Hope

I wish I had never opened it. But why would I not? How was I to know that something so beautiful was going to destroy everything I ever knew? I still remember the first time I opened it. I assumed it held a picture of a loved one. Instead I saw fire. I felt it burn my hands and I heard a scream that shook me to my core. I didn’t open it again for years. But it would haunt my dreams for the rest of my life.

I have always liked people. I felt as though they were both the best and worst thing about life. They are capable of so much. They can love and they can destroy. They can hug and they can set the world on fire. Literally. They can soak everything in gas and drop a match. And they did. I watched as people I thought I loved burn my life to the ground. I learned then that love was not what I once believed. It wasn’t as strong and indestructible. I thought love was the truest thing in the world. As it turns out, people can lie. Love is a lie.

I sat there surrounded by flames. Screaming as loud as I can. When for just a moment, I stopped. I thought to myself, “What if I died right now?” That was clearly what they wanted. For me to die. I laid down. I took what I thought would be my last breath and closed my eyes. It should have been over then.

I woke up in a strange house. There was a man sitting in a chair across from me. He was staring at me. I never really liked when people looked at me like that. But I was confused. I wasn’t supposed to be alive. I sat up and said, “Did you save me?” The man smiled and nodded. I became angry. I was furious. He must have been able to tell because he asked, “Are you mad? People aren’t normally mad at people who save them.”

“Well I am. I was supposed to die.”

My anger quickly melted into sadness. “Can I be left alone?” The man obliged. I stood up and began to pace. I suddenly realized I had lost everything. I stopped. I cried. I cried until I was as dry and shriveled as a raisin. I laid back down and fell asleep. I didn’t realize how exhausted I was from the near dying and all the crying.

When I woke up, I could not think straight. I had a nightmare memory. It was the first time I opened the locket. The fire. The scream. It was me. It wasn’t a nightmare or a memory. It was a vision. It was real. I wanted to know more about it. But it was gone forever. No doubt destroyed by the fire along with everything else I held dear.

I looked around the house for the man from yesterday. But he was gone. I decided to look around. I was hungry, but there was no food. I went outside to see where I actually was, but there was nothing but trees and sky. I guess I was in a cabin who knows how far from what used to be my home. I went back inside and looked around at all the pictures. They featured the man whose name I didn’t know. They were actually really cute. I hadn’t noticed before on account of my crying and such but he was quite attractive. I heard a door shut and turned around to see him standing with groceries in his arms. He smiled and said, “I imagine you’re starving. Would you like some eggs?” I nodded. He gestured with his head to follow him. So I did. I followed him to the kitchen where he proceeded to put away the food. I stood there awkwardly trying to figure out what to say.

“I’m Olivia.”

“Benjamin.”

“Do I know you?”

“No.”

“Then why did you save me? How did you know I was in there? Why did you bring me here?”

“I saved you because it was the right thing to do. I heard you scream. And because this is my house. You weren’t exactly in a position to offer any other suggestions.”

“I guess that makes sense.”

He turned towards me and looked me in the eyes and said with the cutest, sweetest, sexiest voice ever, “Will you go on a date with me?”

“A date?”

“I would love to get to know you more. The good, the bad, the ugly. Although I can’t imagine anything about you being ugly.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Despite everything that had happened.

“I would love to go on a date with you.”

He smiled the biggest smile and immediately got up and started to run away towards the door when he stopped, turned around quickly and said, “I have to get ready!”

Benjamin had left to go get things ready for tonight. I decided to waste some time watching tv. I turned it on and the news was playing.

“Millions dead as suicide rates continue to rise.”

I thought there was no way it could get any worse. Until I noticed it in the corner. August 23rd, 2036. There was no way this was possible. It was June 5th, 2035 yesterday. Right? I sat on the couch for hours. Just sitting and thinking. Here I was about to go on a date with someone who was not only lying to me, but may have been drugging me or something for over a year. I had to get to the bottom of this. But I had this pit in my stomach that said that Benjamin might be dangerous. I couldn’t let him know what I was thinking. I had to be normal. Or at least, not suspicious.

