A daredevil performs his last jump: a leap into space. Everything has been planned out and prepped, but the universe has a way of waylaying us all.

A geophysicist is winding up her last dig as part of a seismology and core-sampling project. So close to completion, she's ready to head home and build on the success of her trip.

A vacationing moonborn is enjoying the absurdity of freedom on Earth. With just weeks left before returning home, they want one last chance to party and let loose.

 Updates weekly on Saturdays.

Lunch time

(They all gathered on the rooftop for the lunch)

"Man time surely flies it was a month ago we entered the school and see today is our club selection"-(says nobita while lying down and looking towards the sky)

Shizuka(smile)-"yes it does, actually we did the same things throughout the month eating here and coming together that's all"

Yuri(teasing)-"yes shizuka nothing had changed at all you can see megumi she is still the same shy girl getting nervous at all the places"

Megumi(in low tone)-"yuri do you think so? But I'm trying my best to change "

Hitoshi-"hey so have you guys decided which club you guys are going in?"

Yuri(enthusiastically)-"yes i will fill in for the gymnastics club"

Hitoshi-"oh that's great and you shizuka?"

Shizuka-"i will join the wind band"

Nobita(rubbing his head)-"hah? Wind band is that even present in this school?"

Hitoshi-"yes teachers told us, don't you remember nobita? Anyways which club are you going?"

Nobita(confused)-"i don't no i wanted to be in the library club but ma'am told it is only for second year so I don't know. Actually i don't want to do any club activity after school it's just boring you know!"

Shizuka(angrily)-"hey nobita we are in middle school now grow up and do some activity you always show this kind of attitude which is not good"

Nobita(nervously)-"actually i want to but i don't know which club is suitable i mean i am not good at soccer ,not at baseball, i can't do gymnastics and i can't even play instrument so i don't know"

Hitoshi(laugh)-"you are hopless nobita.."

(Hitoshi looked towards megumi)

Hitoshi-"hey megumi speak something i always forget that you are even present here with us."

Megumi-"well i too don't know which activity should i do if it's possible then i won't be doing any of that this year"

Hitoshi-"come on guys this is the time we are in the middle school now.."

(Suddenly gian and suneo come in)

Gian(angrily)-"you guys have already eaten your lunch that's not good and nobita you too, why you didn't wait for us?"

Nobita-"gian look at the time we waited for you both 10 min straight and you both didn't showed up so we ate our lunch"

Suneo(smile)-"that's ok nobita actually we were providing detail for baseball club we thought if that club will be fully filled then we will not be able to do any of the club activites so we just submitted our detail to the teacher"

Nobita-"but suneo didn't you wanted to be in the soccer club?"

Suneo(takes a deep breath)-"actually I'll be eligible for that from second year so i thought i should go with gian for now"

Gian(look towards suneo)-"hey suneo why are you sounding like you are not happy with me..?"

Suneo(awkwardly)-"hey guys have you seen yesterday news there will be a concert in our town on 10th of may"

Shizuka-"yes i want to go there too it's been a while we haven't seen a concert"

(Nobita yawn and laid down on the mat)

Gian(suddenly)-"yes miss sumire will be here after very long time do you guys remember we all went to watch her show with dora...."

(Suneo interrupted)

Suneo-"hey gian but this time there will be ticket and that too costly 35000 yen for two you know".

(Shizuka, gian and suneo look towards nobita)

Gian(awkwardly)-"yes suneo i heared too come let's go"

(They both left)

Bell rings

Shizuka-"nobita come let's go to class"(she thought he started thinking about doraemon)

Hitoshi-"hey hey he is sleeping"

(They all started laughing)

Shizuka(smiling)-"really nothing has changed that much"

(And they wokeup nobita to get back to class)

(Shizuka in her mind-"thank god he fell asleep while gian was talking)

Nobita-"sorry guys i was so tired but now i am totally fine"

(On the way to class)

Gian-"suneo do you think nobita understood what i was about to say..? I feel bad for him"

Suneo-"gian you should think before you speak that doraemon he left us 6 months ago now nobita is happy even without him let's try our best not to ruin it"

Gian-"yes suneo but why did he decided to go back to future and never come back do you think something happened between both of them?

