, and before he knew it, he no longer had the comfort of knowing where and when his next meal was coming from, where he would be sleeping—due to his house being sold to someone else--or who was friendly and who was not.

An older urchin had offered to share food with him once, but it was a trick. The older urchin stole what little food he had and ran away. Jeremiah learned, at the age of six, not to trust anyone.

He had become somewhat of a lovable town rascal after that—stealing when he had to steal and begging when he had to beg. Most people recognized him and gave him coin, but it wasn’t enough to feed him on most days.

Sometimes, he was so hungry that his stomach felt like an empty pit. Jeremiah remembered sitting on a street corner in the rain a year ago, sneezing while performing a silly dance for money, and wishing more than anything that he had a roof over his head.

It wasn’t just a roof over his head and a full stomach that he wanted. His heart ached, too. He was an unwanted child, discarded because he wasn’t good enough to be his parents’ son. Nobody wanted him, because there was something fundamentally wrong with him.

But something remarkable happened the next year. He was humming a song on the street corner for cash when he noticed something lying in the road. Curiously, he approached it.
It was a four-leafed-clover. He remembered his parents telling him that they were lucky. He crouched, picking it up. He took a moment to pray to god, “Please let something wonderful happen to me. You gave me this clover, after all!”

But a week passed. And then another. And nothing happened.
Angrily, Jeremiah threw the clover to the floor with tears in his eyes. I was stupid to think that that would work. Jeremiah walked away from the clover, sniffling bitterly. When he was a yard away, he glanced over his shoulder.

He saw a brown bulldog nuzzling the leaf with its nose. Jeremiah gasped, not realizing he cared so much about the clover. He dashed back to it, calling to the dog, “Stop it! That’s mine! What are you doing?”
The dog sat on its rump innocently, barking cheerfully. Jeremiah growled. He swiped the clover leaf up. “That’s mine! Stupid dog!”

Jeremiah began walking away, but the dog whimpered sadly. Jeremiah turned around. The dog’s eyes were lowered sadly. Jeremiah sighed. He pet the dog’s head. “I guess you don’t have a family either, huh…? Want to be friends?”

The dark barked cheerfully, and it began following him around. The two were inseparable, and finally, Jeremiah felt secure in something again; he had the undying loyalty of his dog, Barry, who was with him day or night, preventing him from being mugged, and even got him a few extra tips when he begged.
He had someone to play with again—someone who wouldn’t abandon him—and it gave him a sense of home. He was the happiest he had been since he had lost his parents. He liked racing his dog from one side of town to the other, teaching his dog tricks, and even playing fetch with items he would find in the street.

He and his dog were two peas in a pod; cast aside, living on the streets, jeered at… and now, they could be castaways together.
Everything was good, until one day, he had fallen asleep—using his dog as a pillow—and when he awoke, his dog was gone, just like his parents were years earlier.
Jeremiah was alone again and cried for his lost pup. He wasn’t good enough to be his parents’ child, and he wasn’t good enough to be a dog’s companion. And it wasn’t just that Barry had disappeared; he had taken the clover with him.

Now, Jeremiah was more bitter than ever. He trusted no one, and relied more on stealing than ever—having no remorse for a world that had abandoned him. He had no more joy or hope left in his heart, and resented the fact that he had ever given the last shred of love to a creature who only used him as a meal ticket.

But then, one day, Jeremiah saw another clover in the road. He picked it up, and with a grunt of anger, intended to rip it. But then, he heard a bark.
He looked to his right and saw Barry.

Tears sprung to his eyes. “Barry!” he embraced the dog, who licked his face. But then, the dog wrestled free of his embrace and began barking.

Jeremiah cocked his head to the side. “You want me to follow you?” Jeremiah followed the dog through the town until they left it, and then followed him further. “Where are we going? I’m getting tired Barry!”
Jeremiah followed Barry until night fell, and they had to rest. In the morning, Barry continued at the same pace, and Jeremiah followed him until they arrived at a different town—one that was quite a bit wealthier than his old one. And finally, Barry brought him to a house—a white, two story house with a beautiful garden out front.

Jeremiah was devastated. He swallowed a lump in his throat. “Is this your new home, boy? Well… I’ll tell them that you’re back. I’ll miss you…”

Jeremiah embraced Barry for what he thought would be the last time, and then knocked on the door. A man and a woman answered—a handsome couple by any standard—and beamed at seeing Barry. “Oh! You’ve returned Barry! We were so worried about you!”

Jeremiah looked at his feet. “I brought him home. I’m glad he has a nice place to stay…” Jeremiah knelt next to Barry, nuzzling his face into the dog’s fur. “Goodbye, boy. You were the best thing that ever happened to me.”

Jeremiah turned away, intending to head back to his old town, but Barry whimpered, nuzzling him affectionately. The handsome couple knelt by Jeremiah. “What’s your name? Where are your parents?”
What Jeremiah was not expecting, was for the couple to adopt both him and his dog.
Truly, meeting Barry was the luckiest thing that ever happened to him.

