A Piece of You. [Part Two -- Fragment of Imagination]

 

6 --- Spirited Away

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Seeing from her perspective... She didn't have the appetite to eat dinner. It was terrible; just so terrible. He let me walk away, just like that. just like THAT. Maybe i just don't matter.

She picked up the remote control for the television. She turned it on.

Runaway Bride. This the part where the man proposes...

"...But I also guarantee, that if i dont ask you to be mine, i'll regret it for the rest of my life. Because i know in my heart... that you're the only one for me."

DAMN! Freaking chick-flick. She turned off the TV. Way to go to make me feel worse than ever. Well then, i mustn't be the only one for him. She turned on the computer.

She wasn't really hoping to see him online, she was checking her mail [like what she does regularly] and was suprised to be PMed by Cy.

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sidi_cy: What's your problem?
annaliezl: What problem? :P
sidi_cy: :)) You can't hide from us, we saw you two. what happened?
annaliezl: Uhhhh? :))
annaliezl: well, you know all about that, my problem...HIM. i just confronted him about it.
sidi_cy: You know, there might be just uhh, knots in the reality that's why you can't just seem to communicate with him.
annaliezl: Freaking reality, what great timing. =)) what's that, every time i talk to him, something goes horribly wrong? =)) whatever.
Do you think he'll get what i meant?
sidi_cy: Yea, i guess so, he's not slow or anything.
annaliezl: Dude, you know what, i think, if this continues to happen, whatever feelings i have for him, might just..uh.. go away.
sidi_cy: Why? Doesn't absence make the what go what?
annaliezl: Absence makes the heart grow fonder.
well i dont know, it just feels that way. Well i'm just trying to hold on to whatever that happened before. I like him, and i'll stick to him.
sidi_cy: tsk tsk. Why dont you just tell him that you love him? :))
annaliezl: DUDE!!! WTH no. :))
sidi_cy: If that doesn't wake him up, nothing will.
annaliezl: Patrick told me never to do that.
sidi_cy: Do you remember the story about the flower and the lady? The lady really wanted some flowers, so she gave hints to her husband that she wanted flowers. But she was given none. When she told him that she wanted flowers, her husband finally gave her flowers. Do you get it?
annaliezl: Well, yea. maybe. BUT DUDE! that's like. EVERYTHING! You just asked me to give my ALL! :))
sidi_cy: I'm not asking you. You're asking you. You're the one who wants something to happen. It's like asking you. =))
annaliezl: It so sucks that you are making sense. =))
sidi_cy: Well you're the one who made the sense out of it. :))
annaliezl: DAMN! :)) hey, do you think that i love him?
sidi_cy: Dunno. ask you.
annaliezl: :| damnn. :))
sidi_cy: Well the fact that you're having problems about these, i think that counts, right?
annaliezl: I LOVE HIM?! ew :)) i feel so unlike myself about it. [total dude moment]
sidi_cy: =))
annaliezl: [back to reality] OMGosh! WTH! I'm what in who?
sidi_cy: Dude, you are so in-you-know-what with him.
annaliezl: What? :)) Damn, I love him. I am still in shock.

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After the mind-boggling conversation with Cy, she turned off her computer. It was about ten pm. She got ready for bed and lied down.

I love him.

I love him.

I love him?

Do i really love him? Since, i've been ranting so much about it. i don't feel that i do. GAH! i dont know. it's like i've poured out my feelings to different friends, that i feel that there's nothing left.

 

Maybe i don't love him anymore.

Oh well... if these feelings i grow out of, it's his loss. if i don't, well then, he's lucky.

She closed her eyes, prayed and fell asleep.

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7 --- The Golden String

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Getting ready for work--while printing his due paper--while fixing his backpack--while fixing his hair--while doing all the things he put off, John hurriedly tried to finish everything and wanted to get to the office early. He wanted to catch Anna alone.