Suneo-"i don't know gian now come on let's go to the class"

In the class

(Ma'am came in)

Ma'am-"so class today is the first day of april i hope you guys have prepared your mind about club activity so one by one come and give me your name and club you want to be in"

Nobita(shockingly)-"what it's april already..?"

Ma'am-"hey why are you shouting nobita"

Nobita(bow down)-"sorry ma'am"

(They all laughed at him)

(Nobita suddenly remember-"next month on 8th may shizuka birthday she will be 14 this year what should i gift her?")

Ma'am-"nobita nobi did you decided about club activity?"

Nobita(calmly)-"yes ma'am i am thinking"

Hitoshi(came to him)-"nobita i have decided to go in wind band"

Nobita(normally)-"than go why are you telling me this"

Hitoshi(smile)-"nothing"

(And he leaves)

Ma'am-"nobita give me your answer in the last period"

Nobita-"yes ma'am"

Bell rings

(Nobita keeps on thinking which club should he go but his mind was on the thought that what should he gift to her (shizuka) on her 14 birthday)

Hitoshi-"hey nobita have you decided yet?"

Nobita(shocked)-"what is it the last bell?"

Hitoshi(smile)-"so you are thinking something don't worry after this bell it's last bell"

Nobita(calmly)-"oh thank god"

Hitoshi-"so have you decided yet?"

Nobita-"not yet"

Hitoshi-"if you keep thinking like that you won't be able to decide what you want."

Nobita(smile)-"i don't mind because i want library club but it's not present this year so i will be fine if i won't be able to decide"

Hitoshi-"oh nobita you are a really dumb person you know."

Nobita-"hey that's not nice why are you talking like that?"

Hitoshi-"you really won't understand now"

(Hitoshi left)

Final Bell ring

Ma'am-"nobita that's so bad you are not able to decide which club you want than you should go to baseball club there is still one place left"

(Nobita looks towards gian)

(Nobita-"no i don't want to be burden on them")

Nobita(takes a deep breath)-"ma'am i want to be in library club but it's not present for first year so i will not do any club activity this year"

Ma'am-"that's ok i won't mind if you don't want to be in baseball club. all the other clubs have reached their full capacity so all the people who won't take part will have to clean the class room before leaving for the home every day"

Nobita(shockingly)-"hey that's not fair ma'am i will take part now"

(Everyone started laughing)

Ma'am-"so student from today your club activites will start and nobita, atohira and naomi will be cleaning the class before leaving"

Atohira-"yes ma'am we will do that"

Bell rings

(Everyone went to there respective club and nobita and other start cleaning the class)

Nobita-"hey i wonder you guys too want library club?"

Atohira-"no i want karate club and that's too will start from 2nd year"

Nobita-"and what about you naomi? Don't you want any club"

Naomi(smile)-"no actually i don't want any club i am fine like this"

Nobita(smile)-"wow!..i remember now she wants to go the concert"

Atohira-"concert? Who want to go..?? Don't you heared that it is a comeback show and it will be costly around 35k yen for two people"

Nobita-"oh that's not good i can't afford that.."

(Than he kept on cleaning)

Atohira-"ok then we are done let's go everyone"

(They all left the school)

On the way to home

Nobita-"oh man how can i buy those tickets.. wait wait i am 14 now i can work part time but that way i won't able to study properly.."

(Nobita thinks in his mind-"if i do the part time i will get enough money to buy those ticket for shizuka and her mom but if anyone see me than it will be trouble wait a min they won't see me they all have club activities from now but for safety i should work in the main part of the city")

(And he starts moving towards the city)

Nobita-"oh here is the advertisement it's not in the direction of anyone's home and that too for a part time job i will go there"

(Nobita reaches the place it was a restaurant)

Nobita-"hello i want to do a part time job here"

Manager-"kid it's advertisement for high schoolers it's for cleaning and all and you are a little kid i won't be able to offer you this kind of job sorry"

Nobita(nervously)-"sir i will do anything, i need to do this work let me do this only for a month i don't mind if you can let me do this or is there any other job."

Manager-"but kid you are just a middle schooler if i want to give you then i will only offer the job for 2 hour a day only and i can give you 800 yen per hour if that's ok to you"

Nobita-"ok thank you sir. Please tell me what i need to do."