Hi, here is my piece of lucky encounter!

Lucky Encounter (maybe M content)

“I suggest today to climb to the waterfalls,” said Alon.
“Are here helicopters?” Antey got inspired.
Alon shook his head.
“Only drugs,” Ad giggled. “Eat and ride like a horse.”
“According to a legend, the one who has bathed in seven waterfalls will live seven centuries more,” smiled the beast.
“Has anyone been bathing already?” Antey looked at the couple.
“Everyone,” Ad and Alon looked at each other.
“No, someone who's seven hundred years old?”
“If you were seven hundred years, I think you would not yak that no one goes to you to see,” chuckled Ad.
“Come on,” persuaded Alon. “Rahma lives there; he has amazing cheese and milk.”

“Rahma,” breathed out a hysterical giggle Antey, easily climbing down the path. “How far you have to go for the cheese.”
“He has the most delicious one,” Alon carried over the shoulder a bag with the things for Rahma.
“Not important, for the most delicious cheese. Why settle so far away?”
“To the curious don’t hear the screams of the tormented boys,” Ad put it in instructively.
“But if everyone knows...” Antey threw up his hands.
Alon shrugged his shoulder. Soon the stone house of the hermit appeared. No screams from the house came. Antey sharply looked at Ad.
“He doesn’t torment them all the time, now he has a break,” Ad explained.
The hermit left the house, wiping his hands with a towel, and there were scarlet spots on his hands. Ad nodded to Antey, Antey hysterically waved off.
The comings said hello, Alon presented Antey and Rahma to each other. The men stared at each other with cougar eyes. Alon thought that these two knew what to do with their desire; he threw off the bag.
“It’s for you,” handed Alon the bag to Rahma.
Rahma reluctantly released the sleek hand of Rassen, reluctantly tore his eyes off him, took the bag, nodded to everyone, inviting in the house. Antey walked in, looked around, brushed with eyes at the bed in the corner. The hermit invited the guests to the table; there was a bowl with fresh strawberries on the table. Antey looked at Ad; the handsome waved off.
Rahma set the table, then handed a filled bag to Alon, the beast habitually gratefully nodded.
“I'll go get the wine,” smiled Rahma, brushing with the keen eye the lips of Antey and went to the basement.
“And in the basement, he's got a bleeding boy,” Ad hissed to Antey.
Alon smiled, he had been in the basement of the hermit, no trace of bloody victims was there, there were no chains, no hooks, nor any other fixtures of a meatman, an ordinary cellar. If there was a place where Rahma's victims bled out, it was on his bed.
“Yes, and he gradually sucks their blood for two weeks,” continued Ad.
Antey boldly put a slap to Ad.
“If Rahma had sucked the blood and tortured the boys, he would have cut off your tongue first. And I don't believe he could pass you by.”
Ad breathed indignantly, about to protest.
“And I remember, as you mentioned, that Paris, helping the surfers’ school for poor children, ate these children,” pointed out Antey on the boy.
“Paris well could,” Ad muttered.
Alon pulled and kissed the head of the little snake; the boy clung to the beloved.
Rahma returned with a clay jug. Filled the mugs with fragrant white wine. There were no glasses, of course. Antey sipped wine, sighed admiringly, moved his head. Raised the cup, welcoming the attendees. Finished his drink. Rahma poured him another, insinuatingly smiled.
“Be careful. It's treacherous.”
The sparking Rench waved his hand.
“I grew up on the home wine. Our neighbours were winemakers. I was friends with their son.”
The native, easily smiling, was watching the glorious Rench, cougar tracking his movements.
After dinner, the company was going to continue.
“Will you show us the waterfalls?” Alon asked.
“Certainly,” nodded Rahma eagerly, looking at Antey. The hermit threw over his shoulder bag, with the necessary things on the road.
Alon didn’t take the bag of groceries and decided to pick it up on the way back.
They passed quite a bit, on the way Rahma was telling legends of the local places.
“From the very first she jumped,” nodded Rahma, ending the legend.
They heard a roar of the water and their eyes were opened to a majestic view. The waterfalls seemed to follow one after another, protruding of the cliff. The friends were standing on a rock in front of the gentle, but high descent. Antey walked to the edge; it seemed that the gods were somewhere near, watching from a mountain to somewhere. The man spread out his arms and shouted. The scream flew into space without deafening the surrounding people. They were not in the mountains, so it wasn’t dangerous to shout. Alon, delightedly smiling, looked at Antey. No one can lock the free Rench in a cage; he wouldn't, he couldn't live in captivity. Shining Antey turned to his friends and ran down to the waterfalls. Rahma ran after him rapaciously. Alon and Ad slowly walked behind them.
“I wonder if they fuck right there?” asked Ad.
Alon smiled.
When the couple came down, Antey and Rahma were sticking out of the lake, under the waterfall. But individually, there's no indication of passion between them. Ad giggled and poked his forehead in the chest of Alon, seeing the hungry carnivore sight of Rahma. The native, like looking for and watching the victim, insinuatingly sailed around the Rench. Antey swam rapaciously, animally, he quickly dived, swam to the shore and surfaced in front of Alon, smiling and smoothing his wet hair. The man gave him a hand, Antey took it and disappeared under the water, choking. Rahma was nowhere, the hunter was under the water, holding the leg of Rassen. Antey skillfully copes with the panic, he opened his eyes under water, kicked the Rahma aiming to the solar plexus. The hand holding the leg came loose, the hunter slid along the body of Antey, floating around. Rassen took a deep breath snorting from the water. Antey brushed with the eyes at Rahma and went ashore, in front of Alon.
The Rench was naked; the shorts were lying right there on the coast. The beast looked over at Antey's beautiful body. Antey shook with their feet, shaking off the water, picked up his clothes, and headed to the next waterfall.
“On top, they seem so close,” he shook his head stopping.
“Maybe, you need seven hundred years in the form of candy?” acutely inserted Ad.
“It would be nice,” agreed Antey. “What a beauty around…”
Rahma went ashore silently and lightly; he was also naked, the native picked up his shirt and wiped his face. Alon for the first time saw the hermit naked; the clothes frankly were ruining him. The flexible animal body seemed to belong to some unknown dangerous predator, lovingly fashioned by nature and presented to the worthiest one, this way probably looked gods descended to earth.
“Aren't you going to dive?” asked Antey.
Alon shook his head, dropping off the obsession, turned to Ad, which was untying the clothes. The boy came to the water, touched it with his foot and jumped into the azure lake. The beast threw off his clothes, ran and dived after him, dragging Ad into far and deep. The handsome screamed, gurgling. Antey smiled as if this he created this lake, this waterfall, and Alon and Ad themselves.
They came back to Rahma in the evening. Antey fell in a chair, tired and pleasant smiled.
“Don't walk in the mountains at night. You can easily break the legs,” said Rahma. “Stay. Will leave in the morning.”
Alon looked at Rahma, who was staring at Antey, nodded.
“So well,” said the hermit as if he’d seen, turning to Alon.

