True Love

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

March 1 and Spring is in the air. Thus, this love story of true love.

______________________

She was the luckiest woman in the world, having her one true love. Her love was so certain, a luxury that even strong loves lack. She was also certain she was loved back.

Reciprocally. Devotedly. Totally.

So when killing another, for her love, was on the table, she thought long and hard.

She had promised she would do anything for her love. Lie, cheat, steal--even rob, if needed. She did all of these things without hesitation for her one true love; she liked the way it made her feel--doing things for love.

A rival stood in the way of her love's success. It wouldn't take much. She knew she could get away with it.

She bided her time, waiting patiently, as did her one true love. When it happened, it was tidy. Appeared strictly accidental. She left no evidence. Only she and her one true love would ever know. She trusted there would be no snitching; no double-cross; no plea deals.

A perfect murder.

But her one true love had to know it would be just this once.

The victim's death made life easy. Her love even prospered. So, it wasn't surprising when she was tasked with eliminating another "obstacle."

Of course. She had promised to do anything.

After the second crime, more came. Riding on her love's coattails, they lived the good life.

The years passed. She and her one true love remained childless, for children could only muck things up. No, she and her one true love were as self-serving as they were inseparable.

Her love wasn't a secret. Everyone knew who she loved. Their continued success only bred further resentment, until they were hated.

They didn't care.

Life was good. It was fun. It was exciting. It worked for them. There was no reason to change, despite public perceptions. Who needed those people, anyway? And if any were to get in the way, well...

When she and her one true love died, they did so, so alone. No family, friends, or loved ones. They had pulled it off, leaving life with no spare change and nothing to show.

It's what happens when your one true love of your life is yourself.

_______________________

Inspired by L'Aube Désarmée, by Rene Magritte, below. The other images were created, at my behest, via ArtSpace.ai, viz., as per Dali, Picasso, and Magritte. I'm no artist, so I cheat with AI. But I am a writer, so I never cheat with that.