Manager-"Kid your job is to take orders from people and pamper them you need to do your work nicely if you do so I will offer you more."

Nobita-"Sir I'll try my best I'll do everything you say."

(And nobita greets the manager and leaves for his home... And committed to come for work from tomorrow.)

(And he exit the restaurant)

Megumi-"hey nobita what are you doing here?"

Nobita(shockingly)-"wha...what are you doing here..??didn't you join any club?"

Megumi(smile)-"no i didn't join the club actually my house is behind this restaurant."

Nobita(look behind her)-"so you come alone from the school?"

Megumi-"yes..actually it was kind of normal today as almost everyone has joined the club"

Nobita-"oh that so relief ok then bye"

(Nobita start moving)

(Nobita in his mind-"but she had seen me and i will come here daily i don't want her to tell everyone that i come here regularly i should tell her why i am here")

(He turn around and runs towards her)

Nobita(shouted)-"hey megumi wait..".

(Megumi look towards him and it makes her afraid she also starts running)

Nobita(confused)-"hey wait why are you running we are friends, aren't we?"

Megumi-"oh yes we are(she suddenly stop) sorry i got afraid seeing you running towards me"

Nobita-"hey hey that's not fair wait i stopped you for telling you something"

(Then he told her everything)

Megumi-"oh that's why you were here ok i promise i won't tell it to anyone even not yuri"

Nobita-"thankyou megumi from now on i will drop you to your home and no one will think anything surrounding about why i am going there because you will be the reason as yuri is too busy in the club activity"

Megumi(blush)-"oh yes that will be absolutely fine"

(Nobita went to home after dropping her to her house)

Nobita-"mom i am home"

Mom-"hey nobita why are you so late today?"

(Nobita-"i should not tell her about this thing sorry mom i will have to hide this from you")

Nobita-"actually from today our after school club activity had been started so i will be late from school"

Mom-"oh so you have taken part in club activity that's very good come down dinner is ready too"

Nobita-"ok mom first i will have to take bath then i will come eat"

(He went to take bath and after that they ate food and nobita went to his room)

Dad-"so finally his club activities has been started now on he will be like a quite busy person"

Mom(wipes her tears)-"yes he is growing up now"

Dad-"i will make sure to take you guys out in the coming holidays"

(Nobita in his room)

Nobita-"hey doraemon you know the time we spent together going in concerts together even gian and everyone remembered that too i heared gian today he was remembering those days we spent together with you they all get upset after taking your name i think it won't feel the same way it did when we were with you. And doraemon i have made few new friends too they all are good but hitoshi i think he feels I'm his competition, i don't know why but it's fine you don't need to worry about me doraemon i guess they haven't changed at all thank you for coming in our life."

(And he fall asleep)

It's about Nobita how will he live and cure Doraemon after he is out of battery and how his friend and family will help him in that


tags: slice of life , slow romance

"Hmm.. let's just ignore all the people then. " 

They sat there talking and teasing each other for some more time before heading to their respective homes. 


ONE YEAR LATER

Shradha walked into  Computer Science department. She had to meet the dean of the department regarding her project. After discussing for 45 minutes about the project, the dean wanted to speak to her regarding future plans and higher studies. He gave examples of a few seniors who were currently pursuing masters abroad and urged Shradha to think about masters. He seemed to think that with her grades, projects and coding experience all the good universities were within reach. He had said it would increase her value in the job market. Shradha had promised to research further about scholarships and other things for his sake. 

"At home, dad wants to increase my value in the wedding market; here the dean wants to increase my value in the job market. Why are people behind increasing my value !?" Shradha murmured jokingly. She walked to her scooty thinking Nishant would have enjoyed that dialogue. 

Within one year, a lot of things had changed, not just for Shradha and Nishant, but for others as well.  Prithvi and Rohan were integral part of their life and 4 of them hung out a lot at Rohan's apartment. Technically it was a shared place between  Prithvi and Rohan but  Prithvi paid only a small part of the rent while all other expenses were taken care by Rohan. They knew very well how to balance each others family and financial situation. Rohan was from a wealthy family in Delhi while  Prithvi was from a lower middle class family in Bengaluru.  Prithvi stayed in hostel as his home was far from college and daily commute was tiresome, but he visited home regularly. Rohan accompanied him most of time as  Prithvi's parents knew that he was homesick. So they showered Rohan with love and care. Rohan's family was grateful to know that someone was taking care of their precious son well. So they had never objected Rohan even when he spent a lot of money for  Prithvi. Both families were happy about their friendship.