You can read more here: https://tapas.io/series/For-a-Slave

Hi there! Here is a chapter of my novel that I recently posted that suits this prompt! Thank you! 🖤

https://m.tapas.io/episode/2087417

A lucky encounter

The butterfly bracelet

You might call this fate or whatnot, but I guess he might be the one.

One day, there I was along with my girlfriend at the mall, as we entered a jewelry shop I saw you. You were wearing a red shirt with a yellow jacket on top and skinny jeans a bit weird I may say but that doesn't matter because I really didn't notice you back then, but how can I remember all of this when I didn't notice you, funny, I guess maybe I had my eyes on you since then. You had soft curly hair and were looking at a butterfly bracelet that had red strings and a gold design on them. My girlfriend wanted that, but, that was the only piece left, you looked at my girlfriend and smiled while giving it to her, you looked like you were about to cry but yous still gave it to her. We broke up, my girlfriend, and a few weeks after buying her that bracelet, she was now gone from my life. But, I saw you on another day wearing a white sweatshirt and I might say that fate brought us together, you also wear a butterfly bracelet now, but much prettier than the one before. The bracelet was our chance encounter and fate may have brought us together

Tie-in to Little Distractions on my profile page https://tapas.io/KGBrightwell

I get why people shipped us. I do. And we probably would have made a great couple, Only I really don’t go for the whole bad-boy thing. Either the bad, or the boy. But I get why people went there: because I defended him whenever he went off half-cocked, and he was a bit overprotective where I was concerned. It’s always been the case, ever since we first met in Biology class freshman year.

This was classic Richard.

I should have known better. I can’t stand the sight of blood. But I thought I’d be fine so long as I didn’t look at the screen.

Honestly, the teacher said we could leave if we wanted to—that it wouldn’t harm our grade in any way. I couldn’t tell if she was talking to me in specific or the class in general because I already had my eyes shut. I remember shaking my head in case she was looking in my direction. I was fine. I wasn’t really fine. I was just a tad on the stubborn side.

The kid in the desk behind me—of course it was Richard—muttered something I couldn’t quite hear because at about the same time he started speaking, the circular saw started cutting through the breastbone of the patient. And I fell out of my desk.

When I opened my eyes, our teacher was on her way over— but the video of open heart surgery was still running. I thought I might throw up.

Richard had left his seat and was hovering over me. He asked me if I was okay and then yelled at the teacher to turn the damn video off.

Yeah, you all laugh now. But the teacher didn’t find it quite so funny at the time.

