single
Whether you're solitary by choice or simply unlucky in love, being single is complicated.
Two Distinct Knocks
The sounds of cutlery clinking china mingled with the low bass thumping through the speakers as people shouted cheek to cheek not really saying anything. Sitting alone, he stared over the white tablecloth, wrinkled, and folded from patrons’ knees as it blotted with spots of red wine. Seven empty chairs encircled half eaten chicken plates and lipstick smudged water glasses. His name plate remained in front of his table setting. Under his name, engraved into the heavy ivory card stock was the word, “SINGLE”. His gaze bounced from the table number, “23”, to the other identifying placards lazily keeping their places. The island of misfit toys, he thought to himself, picking up his scarlet letter and running his fingertip over the words.
By Chris Botto4 years ago in Humans
Dry Spell
Swipe, swipe, swipe, her thumb moved right to left across the screen as if it had a mind of its own. No, no, no, none of these motherfuckers will do. With a grunt of frustration, she held her thumb down over the app icon: "Remove Tinder"? For the third time this week, she tapped "yes". Back to the drawing board.
By Janet Estrada4 years ago in Humans
He Left Me To Die
I stood there, staring off into the distance, entranced and feeling disconnected. The tears slowly falling from my eyes as I quietly spoke "He betrayed me." Glyra was standing there along side me, he looked over in my direction, his soft brown eyes observing my broken and disarrayed face. He could feel my heart ache, the pain, as I continued "He promised he would never...and yet here we are... once again." He continued to watch me, as he sighed deeply in contempt." Let's be honest, my dear, we knew this was going to happen." I scoffed then as the tears continued to flow, gazing at him, my eyes beaming for answers as I said "But did we really?" His eyes met mine as I whispered "This was never supposed to happen." He looked down then for just a brief moment, as if trying to find the right thing to say to me. Glancing back up towards me he spoke softly "You are stronger than this. This is nothing but a mere test to make sure you are ready." I laughed then, disgusted at his accusations as I said back " A test? A test for what? He was NOTHING like them and then out of nowhere, he left...." I could feel my heart breaking then, the anguish in my voice, the disbelief as I said "He left me to die." You could see the sympathy in his eyes as he stared at me, but you could hear the brokenness in his words as he replied "Then that's all you needed to know" only to stop for a brief moment and then continuing, trying to ease into the truth "He's not the one." His words cut like a knife through my heart and yet, I knew them to be true. I knew he was right and yet I couldn't come to terms with it. Letting a painful sigh escape my lips, I fell to the ground, holding my heart with my left hand, grasping tightly I cried out in agony "But I loved him!" He watched me, the pain and guilt written all over his face because he knew there was nothing he could do to ease the torment. He whispered then, the gentleness in his voice as he said "My dear, if a man leaves you to die, he is not the one. He is nothing but a mere coward because he, himself, wasn't strong enough to be there for you as he had promised. He is a liar and you, my love, you deserve the world and so much more. You know that." I looked up at him then, my eyes red from the tears, I mumbled brokenly "I just wanted him to be the one... like I thought he was." He smiled meekly at me then, because he knew how desperately I wanted and needed this as he said "I know and one day, it will happen. I promise." I glanced back towards the ruffled surface of the earth, my eyes dancing back and forth trying to come to terms with what he was saying. Looking back up at him one last time I said "For once in my life, I thought this was it, I let myself love again when I told myself I would never and I did... but for what?" He could see the pain in my blue eyes as I questioned him "Tell me, Glyra"- as I screamed "For what?!" Grasping the dirt within my hands, I continued to scream in agony, the heart ache becoming too much at the realization I had been betrayed once again. The tears streaming down my cheeks, sobbing loudly, my body began to shake as I proclaimed in despair "He left me to die!!" He stared at me, wanting so badly to help, but he knew he couldn't. "I'm so sorry, my dear" he quietly whispered as I screamed back "Who does that?!" Falling over to my side, I wrapped my arms around my shaking body, sobbing deeply, clenching my eyes shut as I let my screams of pure heart ache escape my mouth. Tears