Nishant had been spending a major part of his day in their apartment. He thought that their apartment was the perfect place for him to work on his writing. He would go back home mostly for eating and speaking in the night. Sheela had been really unhappy about this development, but there was nothing she could do. Her son did not respond to her emotional blackmails like earlier. In a way he had grown immune to her words. He would just smile and get on with his work. Nishant always tried his best not to be rude to Sheela or fight with her. He would just listen to her without actually listening to her and never argued back. This was the tactic his father had taught him secretly and this trick saved Nishant from stress. Then again, he hardly spent time at home. Writing had become one of the important part of Nishant and somehow Rohan's bachelor pad was the perfect place for him to be creative and write. Nishant had also been taking more responsibilities at lit club and he had been the chief editor of the college magazine for the last few months. 

***

****Ongoing re-write****


‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ means ‘If you are with me’ in Hindi. These simple words could explain how shradha felt about Nishant. He was her sole source of energy; He was the only person who could sense her emotional distress and calm her down easily. He was her best friend, her guide, and also whoever she wanted him to be. To Nishant, Shradha was like a breath of fresh air. She always pushed him beyond his comfort level and helped him rediscover himself. She was his strength and also his weakness. 

Shradha was the girl who was considered as ‘bad influence’, while Nishant was the ‘good guy’, who was role model to many students and even parents. They had nothing in common except for the fact that both of them were lonely and maybe a little broken. 

Nishant and Shradha came together by coincidence. Their relationship started with simple friendship, which slowly grew into strong bond. He could show his silliness only in front of her while she could afford to show her real self only to him. Despite constant opposition from their family, Shradha and Nishant had continued to be ‘best friends’ and nothing else. 
They were each others ‘first’ in many things and even when the whole world could see how they were already in relationship, Nishant and Shradha could not see the obvious.
When they finally realized they have been in love the whole time, all it took was changing the status on social media.

****

So I called Harriet and told her all this...

From what I can understand when I touched the pocket watch, Dean's dad and his mom separated when Dean was around 12, then remarried to Sandra's dad when he was probably 14 from what I can gauge of the way he looked in his mind. Then Sandra was born not long after but her dad died of lung cancer when Sandra was still quite young. From then on it was just the three of them. Although Dean's dad supported them a bit it wasn't an easy life for Dean and Sandra and their mom. Dean had to work part-time so he can pay for college and went to London after two years of working locally so he can earn more to support Sandra as she went to college.

I saw the joy in Dean's face when Sandra was born. I'm guessing he was 15 years old when she was born so he was very happy to finally have a sibling. He wanted a brother but that didn't lessen his happiness when she was born. 

I saw Dean taking care of Sandra when she was in her toddler years. As Dean's mom had to work multiple jobs to support them, Sandra was left in Dean's care more often than he would have wanted back then. He had to sacrifice going out, hanging out with friends, or even having a girlfriend because he really didn't have the time for any of that. What with studying, part-time work and having to take care of Sandra, he was already flat out. He promised himself then, he would not let Sandra experience what he is going through right now that's why he worked very hard to do good in school and graduate and find a good job. Then when he was already working, he strived hard to do better so he applied to go to London. 

I saw Sandra crying hard when Dean had to leave for London. Clinging to him as if her life depended on it. 

I saw Dean and Sandra talking through video calls, hanging out when Dean gets a chance to go home. 

Sandra kept her promise and finished college. She didn't want to disappoint her brother who has worked so hard for as long as she can remember. She took up journalism because she wanted to be a newscaster. 

Sandra told Dean she was going to be promoted because of the awesome fieldwork she was doing, she was really excited. She said it was a pretty big promotion. He told her he was really happy for her and proud of how well she's doing. I'm not sure if this was the last time they talked. It seemed pretty recent. 

I also got a glimpse of when Sandra introduced Levi to Dean. Only via video call as Dean hasn't had the chance to go home just yet and Sandra really wanted his brother to meet the guy she's dating. She promised Dean that she will introduce any guy she liked when she starts dating. 