I tried to get up, claiming to be fine, but Richard glared at me and told me to stay put. Which was probably a good thing. I was pretty woozy. At least the video wasn’t playing anymore.

Poor Ms. Morgan. She was a new teacher. I felt bad for passing out during her class. I'm sure there was paperwork involved.

Then get this: Richard bent down and actually picked me up off the ground. I tried to object, but you can imagine how that went. He just looked at me with his fierce brown eyes and I shut my mouth.

He all but carried me to the nurse’s office. And then demanded that some poor kid who showed up looking for a bandaid run to get me some orange juice from the cafeteria. And to cap it all off? He got in school suspension for refusing to go back to class. Or swearing at the teacher. I can't quite recall.

The whole thing would have been a lovely meet cute for a straight couple. Instead he got in school suspension for refusing to leave the nurse’s office and swearing at one of the teachers. And then I broke his heart a few years later when he thought he was in love with me. But it all worked out.

And I couldn’t be more pleased to be here today as his best woman. Congratulations to Richard and Jesse.

“And then I said, look—if you’re going to expect me to keep these working hours in the middle of the hottest season of the year, I’m going to need some compensation for it. That’s not unreasonable, is it?”

“Not at all.” Marlin leaned back, stretching his legs. “Say, would you mind—”

“Oh sure, sure.” Drakos splayed the fine webbing between his fingers, wiggling them to help Marlin nestle into the hammock they created. It tickled when Marlin’s boots nudged the edge of a scale in his palm. Drakos giggled, mirth escaping in a cloud of steam.

Marlin shifted again, settling his boots at the joint between two of Drakos’ fingers, head coming to rest against the base of a wicked, curved claw. He was such a tiny thing, so fleshy and adorably human, and Drakos counted himself lucky one of their kind had chosen him, out of all his brethren, to be a Companion.

Well. The choosing was mutual, really, and if one got technical, there were far more humans than there were Dragonkind. But riders with skill and wit like Marlin were a rare breed, and Drakos had been the envy of his pack when they’d made their match in a lucky encounter at midsummer a year past.

Marlin gave his scales a friendly pat. “Look, the Dragonmistress knows the solstice is right around the corner, and I can’t imagine she’s forgotten about your Week of Holy Fire. She’s piqued lately, what with the wyvern invasion on the southern border, but I’m sure you’ll get your time off.”

Drakos heaved a sigh. Smoke curled from his nostrils, hot enough to bead sweat on Marlins forehead. “Ah, sorry. I forget about that—”

“No worries, mate.” Marlin wafted a hand between them, clearing the smoke. “You’re new to the whole ‘Human Companion’ thing, I get it. Anyway, if you ask me, I think it’ll all sort itself out. In the mean time, why don’t we blow off some steam, so to speak? What say you?”

With a groan at the pun, Drakos shifted, setting Marlin onto his shoulder. He lost sight of him soon thereafter, but tracked his progress by the tip-tap of booted feet along his spine to where the wyrmsilk saddle wrapped from back to belly. The saddle wiggled beneath Marlin’s weight and then his boots connected, warded spurs locking into the chinks in Drakos’ plating to link them. He could feel it, the burn that he and Marlin shared, the need to go up, up, up that was so rare to find in a Human Companion.

Drakos spread his wings and launched for the sky, baring his teeth at Marlin’s delighted whoop.

How’s the new saddle?

His thoughts shimmied over the bumps in his spine and bled into the metal of Marlin’s spurs.

Amazing. An experimental shift in the wyrmsilk gave away Marlin’s intentions, and Drakos banked right even before the request came through the spurs. Lords, did you hear that already? This is great!

Another shift. Wind traced over his scales, cooling his body in delightful ripples. Drakos hung for a low pass around the belfry, grinning at the crowd of little waving humans who greeted them as they passed.

You really do like us, huh? Something warm passed through the wyrmsilk, warmer again through the spurs. It’s mutual, friend.

Now let’s fly.

Bernard is a child that fond of the cosmos, at night he would always gaze at the sky to see the stars, his dream is to explore the galaxy but he feels quite sad because the current human technology doesn't allow him to explore the galaxy however he wanted, so even if he became an astronaut it would be pointless, so he studies engineering because he saw Elon Musk is able to create this highly advanced rocket then maybe he could too.

After studying engineering he finally understands that creating a rocket is not simple as it seems there are just too many factors to consider not to mention the cost of building a rocket which could cost billions.

But he has an idea if he cannot build his own rocket then he would join Elon Musk's company so he could build a rocket together with the legend himself which he is confident that he can build a rocket that will be able to freely explore the galaxy.

After a few years of studying aerospace engineering he still doesn't catch Elon Musk's eyes it seems he isn't talented enough for Elon Musk, he even tries submitting a job submission but rejected by the SpaceX company.

He was depressed since he was a child he always dream to explore the galaxy he was confident that he could build a spaceship that was able to explore the galaxy but his footstep didn't even move from it's the original place, he is still on earth, chained by the gravity of earth.