Before getting inside his car, he checked his phone. No new messages. He felt a slight tickle of pain. He got into his car and zoomed to the office.

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Anna woke up great. She felt renewed somehow. She ate a big breakfast, took a long bath and got ready for work. She wasn't early today, but hey, she felt good. 

She picked up her phone, No new messages. I dont mind, if that's the way he wants to play, then fine. I dont care. She smiled and called a taxi.

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8 --- Fruits Basket

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"Wow, Anna, you look gorgeous today, You're blooming." Patrick complimented Anna.

"I feel good too." Anna smiled and went to her desk. She felt different.

Everyone could see a sudden change in Anna. There was something different in her smile, her laugh, everything. Nothing really has changed, but somehow it's different.

Cy tapped Anna's shoulder. Hey won't you talk to that guy? he said as he pointed towards John. There's nothing to talk about, she replied.

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Wow, she looks so beautiful today--stunning really. Wonder, what happened. Was i the one uh, keeping her from being like this? said John while he took a glance at her. He wanted to talk to her this morning, suprisingly, she arrived late. I need to talk to her after work. he thought and was invited by his friends to have lunch.

As he was stepping out the door, he looked at her.

She looked at him.

They caught each other's stare.

She looked away, as though in pain, and continued to talk to Emy, her deskmate.

John was tugged by his friends. They walked away.

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9 --- Faster than A Kiss

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Half an hour past 6pm, John approached Anna. Could i talk to you for a sec? he asked her. Sure, no problem. she replied. They went outside the office and went to a place where there officemates couldn't hear or see them.

John held Anna's hand... 

 Anna, he started to talk, you're the greatest person in the world. Even though, i acted like a dumb twit, you still cared. I couldn't reply or do anything that you expected because i was afraid. I didn't want to take risks of uncertainty. And i feel terrible about it.

I want you to know, that i will keep my promise that I will never leave you.

I love you, Anna, so very much.

 

Anna looked away, removed her hand from his. She turned around. She didn't know how to react to what he said.

Inhale. Exhale.

She turned around and glanced at John---who was looking at her---and looked away again.

She put her hands on her chest--she felt a heartbeat. Though it was different. It wasn't the same as it was before. She couldn't feel the butterflies in her stomach anymore. It was gone.

She loves him in some point, but not the way as she cared for him before.

 

She faced John...

I don't know what to feel about what you said. It's just--it's soo---weird. I mean, do you really just tell me this now because you thought that i'd leave you? Well something like that, i mean, i don't feel the same way now.

You've had me hanging on for too long that it's almost impossible to hold on after what you did yesterday. I mean, how could you just let me walk away?

I already felt that, you didn't love me, that you had let me go., and i decided to forgive myself and let you go. I loved you.

I'm sorry.

 

These were the words he was afraid to hear. He felt excruciating pain. He couldn't move. His muscles seemed to have weighed tons. His eyes seemed to be transfixed on the floor.

She tapped his shoulder and held his face, You were one sweet memory. she said, and started to walk off.

 

The words from the movie rung inside his head...

"...But I also guarantee, that if i dont ask you to be mine, i'll regret it for the rest of my life. Because i know in my heart... that you're the only one for me."

No, i can't let her walk away this time. An invisible force got his muscles working and he grabbed her hand.

He held her close.

I can't let you walk away this time, 'cause probably i'll regret it for the rest of my life and haunt me until i die. he began to speak; she listened attentively.

I love you---and i dont mind if you dont love me right now. Because, that's just how love is right? Even if that person doesn't reply, or treats you like you're invisible, you still love that person. she began to blush because he just narrated what she did.

Because when you're in love, you will take all the risks for that person. he continued.  

 

 

And i guarantee you, i will make you fall in love with me again.

 

 

Those were his final words to her. He let her go. She stood there looking at him. Blushing and laughing at the same time. What he said, it made her feel warm inside. It was far beyond than being said I love you. It was a courageous thing to say. She felt more thanever, that this guy from the office, loved her.