filled his eyes then, looking away, he couldn't bare to witness me like this because he knew I deserved so much more than this abuse that life was so set on giving me. Screaming out once more, proclaiming and questioning life "When will this ever end?! I don't deserve this, I know I don't!" That's when determination and anger filled his veins and he looked back over towards me as he responded "You're right, you don't deserve this bullshit, you don't!" I could hear the encouragement, the truth and power behind his words as he continued "You are beyond phenomenal and this, this, my dear, will make you so much stronger than before." He wanted me to meet his gaze, but I couldn't as I laid there in torment "Listen to me, Rea" the wisdom within his words "There is no coming back from this." Kneeling down at my side then, gently placing his right hand on my shoulder "But you know what?" He questioned, "You don't need him. You never did and you never will. He has shown his true colors and that is all you need to know." Gently squeezing my shoulder then he said sincerely "You've got this, I know you do. Let it hurt, embrace it and you know what? Walk away from it." My eyes still clenched shut as I continued to sob, not wanting to accept the facts, he then said "Look at me, please." Opening my eyes slowly, my broken blue eyes met his endearing brown, as he continued "Nothing and no one can break you. He was and always will be weak. You though, you are a force to be reckoned with. He couldn't bare it anymore because he knows you are so much better than he ever will be." Trying to catch my breath I continued to stare at him as the tears slowly trickled down my face. "You will be okay, you and I both know that." He smiled sympathetically at me then as he said "Do not ever doubt yourself and who you are." I nodded slowly, sniffling, he caressed my arm then as if to help ease the chaos that I had been battling with. I quietly whispered "I'm so sorry." You could see the concern and empathy in his eyes as he said back "Don't be, please. It's okay. If anyone should be sorry, it's him." I silently scoffed then, looking away, still not being able to comprehend everything that had happened. "In due time everything will be alright and now, now you don't ever have to worry about a pathetic excuse of a human being again." I laughed lightly then responded "Yeah, as if it'll be that easy." He nudged me softly then "Hey, it will be because I'll be here with you every step of the way, okay?" A small smile appeared on my lips then, thankful, I quietly spoke "Okay." Sitting down next to me he said "Take all of the time you need. I will be right here. And I will stay until it gets better." I closed my eyes then, letting the hurt seep into my heart, accepting and bracing the fact that life would never be the same and I would continue down a path alone, without the man I thought I was going to spend forever with.
By Reagan Jensen4 years ago in Humans
The Night Was Blue
There is something to be said about taking a moment to stare into the darkness and find a picture clearer than during the daylight. I am finding myself in these types of moments more so than not these days. Ones where the wind feels clear if you could associate a color to such. A feeling the form of an absence. Not of another body but a state of mind. Knowing somewhere along the path you followed you lost yourself. The one that knew the meaning of right and wrong, and there was no gray area. The person with careless dreams and big ideas. Ones that were bigger than the night sky. Even far more vast!
By Crystal Rae4 years ago in Humans
The Art of Being Rejected for Single People. Top Story - November 2021.
The Pain of Being Rejected Being rejected is one of the most painful things we’d ever experience in life. To be rejected is to be made an outcast. To be rejected is to be judged as unlovable and unworthy of belonging to someone.
By Jocleyn Soriano4 years ago in Humans
Why Do You Push Everyone Away?
If you're wondering why you push everyone away, it boils down to this: You've chosen comfort over growth. You’ve picked instant gratification over long term gain. You're addicted to comfort, it’s not your fault, we all are, but it is killing your friendships, your romantic relationships, your career network and your social life. It's taking away everything you could be.
By Jamie Jackson4 years ago in Humans
What If Love Wasn’t a Mystifying Sensation?
I wish love was easy. I wish life turned out like the fairy tales I read as a child. I wish I could tell you that somewhere on this journey, the stars will align at a pre-destined moment. A moment when the world comes to a standstill. The moment your eyes meet theirs.
By Eshal Rose4 years ago in Humans