So to relieve the stress he decided to explore the earth instead, he ventures to all kinds of places on earth he even found, an ancient city, an ancient cave which hasn't been found yet, he reports every one of his finding to the local government and his name widespread to the internet which makes him famous, but Bernard doesn't want to be famous instead he wants to explore the galaxy so being famous didn't make him happy.

Bernard like usual ventures the earth to replace the urge to explore the galaxy, and just like usual found an ancient cave. Bernard explores the cave with his trustworthy flashlight that he never changes its battery for years and it's still working fine.

Bernard was used to finding an ancient building like this, man-made cave, buried city, buried castle and he would always get some treasure out of it but he didn't fond of those things so he gave them away to the local museum which makes him known as the "Messiah Of Ancient Heritage" He was so famous that historian worship and pray to him before they also make their own adventure around the earth hoping to find an ancient relic just like Bernard.

Bernard on the other doesn't know any of this. he is currently in a cave with a flashlight, he continues to explore inside the cave without fear, well why would he feel fear he didn't even consider fear when he thought of exploring the universe if he feels fear just by exploring caves then he should just kill himself for considering to explore the galaxy.

Bernard wore the same poker face as he looks around the cave, he glances at the walls with unreadable writings, he casually touches a couple of spots on the wall, and with a "clack" sound on the wall that he touches open up with a hidden mechanism. Bernard still with his poker face goes inside the wall, this kind of occurrence was ordinary to him after hundreds of times experiencing this kind of thing, now it's like eating and drinking for him.

But his poker face immediately changes into that of a shock because what he found inside isn't an ancient relic but a baby inside a futuristic looking, transparent pod the baby is hovering inside the pot, this is a scene where you normaly see in science fiction web novel but this isn't a web novel, this is real life that's why Bernard was flabbergasted.

"Hahaha! finally, I am able to explore the galaxy, I have read every book about science fiction and there is one novel just like this where the main lead found a lucky encounter and he will able to fulfill his dream, and it seems like I'm the main lead of this world muahahaha!" Bernard was like a different person, contrary to his poker face earlier he was filled with vigor "Now if I release this little baby inside the pod, he will help me to explore the galaxy! Muhahaha, thank you, god, of the universe, I'm sorry for saying that you are not All-good because you make all kinds of natural disasters, diseases, black energy that will separate us from other universes which will make us isolated from the other universe and unable to explore them. But now I changed my mind you really are the All-good and all-powerful, ohh!! my mighty god" Bernard proceeds to kneel in front of the pod and pray which he had never done since he studies astrophysics.

After a while, Bernard stands up to walk to the pod and touch a few buttons on the side of the pod, even though he doesn't know what those buttons do but since he already believe that God is on his side he thought that anything will work out, and so with confidence and hope for the future Bernard take a step back to see the pod actually open which confirm his thought that God has chosen him. "I really am chosen by gods to lead humanity to explore the universe" Tear of happiness trickle down from his eyes, after years and years of dreaming he finally succeed he thought.

when the pod finally fully opens the baby open its eyes and stares at Bernard which makes him shocked. "Hello, little baby! ready for an adventure?!" Bernard replaces his shocked face with a smile and opens his hands majestically. 'since he was the main lead then he could act a little dramatic' he thought.

"Foolish Homo Sapiens!" Bernard was shocked because the one who said those lines are not him but the baby and not only that the baby is still floating inside the pod while staring at him.

Bernard takes 2 steps back and asks "Yo...You can talk?" The baby rolls his eyes and clicks his tongue "Foolish Homo Sapiens! You better stop asking questions and help me return to my planet, after transforming your DNA's race your kind must be advanced enough to create a shuttle to travel to my planet!"

"Where is your planet?!" Bernard had so many questions in his head but since the baby seems irritated he didn't dare to ask his personal question and instantly get right down to business!"

"My planet is Kepler-452b, tell your kind to prepare a spaceship for my return back home now!" The baby was irritated it seems like he doesn't want to speak with Bernard anymore.

Hearing this Bernard was flabbergasted and hurriedly said "But that's impossible Kepler-452 is 1,402 light-years away from earth and that planet was found by humans with a telescope called Kepler Space Telescope!" The baby landed on the ground with a bang and a shockwave surge into Bernard which make him take a few steps back. "What? You said your kind found the planet?! I was the one who tells them about it a long time ago about the planet, I change your kind's DNA so your kind can get more intelligence which in turn your kind promise me to take me home when they are able to, how dare someone take credit of the finding! Hmph! no matter as long as you Homo Sapiens take me home I'll let you do everything you want!"

"Bu...But we can't take you there because it's too far away our technology isn't enough to do that currently! Here this is called a phone in here you can search any information about the current human society!" Bernard decides to give the baby his phone so he doesn't have to explain it by himself.