She raised her eyebrow and asked him, Can you really do it? Well i'll be the judge of that. She blinked and smiled at him, the way she did before. He smiled, he felt the warmth she had for him before.

Sure I can, he said, did you see your face a while ago? It was cherry red. He laughed.

She blushed again, a little, and pinched him. He held her hand and they walked off.

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That night, before Anna went to bed, she picked up her cellphone and sent a text message.

"Goodnight." it read.

In less than a minute, her cellphone rang--she received a new text message.

"Goodnight. Goodnight. [there are two goodnight's because i'm trying to make it up to you for last time. :) " it read. it was from John.

She smiled, prayed and went to sleep.

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Well, it wasss too late. :) but suprisingly, John bought himself time and was able to win her over! :) sweeet. [you know, i'm beginning to think that i watch and read too many shojo manga and anime :)) ] Whatever happens next, i do not know. their story ends there. :) I guess, I Love You isn't always the words that could fix everything. Grabe kinilig ako sa pagsusulat nito! :> :)) hoped you all liked it. :D

The Pornographer's Polaroid [Another Short Story]

Polaroid One600 Ultra

Uses Polaroid 600 Instant film.

Focus-free lens for great shots as close as 2 feet (0.6 M).

Sleek, folding design perfect for those on the go.

Digital LCD picture counter and feature setting display.

Auto flash for great pictures in any light.

Red-eye reduction so you always look your best.

Self-timer, so now you too can be in the picture.

Wrist strap

ayun daw yung mga "specs" ko. the features that i possessed. pang-akit daw ng mga bibili sa akin. magdadalawang buwan na rin akong nakaupo sa isang storage room ng isang stall sa greenhills. Ang tagal na rin pala.

pinaulit-ulit ko sa aking sarili ang mga specs ko. great shots. great pictures. aba. ang galing ko naman pala. :)) ako ang magsisilbing instrumento sa pagpinta ng mga ngiti ng mga malulusog na bata sa mga birthday party, siguro mga kasal na napaka-sweet, mga graduation na nakakaiyak, at kung anu-ano pang mga okasyon na naririnig kong napakasaya para sa aming mga camera. excited na ako.

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bumukas na naman ang pinto ng storage room, nakita ko mula sa plastic sa aking kahon. Sana ako na ang piliin. Taimtim kong hinihiling. Kaso kinuha ni Jeff, yung bagong "helper", ang isang kahon ng isang digital camera. Umalis siya at sinarado ang pinto. Hayyyy.

 

"Ano ba Jeff?! Sabi camera, yung may nakikita kagad na picture!" sigaw na narinig ko, marahil tong anak ng may-ari, nagmamagaling na naman.

"Eh, sir, di ba digicam ganun rin yun?" Sagot ni Jeff.

"Bobo ka ba? Yung may lumalabas, na nakadevelop kagad. Yung Podaroyd." Asar na asar na sumagot si Melvin.

"Sir, POOLLLAARROIIDD, ang tawag dun. Sana po kasi linawin niyo sa susunod." Sagot naman ni Jeff na tila manununtok na. Naririnig ko ang mga tunog ng mga paang papalapit.

 

Naniniwala akong matalino si Jeff. Kawawa naman at inaalipusta siya. Pero, di ko na iisipin yun. POLAROID daw. ako yun! May bibili na sa akin! Ang tanging inisip ko.

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Isang lalaking, marahil 26 - 28 na taon ang tanda, nakasalamin at nakaputing polo ang may hawak ngayon ng paper bag kung saan ako naroon. Aba, ang ganda naman ng itsura ng lalaking to. Bata pa. Sana maraming gimik! Maraming outing. Maraming picture! Talagang excited na ako.

Umuwi kami sa apartment niya. Malinis. Maputi. Napakaganda ng mga furniture. May mga display ng mga robot at laruan. Isip bata siguro ito.