Benjamin comes in and covers my eyes with his hands. “Keep your eyes closed.” My whole body tenses up. I manage a smile. I say, “okay…” He takes his hands away. I can hear him moving, then I feel his hands take mine and help me stand up. “Follow me. I have a surprise for you.” He leads me to what I assume is his bed room. “You can open your eyes now.” There are candles, rose petals, and a big plate of French Toast on a blanket on the floor. Everything is set up for a romantic picnic at home. He says, “I made your favorite. I hope you like it. I wanted it to be special.” I smile. But in my head, I am in full panic mode. Now I know something else, he knows my favorite food. Which I never told him. He sits down on the blanket. I sit down next to him. We begin to eat.

“This food is delicious. Thank you for all of this. Maybe next time we can go out to eat.”

“But this is so much more romantic.”

“It is, but we can’t stay here forever, right?”

“Why not? Isn’t it perfect here?”

“We have to leave at some point. To get groceries and stuff.”

“Don’t worry. I’ll do that.”

“We can do it together.”

“No!” He yells and makes a face that I had not seem before. There was nothing cute, sweet or sexy about it anymore. He is breathing fast and furious. I can’t even look at him out of fear. I muster up the courage to look at him. I ask him quietly, “What day is it?”

He meets my gaze and I can tell. He knows I know.

“You just had to go and ruin everything didn’t you?” He stands up and pulls me up after him.

“I did all of this for you. Do you know how long I have waited for this? 24 years I’ve been in love with you.”

“That’s not possible. I’m only 24 years old.” The only people I even knew back then was my mom and the only family I have ever had. Then it hits me. They had a 3-year-old son at the time. I am almost in tears. I manage to say, “That was you?”

He grabs my hands and says, “Yes! Yes, it was me. I knew you would remember!” He leans towards me and kisses me. I am trying to writhe away. I can feel his hands on my back. He is holding me so tight I fear I might snap in two. I bite him. I see no other option. He slaps me so hard I fall back onto the bed.

Then he…squeeze…air…metal…hands

Then I…pain…tears…dying…stop

22 months ago, I almost burned to death in a fire. 8 months ago, I lost my life in a moment. Little did I know that a moment is all it takes. Because one second, you’re happy. The next, you were raped. It happens quicker than you think. Sometimes if you’re lucky, once it’s over. It’s over. You can move on. Maybe lucky isn’t the right word. Whatever the right word is, I wasn’t it. 8 months later and I had to make the biggest decision of my life.

I can explain. See, 22 months ago someone burned my house to the ground. For 14 months, I had no idea that I wasn’t the only one. During that time, thousands of people had their entire family killed. A group of radical psychologists went around lighting houses on fire. But that must not have been enough suffering and destruction because they also staged millions of suicides during those 14 months to look like a reaction to the fires. There was so much damage to both land and people’s minds that the psychologists behind it all became the most influential people in the world. I guess their plan worked.

Shortly after I learned I was pregnant, I visited my old home. It was never touched after it burned down. I was walking around and I noticed it there in the black ash. The locket. I picked it up and dusted it off. How it survived, I’ll never understand. You would think I’d have learned by now. But I didn’t. I opened it. That’s when I saw it. I saw myself in the hospital. I was covered in sweat and my hair was a mess. But in my arms was the most beautiful thing I have ever laid eyes on. My tiny baby girl. Even though it was only a vision, I could still feel this feeling of warmth and joy and peace even. I knew this must be love. I blinked and I was back in what used to be my home.

I have seen suffering beyond what should even be allowed in life. I had no real family of my own. I had never felt true love. Everyone I was ever close to lied to me. I gave up on life and was given a second chance. Which was more than what most people these days got. So many people lost their whole world. They had no hope left. But the curse of the locket showed me that I still have reason for hope. My whole world was not in ashes. Neither was the planet. Bad people didn’t have to mean the end of good. Or the end of us.