The baby had a smirk on his face "Ohh so you already make a Centralised Information Bank! Well if you can't even do that then I would have wasted my DNA Improvement Agent!" The baby snatches the phone and uses it like he manufactures the phone itself.

The baby had a smile when he took the phone but his face turns uglier and uglier the longer he searches on the phone. "Ho...How can humans be so fucking dumb?! War with each other?! Using war to win politics?! And your dumb race focuses more on Weapon development rather than space exploration and bio-engineering?! Crap didn't you know that your stupid earth will eventually vaporize as the sun get hotter and hotter and natural disaster will keep on hitting your race which slows down your development and not only you focus on creating weapons you even make weapons to destroy the earth itself!!! How foolish, I know I shouldn't give the agents to you monkeys!"

Hearing this bernard was flabbergasted and he didn't know what to do because this is the first time he sees a baby that able to use a smartphone while talking about how foolish a human is as a whole. "Forget it, I'll return to my Time-Space Pod, you on the other hand will get an Advanced DNA Optimiser which will improve your DNA by 2%. After that, you better make sure to prevent humans from destroying itself before you can make a spaceship to get me home!!" The baby throws a test tube that has a blue liquid in it and immediately gets inside the pod before closing his eyes.

Bernard was taken aback but luckily he caught the test tube if it falls and breaks that would be a waste because it's an Agent that can improve your DNA by 2%. 2 motherfucking percent you know what that means? the smartest monkey are able to understand sign language if you train them, they have the same intelligence as a toddler and the difference in DNA between monkeys and humans is 2%! yet with 2%, we have all these things that monkeys are impossible to understand. We have poetry, music, physics, science, art, video games, web novel. the monkey probably thinks that we are a god because we are so complicated that they are unable to understand us.

So if bernard is able to improve his DNA by 2% then the current human civilization would be a monkey group to him which makes him very happy and even though he doesn't get to explore space immediately he got something better. "Hahaha with this I can make my own spaceship, warp gate, create planets, understand dark energy, dark matter, and of course I can finally explore the galaxy or even the UNIVERSE!!!"

By Harlyboy59

I Have a lot of fun writting this, English is not my native languge so if you do see mistakes tell me about and please don't bully me LOL :slight_smile:

Omg this is so much fun! I've pasted an excerpt from my current novel The Burdens We Hide because it's a lucky meeting for both characters (though they don't know it yet :eyebrows: ) Link to the story and profile below!

The trip down memory lane cost him. Lost in his thoughts, Chushi met slight resistance back in the physical world, and stumbled. Before he could fall completely, an icy hand grabbed his wrist, saving him from the ground but sparing none of his mortification. Embarrassment welled up inside his stomach as he dusted his jeans off. “Sorry.”

There was no one else out here this early in the morning, so he knew who stood before him. They had never been this close before, and Chushi knew that meeting Aoto’s eyes would reduce him to a stuttering mess. He took a step to move past him, but that cold hand gripped him tighter. “What was that?”

“I-I said s-sorry.” Chūshi was by no means small or weak, but something about Aoto’s grip weakened him. He cleared his throat, still boring holes into Aoto’s black tennis shoes with his gaze. “Won’t happen again. So, uh, l-let me go?”

The air, already still, froze. Almost as if Aoto’s black hole rippled and expanded until only the two of them remained. “How can I let you go when you sound unsure of it yourself?”

How can you sound so lifeless and yet so…

Chūshi didn’t know what to do. He was being laughed at, even though he knew if he looked at Aoto’s face, it’d be as flat as his tone. One thing Chūshi couldn’t stand: being laughed at. Remembering his pride, strength returned to him and he jerked his arm away, finally looking up.

Bottomless pools tempted him behind square glasses, looming larger due to the slight magnification. Chūshi felt his resolve shake, but somehow could tell that his stunned reaction was a cause for Aoto to laugh harder. His expression remained the same though as he waited for Chūshi to respond.


Link to profile: https://tapas.io/rizamasuyama

Tapas Novel Prompt: “A lucky Encounter”

Lost in a daze, I kept walking along the noisy street. The shops were glowing with life and happy chatter from their customers.
It’s all muffled and impossible to understand.
My heart keeps aching in pain and cries out for help even though I am the only one able to hear it. In the mourning hour of a lost loved one there was only one way to drown the wretched bonds of sorrow - music - the only sound that pierces through the muffled daily activities and calms the aching pain of grief and sadness.
I didn’t realize it when I first discovered them, but as days kept on passing I started noticing that they would always return to this one spot among the busy streets.
They would always soothe the rushed hours with this one melody and voice that captivates the hearts in pain.
Along the sidewalk we gathered, side by side we reached out our hands with a smile. Swaying softly like flowers caught in a breeze
We may not use the same native tongue, but through music we bonded and healed all thanks to the two talented individuals.
When the day is over and the sun goes down, my feet naturally pick up speed and brings me to this one spot in the busy streets, because this is where I spend my hours mourning the loss of a loved one.
Through their tunes I bathe in deep heartache, through their lyrics I say the words I never had a chance to deliver, and through the breeze I send off my wishes to the stars hoping that you will no longer be in pain.
There is no such thing as forgetting the ones who leave us. They are forever engraved in memories from the time spent with them. And so, this lucky moment will forever be frozen in place. A moment in time that will forever help me be at peace until we meet again.

