Scratch a Cynic...

...and you will find a broken heart.


He had much to be joyful about. Much to do, staying occupied. Keeping his mind off of it. But also there was sorrow. He had given himself fully; had been so willing to try once more, but to no avail. It was not for lack of effort, but it didn't work out. So he kept moving forward. Hope would no longer keep him afloat. Work would be his passion. He would bury any pain deep within his long hours spent at the drafting table. I will be a success not out of spite, but because I know I can be, I am, better. The will and the drive to move on had taken him this far, and it would take him further.

Wrapped Up

She didn't know what to expect.


She had tossed all of her belongings into a suitcase in a bit of a frenzy. 3 pairs of boots, 2 pairs of jeans (one skinny, dark. another washed, casual.) Countless t-shirts (do they wear t-shirts there?) Her favorite hoody; and finally enough coats to warm not only herself but her neighbors as well. Upon her arrival, cool but comfortable temperatures prevailed. A slight breeze hid her sigh of relief. I'm not out of place, she thought. All is well. Now I can adjust to the easiest part of this journey: learning a new language.

Its always easier to leave, than to be left.

An Overcoat for Warmth

It was cold out. The weather matched his heart.


Burned again, he wandered. Aimlessly at first, without much purpose. Thinking of love lost, what could have been...he ended up in a park. At first he didn't notice the couple. Had he noticed, he would have left. But no, they caught him by surprise. The tenderness in which they regarded each other jarred him out of his own mind. Soft kisses, nuzzling each others' necks. . . god how he missed it. Maybe it wasn't real? He recalled a conversation with his friend:
"Man, your first girlfriend was a real whore. At least its not that bad."
"Well, you get what you pay for."
"You'll do better. Finding the right one is a journey. Hopefully it will pick up when she gets back."
"Hope is a word forlorn to me after the last one."
"There's always hope, my friend."
Well, hope, and clothes. There are always clothes. And beer. Two things that can't break your heart. In the end, maybe it was all in his head.