I saw how Dean was so devastated when he heard about Sandra's murder. He cannot believe it. She was so young! So full of promises. He can't believe he'll never see her again. Never get to talk to her again. Never spend time with her every time he visits home. It's like a part of him had died too. 

I saw Dean at Sandra's funeral. Looking as lifeless as she did. It was such a dark time. 

I felt how helpless he was when it was time for Sandra's hearing and he cannot come as he cannot leave London because of his work. He had to hear everything from his mom and he wished he can just jump in a plane and head home. He told her to get the best lawyer so they can get justice for Sandra and make sure the murderer pays. Dean promised his mom he would not rest until the culprit is caught and put to jail. 

I saw him being so angry when he found out Levi was discharged. His mom said the lawyer of Levi was a very good one and provided a very good and solid case so the case was dismissed. 

He then searched who the lawyer was and started plotting against Andrea. As he saw she was single, he thought the best revenge was to make her fall in love with him so hard and then crush her heart into pieces. After that he will think of a sure-fire way to get back at Levi. To ruin his life that he will wish he died with Sandra. But first things first. He will deal with Andrea first. Start with the easier one, he thought.  He had plenty of time left to make Levi's life miserable after he's done with Andrea.

But now it wasn't as easy as he thought. How can he be so careless as to let his guard down and start to fall for Andrea? How about his promise of revenge for Sandra? How can he live with himself if he cannot carry out his plan?

Marcciela's life changes dramatically when someone gave her a mood ring.

The man stood silently near the sink. "There's no need for you to prove yourself. I know it but …"

"But what?" The lady waited for a second and finished it for him. "You don't want me to work."

The man deeply sighed. "Please, Gabina. We're getting married soon. Just stay at home, let me work and hand my pay to you." His eyes pleading her.

"Please let me, Hakoon. I beg you." She didn't avert her eyes from him. This was her heart's desire since young. Her mother was left at home and she saw her loneliness when her father didn't come home for days. What's disheartening was when another person came and told them her father left them with another woman.

Their peaceful life was shattered. From then on, she decided to earn her way and not to rely on any man or her husband. "Please, let me work."

"Excuse me, I'm the new head chef here." Ronjon came in between them.

"Part-time," said Hakoon disdainfully.

"Yeah, part-time, but I'll sure be the one ordering here for a week and not you. So be patient until Uncle pass the authority to you."

Ronjon faced the girl. "You are?" 

"Gabina?" Hakoon grabbed her hand and shook his head.

Gabina focused her eyes on the new Head Chef. "I'm Gabina. I'm Hakoon's fiancee. Please, Sir Ronjon, please allow me to cook here. Any amount of salary will do as long as I'm working and receiving pay."

"Baba won't allow, Gabina." Rathna interfered.

"He already said yes. Only Hakoon won't allow me."

"Wait! Both of you are lovers?" Ronjon missed the word 'married' earlier.

"Yes, we'll be marrying three months from now," said Hakoon.

"But I want to work, Sir Ronjon. Please, let me."

"Honestly, I'm not against women working. Asha here is even planning to be a certified lady chef. And girls are skillful too, so I don't mind at all."

"I never doubted her cooking but I won't agree for her to work. I want her to stay at home, to look after our home and our kids someday."

"I think Uncle has a say to this." Ronjon scratched his head.

"Gabina, please obey me," Hakoon insisted, but she looked away.

"What's the commotion here?" Ronjon's Uncle came in with his wife, Malabika.

"You allowed me to work here, Uncle Taajwar," Gabina said it as a statement.

"Yes, I did, so what's the problem?"

"Hakoon prevented me. Please, I want to work."

Taajwar shyly looked at the three guests and fixed to Ronjon. "Sorry for the commotion. Hakoon is my nephew and he is the person I want you to teach before they wed."

"Can I decide a solution to this problem, Uncle?" Ronjon had an idea.

"Of course, go ahead."

"Hakoon, if you really acknowledge her skill then I'll let her. But …" His palm facing Hakoon, telling to wait, "she must convince me first."

"How?" Both spoke altogether.

"We'll make a competition. Asha and Gabina will cook against you and your assistant." He expressed his words to Hakoon.