Link to Tapas account:

Burning Tears
(The prologue)

In the middle of great nothingness is the great palace of the divines; a gigantic one made of clear crystal glass that only reflects what stands outside which is nothing but whiteness and glory. A heavenly deep voice echoed the palace vibrating the walls threatening it to break into pieces followed by tens of voices similar yet not as strong as the first one.

“Enough,” the voice said along with a sharp knock on a glass; the vision became clearer revealing what was behind the mighty walls. An endless white room with undefined walls and ceiling; four glass tables and chairs occupied with four people looking anxious and furious in the center.

The tables were arranged in half circle shape, behind it were hundreds of people sitting sharply on white tiers of seats, they all dressed the same; in white maxi long selves robes with hoods covering their heads. Each one had an enchanted beauty that is impossible for man’s eye to sustain, their sharp crystal-clear eyes were staring angrily at one man standing right in the middle across from the four tables.

It was the man’s trail who seemed rather furious than ashamed or guilty. Everyone was eyeing his standing body angrily reflecting every word their leaders said informing them with details of his felony. “We are not here to discuss what you have done or think, we are here to witness your retribution,” the same mighty deep voice said, and it belonged to the one sitting behind the middle table, a woman with sharp features and angelic powerful aura derived from her undeniable strength.

“I have not done anything wrong to be here!” the person standing in the middle shouted angrily— he removed his hood revealing his black hair and strong dominant features that looked different from the rest; it was filled with grudge and seemed somehow foreign to their undeniable angelic beauty— “we are blindfolded, we deserve more than this world.”

“Enough Harut! This is not a game! You crossed your limits! You cannot proceed with your accusations.”

“It is not accusations! It is the truth! Gabriela, those creatures don’t deserve their world, they will destroy it and turn it to ashes! We are more powerful than them, we are luminous, we are divines; we deserve that world, not those weak creatures!”

“Who do you think you are to question who deserves what?!”— Gabriela hit both of her hands sharply on the glass table in front of her— “even if we are powerful, it is not in our nature to question, it is not our role to control destiny.”

“It is not fair or right! Those creatures are capable of hatred and destruction, they are not pure, aren’t you questioning why those weak creatures get it and not us?”

“What are you talking about?” another man sitting on the right table asked suddenly, he looked at Gabriela and saw how she warned Harut from talking further.

Harut’s furious attitude didn’t stop him from trying to tell the rest what put him into this nerve-wracking trial yet before he could spell another word, he stepped closer to Gabriela’s table and looked deeply into her fierce eyes and said, “Admit it, you know I’m right, you know how it will end.”

Her eyes widened with shock and denial. “ENOUGH.” Gabriela stood up and peered furiously at Harut. In a blink of an eye, he kneeled in front of them with metal chains trapping both his hands roughly behind his back and another wide chain covered his mouth and chin. “lock him,” she told one of the divines sitting behind her and then walked away and her body slowly disappeared into thin air. As the rest of the divines watched her go; one of them glimpsed Harut looking rather amused than scared.

Alexandria, Egypt, April 17, 1974, 12:00 am.

In a breezy spring night, the city was quiet and peaceful with silver diffuse of moonlight covering a hundred-year-old mansion on the Mediterranean Sea coast owned by the Abaza family generation after generation. This night the entire house was a block of darkness except for one room with dim lights and heavy cigar smoke. The room was enormous with walls covered in books line after line and many certificates and prizes all with the same name and title.

The novelist Ramzi Abaza.

Tones of pictures all over the walls of the room with one person in common; a man throughout the years from his late twenties till his mid-sixties; he had light blue hooded eyes with an intense yet warm look. Ramzi was sitting on a traditional brown leather carver chair next to an opened balcony door, a cigar half-smoked, and a glass of water on the table next to him. He was shaking his legs roughly as he stared at the door intensely.

His eyes shifted from the door to the clock next to it, before it hit midnight, he stood up and opened a safe embedded behind the massive row of books next to the balcony from the right. He opened the heavy door of the safe and it revealed an ancient book with unique symbols on its dark-brown leather cover. He grabbed the book slowly and went back to his chair, he left the book on the table next to him and inhaled the thick smoke of the cigar.

He looked intimidated, yet his body was moving rather fast racing the clock before it strikes midnight, he flipped the pages until he reached the page number six hundred sixty-six. He took another deep breath and then read it out loud, he looked at the clock and then held the glass. The ground vibrated from below and the lights flickered rapidly, it was a minor earthquake.