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Pagdating ng 10am kinabukasan, inalis niya ako sa kahon. Mabilis na binasa ang aking manual at ipinasok ako sa loob ng kanyang bag. Gagamitin na niya ako. Ang saya naman nito.

Pumunta kami sa isang maliit na building. Sumakay ng elevator. 3rd floor. Room 318. Opisina kaya niya ito? Ano kayang trabaho niya? Nakapolo siya muli.

Pumasok kami sa loob. ISANG STUDIO. Isang puting background, tapos may mga ilaw na nakatayo. Isa siyang photographer! Napakabait naman ng tadhana sa akin. Ako, na sabik na sabik magamit, ay magagamit na. Wala akong pakialam kahit masira ako, gusto ko lang makatulong sa kanya. Matupad ang mga pangarap kong magpinta ng mga ngiti.

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Mga ala-una, may kumatok sa aming pinto.

"Ako po 'yung model." mahinang sinabi ng dalaga. Aba, big-time naman nitong amo ko, mga model pala. akala ko pangkasal kasal at binyag. Hanep talaga!

Maganda ang dalaga. actually, mukha nga siyang dalagita e. Mga 16? Ninerbyos ata siya. Suklay nang suklay. Lingon ng lingon. Nanginginig.

 

"Marissa, sige pumunta ka muna doon sa may ilaw, gusto ko makita ang mukha mo sa ilalim ng ilaw." sabi ng aking amo.

Dali-daling pumunta ang dalaga, o dalagita, sa may background.

"Okay. Sige sige. Photogenic ka naman."

 

"Sige, maghubad ka na."

 

Di ako makapaniwala sa mga narinig kong salitang nagmula sa lalaking nagmamay-ari sa akin, sa lalaking aking hinangaan. Inilabas na niya ako at inilapag sa may mesa.

Tumunog ang kanyang cellphone, "Oo, ifa-fax ko sa'yo tong mga picture dito sa bagong recruit. [pause] Oo naman, batang bata pa."

Nakikita ng lens ko ang lahat, naririnig ko rin ang lahat. Ang taong ito, na walang ginawa kung hindi magkalat ng kalaswaan at karumihan, ay nagkaroon pa ng lakas ng loob na magpolo, magmukhang disente, magmukhang inosente.

Napuno ako ng poot sa puso ko, o kung ano man ang puso ng mga camera. Gagamitin pala ako sa ganitong paraan! Ako ang instrumento na hindi magpipinta ng mga ngiti ngunit ako ang nagtatanggal ng dignidad sa mga taong ito. Pinapababa ko sila. Ipinahihiya. Hindi ko inakala na pwede itong mangyari. Aabusuhin lang pala ako.

Naghubad ang dalagita. Nagpose. Nagpakita ng kababawan, ang mababang paglipad. Ngunit nakikita ng lens ko ang kanyang mga mata. Inosente, umiiyak at humihingi ng tulong. Kung ganoon ang nararamadaman niya, bakit niya kaya ginagawa ito? Para siyang tanga.  

Hindi ko matiis na lumalabas sa akin ang mga litratong tulad ng mga ito. Malaswa. Marumi. Tukso. Kasalanan. Hindi ko masikmura itong lahat.

 

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Lumipas ang dalawang linggo, nagpatuloy ang pagpasok at paglabas ng mga "model" sa kanyang opisina. Mapa-dalagita, binata, o matatanda. Nandidiri na ako sa sarili ko.

Ika-dalawangpu't dalawa na itong "model" na ipininta ko. Tama na. Hindi ko na kaya ipagpatuloy ito. Ilang buhay na ba ang sinira ko? Ilang dignidad na ba ang ninakaw ko sa bawat litrato na aking kinukuha?

Isinara ko ang shutter ko. Hindi ko ito bubuksan. Bahala siya. Kailangan tumigil na ito.

 

"Sir, bakit, ano po bang problema?" tanong ng model.

