The vastness out there

©MCD

Our time has become strange. It’s that portion of future history books that no one will be able to fully explain or rationally justify the reasons why things happen. People have become insane in every sense. We’re losing our grip on our selves, our actions, what we can control and what not, and most importantly our minds. There is a lot of anger out there; tension that cannot be relieved, unhealthy sentimental eruptions leading to what we dub as toxic. Actions that make no sense and cannot be predicted. But all are resulting in a negative flow of what has by now become a mundane routine. We are not shocked by anything anymore because nothing surprises us.

What if we changed our perspective? What if we – tried at least – to silence the negativity our minds speak to us?

Get out.

Of your head, your house, your situations.

Walk it off.

Just be alone with yourself and the nature surrounding you.

Breathe.

Let your eyes gaze beyond the horizon.

Realise how vast the world is and how tiny a part of it we are.

Change the way you see things and soon you’ll realise that things will themselves change too.

It’s not all that bad. You just think it is and you’ve convinced yourself it’s so.

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A sign of caring

©Rochelle Wisoff-Fields

In an ideal happy-reality scenario, girls grow up to be their daddy’s princess. They then spend most of their mature lives seeking a prince who remotely resembles the king that raised them.

Perhaps that is a mistake, though.

We set off in life with high expectations. Which often lead to bitter disappointments.

But every so often, someone comes along who surprises us pleasantly. And in the very moment when you’ve given up hope, and surrendered to the belief that what you long for does not exist.

It’s the details that make the difference. Like a simple sign that you care.

Also part of Friday Fictioneers

Giveaway love

©MCD

“I have some good news”, she said, smiling timidly.

“Surprise me,” he muttered.

They had just had a pointless disagreement and he was still frowning about the misunderstanding.

She was trying to liven the mood.

“I won a giveaway!” She jumped in excitement.

He couldn’t help but smile.

He loved how when she got all excited she resembled a little girl; innocent, sweet, and enthralled with everything. The happiness was contagious.

He was expecting to hear of some cosmetic products, or something similar, as this is what was usually given away on social media.

“What exactly?”

“A trip for two to Paris!” she exclaimed.

His eyes opened wide and he was lost for words.

“Really?! All expenses paid? For the both of us?!”

“Yep! Get ready to fly!”

And just like that, everything changed.

Paris was her dream location. It was the only capital city in Europe she had not set foot in.

He had promised himself if they managed to go there together, it would be the place where he would propose; to capture her heart forever.

Colour the sky

©MCD

He took her to the highest peak in the mountains. They were driving for almost an hour. She had not managed to get a single clue out of him on where they were going.

“Surprises”, he said, “only work if you don’t give away anything. If you suspect what it is, it won’t have the same emotional effect on you”.

She tried to allay the curiosity that was chewing her insides.

By the time they reached his marked destination, the sun was diving behind the ocean.

The sky was painted a range of orange and it was a sight every photographer or painter would value.

The moon had also appeared. It emerged as a snippet of itself, a thin peel decorating the evening sunset sky.

The city below illuminated the falling darkness. And you could sense the time changing. The mood shifting from the tired daytime routine to the more relaxed night-time entertainment.

This was now. It was a reminder to appreciate every single moment of the day.

Because every one has its own colour in our sky.

“Forever is composed of nows” – Emily Dickinson

Fly away with me

©Ronda Del Boccio

“Please forgive me; I won’t be able to make it again. Work is chaos. I’ll make amends, promise”. His voice was an amalgamation of despair, anguish, guilt, and exasperation.

She sighed trying not to be heard. She understood it was hectic at work but did not agree that he allowed his entire life to revolve around it. She said nothing more than “OK”.

Two days later, he led her blindfold to a cliff. She trembled, not knowing what to expect.

“How about you fly in the sky with me for a while and I’ll show you the world from above?”

Also part of Friday Fictioneers

A garden of surprise

©J Hardy Carroll

It was a strange place to go to get to know another person better. It was just their second encounter. Simon had promised a “surprise that would definitely be worth her time” if Harriet accepted to see him again. She blushed and accepted without thinking too much. Sometimes overthinking steals the joy of impulsive actions.

They spent almost the entire day at the botanical gardens. She had never been, but it was on her ‘to-do’ list. He had recently read about it.

It was there that they both discovered the importance of being blown away by someone’s mind and personality.

Also part of Friday Fictioneers

Iced surprises

©Dale Rogerson

“Wake up!!”

She moaned, turning over the other side. He nudged her softly.

“Come on! We have a great day ahead!”

They had been driving all night to get there. They were so exhausted when they arrived, they fell asleep immediately.

He kissed her on the forehead and she sprung up. Ten minutes later, they were in the car driving again. But this time they marvelled at the view.

Nature was dressed in white. Everything seemed so calm, so majestic, so elegant.

He stopped at a wooden gazebo by the frozen lake.

He smiled shyly, trembling for what would follow…

Also part of Friday Fictioneers

Storage surprise

©J Hardy Carroll

It took them almost a week to plan their way into the storage room. They had to find a method of entry that couldn’t be traced back to them. And a time of day when they wouldn’t be seen.

They entered during the early hours of a stormy and thunderous night.

But what they found, was not what they expected to see.

The wooden locked closet-like doors of the room made what they stored even more intriguing.

But it also meant spending more time inside in order to acquire what they were after.

They hoped it would be worth it.

Also part of Friday Fictioneers

Ticket lines

©Na’ama Yehuda

They had announced tickets were on sale on a rainy Tuesday morning. That didn’t stop people from lining up for miles in the street under the pouring rain.

Some wanted to purchase tickets for a show they had waited almost a lifetime to see.

Some others wanted simply to be part of the hype, to maintain the sense of belonging to something socially trending; to be able to say “I was there too”.

Some others were there to surprise their loved ones with the tickets in hand later that day. Because sometimes, showing you care requires less than you think.

Also part of Friday Fictioneers

Sneaky Perils

©Sandra Crook

Sometimes a danger creeps up on you out of nowhere. You don’t see it coming. You don’t even hear it. But it’s there sneaking its way into your life, preparing to harm you.

If you don’t act, you won’t survive.

Be grateful for that small thing that revealed the peril. You can now fight it on your terms.

Breathe. Be thankful for each new day that comes. We fill our lives with too much anguish and only appreciate it when it is hurt.

Listen to that ebb and flow of the waves and be certain that this too shall pass.

Also part of Friday Fictioneers