Beads of sweats covered his forehead as the white colored door with engraved flowers changed along with the vibrations into a bigger one painted in brown with hieroglyphics engraved all over it. The vibration faded away; Ramzi got up leaving the book on the table then went to the door to open it.

On the other side was a different room that has its unique vibe, the door opened to a metal railing and stairs, he looked down and saw a middle age man sitting on a burgundy couch with a coffee mug between his fingers, he looked at Ramzi and smiled. “Hello old friend, are you ready to pay your dues?” Pulse beating in his ears, blocking out any other sound. Ramzi couldn’t talk, his fear of what will happen to him left him completely paralyzed.

Chefchaouen, Morocco, November 7, 2023.

Heavy panting, fast running along with adrenaline-pumping inside his terrified veins, beads of sweat covered his small forehead. Nothing made sense, nothing seemed real, yet the feeling of terror was the most genuine thing he ever felt in his entire life. His pace was getting faster with every step, the air felt sticky and suffocating and his legs started to feel numb. His eyes shifted sharply into the fast view in front of him; it was dark and unfamiliar to his aghast soul.

He stopped suddenly catching his long-gone breath, he looked at his shaking legs and his bloody hands that rested briefly on his weak knees. “Not again,” he said and resumed running. The darkness began to fade slowly with every fast leap he took; he didn’t stop running until his eyes glimpsed something forcing him to stop roughly and almost falling from the horrific place, he was in.

A massacre was a simple word encounter with what he saw. His breath stuck between his lungs refusing to get out of his unsteady body, his hands were shaking uncontrollably, and his warm tears ran over his hot burning cheeks hurting him, yet he couldn’t move, he couldn’t believe his own eyes, he couldn’t believe it was too late. Aside from his fast-beaten heart, no muscle dared to move closer, he felt ravaged and enraged.

The city that was no longer recognized filled with burning dead bodies, shredded flesh, and running blood, his nose itched terribly from the unbearable smell of blood running between demolished buildings that looked like waterfall covering the cracked ground mixed with burning flesh.

Everything seemed slow and almost not moving; he blinked his eyes once waking himself up from the heart-dropping shock. A horrific cry filled his ears forcing him to move his head toward it; dark cold black shadowy figure standing far, the city was dim almost completely dark, yet that large figure stood out clearly. Something behind it gave the figure an absolute light and aura that seemed foreign to it.

His body moved on its own; walking in a leap to stop the dark figure even though he didn’t know how or what it was, he kept his pace and stopped again when his vision became clear, and he saw exactly what it was. A young tall, muscled man wearing an endless black cloth with an oversized hood, nothing was visual from the man’s body, but his tall defined figure clear underneath the black undefined cloth that looked merged with the cracked ground.

Hundreds of black wisps flew around his figure, the man moved to the left revealing what was giving him all this light. Behind the wisps was a beautiful woman with a devastating face and shaking beaten body and unstopped bleeding back, next to her were bright golden feathers laying on the ground with splashed blood over it.

The man laughed at her begging state and mercilessly hacked his right hand in the middle of her uprising chest, the woman screamed painfully; around his black veined hand, an unsustainable light came from within her weak standing body. He twitched his hand inside her chest, she screamed even louder almost sounded like a banshee crying threatened the ground to fissure deeper.

With his other hand caressing her raven hair, he watched her last tears ran over her luminous pink cheeks before he ripped her heart out, the light that was covering his hand inside her erupted violently over the last pieces of the city along with screams of the last two men standing.

“NO!” he screamed— jumping from his bed and falling hard on his face on the rough ground of his bedroom, he looked at his bed almost not believing his luck that he was back in his room; safe and sound— the room’s light turned on and his eyes laid on the beautiful woman sitting on the bed looking at him terrified.

“Nabil! Are you okay?” she said with a voice filled with terror and sleepiness. He looked at his wife who also looked safe and sound and sighed loudly. He stood up and went back to their bed next to her. She caressed his back whispering sweet words into his left ear, he held her other hand tightly with tears ran over his face. “same nightmare?” she asked softly after wiping his warm tears.

He didn’t answer, he just nodded and buried his sweaty head between her arms forcing her to lay back and hug him tightly. “I don’t know what I’m supposed to do, it keeps happening every time.” he said after a while.

“What happened this time?” she asked, kissing his forehead.

“It’s not a nightmare anymore… it’s a vision.”

She flinched and move her arms away from his body, looking shocked. “What? Are you sure it’s not just a dream?!” his tears ran again over his face, he was overwhelmed. “but… you can’t have visions! How is that even possible!”

“She told me… it’s a vision…” he said, resting on his back.

“She… oh my god you mean—”

“Jalila.” A loud gasp slipped from his wife, both resting on their backs freaking out.