"Ah eh, wala. Lagi kasing nagloloko ang mga Polaroid sa akin. Mukhang nagloloko na ito. Ewan ko ba, bakit parang hindi sila tumatagal sa akin, nakalimang Polaroid na ako sa 3 buwan. dalawang linggo pa lang ito sa akin, sira na ata. Sige, gamitin ko na lang yung digicam. Wag ka nang gumalaw." sagot ng lalaking may hawak ng Polaroid na camera.

Tiningnan niya ako. Tinitigan ako ng mga matang nag-eenjoy sa mga robot at laruan-- mga matang inosente--, ngunit hindi ko makalimutan na ang mga mata rin na iyon ay naghahanapbuhay sa karumihan. Puno ng awa ang kanyang mata. Sa sarili niya, sa akin o sa mga model? Tila kaming lahat ay dapat kaawaan ng Maykapal. Malambot ang kanyang mga mata. Nakakaginhawa.

 

Bang! Tumama ang Polaroid sa pader.

 

Sa segundong nahulog ito sa malamig na tiles ng sahig at nagkahiwa-hiwalay ang mga bahagi, lumabas ang isang litrato.

Ang mga camera ay inimbento upang maipakita sa atin ang ating mga ngiti, luha, itsura. Ang mga litrato ay tila Hardcopy ng salamin.

Ang litrato, na dapat salamin ng lalaking iyon, ay Itim lamang ang lumabas.

Cold Hard Harsh, Reality.

Cold Hard Harsh Reality. well at least MY reality.

fudge. i was so furious this afternoon. well my classmates knew why. i shouldnt be mentioning names or whatever but i have my right to express this burden.

altruism --- a defense mechanism in which, when feeling strong emotion or stress, the person would obsessively help other people. :|

ako ba yun? am i like that? i like helping people.,i like stress <?> somehow. i love drama. i'm efficient and i dont ask questions. i dont say no for an answer--- to authorities of course.

 

alam ko. this is not a good attitude. you can blame my parents for that. i grew up. not to ask questions. just do what you're told. RESPECT in the highest meaning of the word. i didnt mind getting hurt. getting insulted. getting expected of. crying without anyone knowing [i cry, because i did not want to feel the destructive emotion of anger. but i guess my brother knew. but he never bothered to help me. i never bothered to help him. our parents controlled what needed be.]

 

i'm feeling little droplets of liquid in my eyes right now. [thanks louise :) ] i feel abused somehow. and "something" isnt right. i'm feeling deterioration. dont take it seriously, that's what you said, but i dont know. I CANT NOT TAKE IT SERIOUSLY. para kong tanga to ponder about this. and somehow maybe i'll laugh about this in the future. but this is present pain. this is happening now. this is what i want to forget. this is why i write.

 

hindi lang tong incident na to ang dahilan. marami pa. i guess yun lang ang sindi ng dynamite ng lahat.[9:30pm]

[9:53pm]oh di ba. busy ako. :)) ayun. medyo okay na. [thanks louise ulit and paula D] somehow alam niya kung papano ako dapat i-handle. SIGH.

nawala na ang momentum ng galit at emosyon ko.

 

NAALALA KO BIGLA.

 

the thing that keeps me going.

 

[after being hurt by the people i love the most.]

 

is.... are..

 

MY FRIENDS. :]

 

 

[tears ulit--- 9:56pm]

[10pm] these people make everything feel better. :) [tumawag pa si rona] :D

 

siguro. i may be passive most of the time. busy. doesnt give a damn about anyone or anything as long as i finish what i'm working on. minsan nalilimutan kong mangamusta. or bumati ng birthday. or busy ako.

pero. i can tell you here. that when the time comes that you need me. and tell me what you need. i will be there for you. i know it's hard.that i should be the one approached. i'm selfish. i'm busy. i dont have time for you.

 

but the real friends i have. know that i'm just a girl. waiting to be bailed out of a well i fell in.