He faced both of them. "Gabina, if you lose, obey Hakoon. If she wins against you, you'll let her work without any complaint even after marriage. Got that?" 

"Why include Asha?" Rathna was confused.

"This to prove to everyone here and to the villagers that women are skillful too and must have the freedom to work alongside their husband, whoever they are."

"If Asha loses?' Monojit concerned himself for Asha's reputation.

"This is for her practice. If she loses, it will be her shame. But I doubt she'll lose. Right, Asha?" He winked at her.

"Well … I'll try." She half-smiled while cursing Ronjon in her mind.

"Okay, you plan today and tomorrow, the competition starts outside the Inn, as an advertisement. Okay, Uncle?" Hakoon was still doubtful but he had no authority in the matter. Gabina was silently thanking Ronjon for a chance. 

"That's a good solution, Ronjon." Aunt Malabika looked at them with a knowing smile.

When everyone was away from earshot, Monojit grabbed Ronjon's collar. "What's this all about? Just for business ads while Asha's reputation is at stake?"

"Totally nothing against her, and simply for fun." Ronjon pulled the other man's hand off him and ironed the crumpled shirt with his palms.

"Fun?"

"Yes, whatsoever the outcome, this will be good to them. Asha needs to be serious to come up her own signature dishes. The couple has to face reality, one way or another, and accept the result with lesser struggles."

"Oh, never thought of that. Sorry, just got carried away. You know me if it's all about Asha ..." Monojit showed a timid smile, ashamed.

"Just wait and see the kind of dish Asha will present. I trust her." Ronjon slowly walked out and as he reached the door, he looked back. "By the way, let's open our rivalry again. At stake, Asha's hand in marriage." Using his two fingers, he pretended shooting Monojit and blew the imaginary smoke from his fingers. "And I'll win this time."

Asha is now on the brink of helplessness and despair. Would she let despair to chase her for the rest of her life? Thus, she faces the man who wanted her dead and to stand as a woman in the world of chefs. 

She will create her own dishes and make his father's recipes alive again. Her adventures lead to clues of the real killer of his father and get entangles with love. 

Somehow, when she is face to face with the murderer, will she forgive or not? The Recipe of Love will show her the right decision to make.

This is a story of a girl in her journey to become a lady chef while in life-threatening situations and falls in love. So, don't expect a fast pace cooking battles. It is Asha's journey.

The setting of the story is India before its Independence in 1947. The exact timeline is 1945. However, in the first part of the story, I didn't use during the British occupation since the places/villages I mentioned do not exist in the present country. I used Bangla words since the culture is more on present Bangladesh. 

This is absolutely a fiction story.

If you have questions about the culture, please ask me in the comment and I'll try to explain things to you. I can't write the culture within the story for that will bore you to death. Most are written in the Author's Thoughts.

(This novel won the 2nd place in the writing prompt contest #34: Chef, but got the same prize as the first place. Thanks to all who supported.)

Latest and ongoing book: 
1. The Sorceress' Heir: Blossoming Youth and Power

2. My completed book:
I'm Guilty, My Beauty

As Shi dreamed of that first time she met Tye, her heart fluttered.....
Before anything Shi was in a relationship with a man that really find himself not marrying her. Shi was the mother of two beautiful girls and could do nothing but love her girls and herself as this man used and cheated on her. 
Mo was the father of the two beautiful girls but yet he was a jerk and Shi couldn't understand why this man she thought she was spending the rest of her life with was betraying her.  Night and day she wondered if he was coming home, as she sat and cried, damn do he really love me. 

Night after night Shi dreamed of being in a better relationship while she laid with Mo. When they were intimate within each other there was always fire, at least she thought, if so why did Mo sleep with other women. Shi and Mo always got into altercations with each other which was pushing her away from Mo more and more even though he didn't noticed. Shi decided she wanted to explore the world of men so she signed up to this dating website one day and just waited. 

As Mo was out doing his dirt and work Shi worked her part time job. While she slept one night Mo came home drunk late in the early morning and took Shi by surprise even though she didn't want to have sex he did so she had no choice. Mo had his way with Shi and went to sleep leaving her awake and feeling used. As the sun came up Shi got herself and the girls ready for their day leaving Mo sleep. Shi went to work as usual, as she worked she got a call from Mo asking for where she was. 