 

i treasure them the  most :) if you dont feel the same way. i dont care. masaya ako kapag kasama ko kayo. if you leave me, fine. i can live with the fact that you people were the reason that i kept going on. but can you? 

 

i love you guys. :) thanks so much. nasira ang essence ng angry blog. naging emo. :)) at nostalgic.  

Time Would Stop After All.[i must say, a must read in all of my works. :D short story]

Time Would Stop After All.

By: Blackrose

Abba Marie Moreno – Blackrose is my pen name ;)

 

           

            Have you ever had that moment in your life (maybe you’d had it more than once) that you wished that time would just stop? Whether it was happiness that could’ve made you wet your pants, depression that made you devour tubs of ice cream or just plain aggravation over your boss, it was a time of great desperation.

 

            And every time that situation comes up, Time wouldn’t stop.

 

And you’d feel more than ever that somehow God hated you. Eventually you’d get over it. It could’ve lasted in your favor or somehow skip it, but it did not.

 

Time is a being. He goes to work like everyone else. Yeah, I said HE. On Mondays, he’d just sit on clouds and watch over us. It was one big reality show for him. Sometimes, he’d be in animal forms—crawling among us. On Sundays, he’d go and see Him; have a little chat and so. Occasionally, he’d walk among us humans and maybe have a hotdog or so. Of all the things he loved doing, he loved sleeping the most. :]

 

“OOHH, I wish time would stop!” he’d hear this once in a while. He’d peek for just a bit, and fall back into sleep. Pity was not in his vocabulary.

 

He had no care in the world. Yeah, he had a good a life—one good immortal life.

 

 

 

 

 

“Hey, Manager, I’m taking the day off. Would you mind?”  Time asked the Boss.

 

“No problem. Just be sure to come back.” The Boss sat in his desk, smiled and went back to the line of angels that had matters to discuss.

 

 

 

 

“My, my.” It was a Wednesday, much like any Wednesday. He felt smug about himself—walking casually, a man of 28 or 30. He was going to visit Mr. Clocksworth, the owner of the Clock Shoppe in Paris. He’s been here quite a few times. He’d like to marvel at the Grandfather Clocks, the Parisian wall clocks, there was even a metronome. The tick, the tock, the movement of the pendulums, it all stunned him at awe each time.

 

“Oh, I see that you have much interest in clocks.” The elderly shopkeeper said in abrupt French.

“Yes, yes. Time is a wonderful thing you see.” He replied.

 

The shopkeeper smiled and left him alone. By five o’clock he went to the Eiffel Tower. He saw this woman in a fur coat; she had tears on her cheeks. He walked past her. He didn’t have time to spare for those who could not fix their lives.

 

            He felt a tug. The Parisian woman had held on to his coat.

 

            “Would you mind if we had a drink?” she asked him. She seemed sober but her teary eyes were evident.

 

            “Sorry, Lady, but I have no time for that.” He replied in a stern voice.

 

            “Oh come on, just one. There’s a time for everything.” She pulled on his hand as though he were a child. She looked desperate; he had no choice. He did have time anyway.

 

 

            They had a drink. She told him about what happened. Her fiancé had cancelled the wedding since he’d met a new woman. She needed a stranger whom to share her problems with, no familiarity whatsoever, and that was him. They had a few laughs and it made her feel better. She had a common face, she wasn’t extraordinary in some extravagant way but she seemed so… so…. Right.

 

            “God really is a wonderful being. How he had written the stories of our lives. How he’d chosen time to keep moving forward.” A soothing tone of relief in her voice.

 

            “Oh. How do you say so? I’ve heard a lot of people who’d give their all just to stop time. Ever seen time-machine movies?” he replied. He looked at her.

 

            “Oh, I don’t know about that. But, if time could bend into our will. We wouldn’t be as strong as we are. We can’t move on. I’ve moved on.” She said with effect and emphasis.

 

            “Good for you. I need to go now. It was nice meeting you.” He bid goodbye.

 

            “No no, it was nice, meeting YOU. Thanks a lot. I finally have my dignity back.” She smiled and they walked separate ways.

 

Normally, he was indifferent about the people he met. But when she smiled, he felt his heart skip a beat. That was odd, he thought. He had a good time. But it was different from the emotion he felt. For the first time in his existence, he could not sleep.

 

 

He went back to the Office.

 

            “Boss, what’s this feeling?” he asked.

            The Boss winked and said. “Why, that is love. You’d fallen in love, son. And all I thought now that you weren’t susceptible to that.”

 

            “Love?” he asked. He got his time card and checked out. He said goodbye to the Boss and sat beneath the stars.

 

            Love, he thought. I’ve seen these things on human movies but it doesn’t feel that way. He smiled. It was a mixed emotion of things he didn’t know. It was spectacular. She’s the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I want to see her again. And trust me, he has seen a lot of wonderful things.

 

 

 

He’d meet her every Wednesday at the same spot where they met. They’d eat or dance or just walk. Whatever they did, they had fun. It was all so simple yet it was profound. He’d smile more often but he never forgot about his job. The Boss didn’t seem to mind, as long as he did his duties. He had the best weeks of his existence.

 

He was watching over this woman, whose name he did not bother to ask. She had gone from the groceries. It was a Sunday.

 

            A ten-wheeler truck.

 

            A driver half asleep.

 

            A boy of six or seven picking up a ball on the middle of the road.

 

            A woman with shopping bags who saw the boy.

 

            And an impulse that told her to save the young boy.

 

It all happened so fast, funny that he was responsible for that.

 

            Her last breath --- Time had stopped. Perhaps he did not have Pity in his vocabulary but I guess, it had the word Love in it.

 

 

 

This was insubordination. He touched her face. She was dying. He couldn’t go back. His job was the priority. The most rational act was for him to stop time and savor this moment.

 

            Everything froze. The seemingly endless ticking of the wound clocks have stopped. Water froze in the air as a mother had thrown some water. The city lights paused in a way that was magnificent. The unstoppable wind was stopped. It was beauty that time could only give us. It truly was an amazing sight.

 

            “What are you doing?” a little girl asked him. It was Death, his colleague.

 

            “I—I don’t know.” He stammered.

 

            “It is time.” She said.

 

            “No.” he lied to himself.

 

            “This is part of the Design. You have your job. I have mine. It is hard, I know.” Her mellifluous voice underscored the words even more.

 

            She was right. This was wrong. Death touched his shoulder. It was time.

 

He closed her eyes for about a second; this was the first time he wanted to go back to a particular moment. He wanted to go back to the first smile she had given him.

 

He opened his eyes: everything resumed. The ticking went on. Water fell on the ground. The city lights assumed disorder. The wind ran again. It was all according to the Design. He just wanted to sleep it all away.

 

 

He was going over to the Boss. While he was going there, he tried to think logically. She died a noble. It was madness for him to do such an irresponsible thing. He loved her, and if he really did, he would want her to fulfill the Purpose the Boss had given her.

 

But, if time could bend into our will. We wouldn’t be as strong as we are. We can’t move on. I’ve moved on. Her words rung inside his head. “I wasn’t strong as I thought after all.” He thought.

 

He was there at the Office.

 

            “Boss, I screw up. And I don’t know what to say.” Time said with much embarrassment.

 

            “Yes, I know.” The Boss smiled.

 

            “Different beings respond to love in different ways. And that was yours. Don’t worry about that. No damage done. It was an opportunity for you to feel it. Wonderful, is it not?” He continued.

 

            “It was—is the most wonderful feeling.” Time replied with his teary eyes.

 

            The Boss patted his head.

 

 

Time had stopped once—and it was for Love.

           

Love, the magnificent force pouring out from God.