"Mo, really you know I'm at work."
"Shi why didn't you wake me to let me know you were leaving?"
"Are you serious Mo you know what time I go to work, when I get off and what days I work. Why are you acting this way? What's wrong?"
"Never mind, do what you do I see you later."
As Shi hung up looking at her phone weird she got a few chimes from the site she signed up for. "Almost forgot i even signed up for this thing." Shi said as she smiled. "Let's see what we have here when I take my break."

Shi continues to work and soon before she knew it, it was break time. She sat down and went threw her phone looking at the men who thought she was sexy and wanted to meet her. Shi couldn't believe that she still had that beauty in her after being so mistreated by Mo, she always felt she wasn't. 

"Well let's see how they felt about me being a packaged deal with two kids." Shi continues to flip through the pictures of men that chimed her. As she thought about it, "Mo not being faithful so why not give a test trial." So Shi text one of the men that chimed. The guy asked if she wanted to meet, Shi went along with it. Even though she was a little scared because this was something she never did before. 

After meeting this guy secretly for a week she realized all he wanted was some of essence between her thick thighs, but not feeling wanted by Mo she gave the man what he wanted. Shi felt a little relieved yet also surprised that she did what she did, but she wasn't really feeling bad because she felt wanted. Shi got her body rubbed and kissed in ways she never felt before. Her body felt satisfied for the least. Shi thought her and the guy hit it off. To say the least she know that her essence was really all he wanted because she never heard from him since. That's when she felt low and betrayed once again. 

She started to give up on this site but she tried again a few more times and ended up with the same results of body pleasing but nothing more. Shi hid this from Mo so well he never knew what was going on but she definitely knew what he was doing. She just didn't catch him in the act as of yet. 

Their life went on as normal as the year turned into two more years of them being together. Then she decided to  go to school. Shi wanted better degrees for better job opportunities. Mo didn't really care for it but Shi didn't care she wanted to better herself for her and her children. Shi became committed to school work and home forgetting all about those flings she encountered in the past.

Shi never erased the site she kept on to it just in case things didn't go right. One day Shi got a chime,she looked on the site and saw Tye. Shi stood her ground and didn't respond and continued on with her life. Shi thought life was good until one day.... 

there it was another phone sitting on her kitchen counter. Shi has to take a peak and what she found made her see red!!!! 
The pictures, she finally caught Mo in the act after all this time. 
"So, Mo please explain this to me!"
"Who is she and why does she have your phone taking pictures of herself, you and some dog?"
Mo became angry. "Why the fuck you in my phone and going through it, see you looking for stuff and finding out what you don't want to find out. That's your fault if you didn't want to know the truth you shouldn't have been snooping!"

Shi was outraged there was now two phones. Mo had two phones. One for his business  so he said and the other for pleasure. They began to argue and fight over the phone. She got pissed to point she got a knife and stabbed the phone until it broke to where it wasn't working. Shi was so in rage she didn't know she cut herself. 
Shi and Mo argued about the stupid phone for 5 minutes then Mo stormed out the door. Left standing, pissed, and bleeding Shi was angry. 

After the adrenaline wore off Shi felt the pain where she cut herself and realized she was fed up with Mo's bullshit and lies. She calmed herself down before the girls woke up from their naps. As Shi sat and thought about her waste of six years with this man she was through her heart hurts but she still loved him. 
A week went by and Shi hasn't heard from Mo getting a little worried she called around looking for him she even drove to certain spots she knew he hang at. She was getting pissed that Mo would leave and not return her calls or call to check on them. 

Not knowing what day it was Shi received a phone call thinking it was Mo she looked and it was her landlord calling about the rent. 
"Mr. Hue I don't have the full rent because I haven't received the other half from Mo. Please give us time." Shi said. 
Mr. Hue was a nice old man and knew that they were loyal tenants so he gave them until the end of the month to have the rent or he would have to vacate them. Shi understood where Mr. Hue was coming from and agreed to his terms. By the end of second week Shi answered her phone and long behold it was Mo.

"Mo where the hell are you and why haven't you been returning my calls."
"Shi, don't worry about that I'm calling to see if you got me a new phone since you broke the other one."
"Are you serious right now Mo, what do you need with two phones I'm not buying you a new one we have to pay the rent the landlord called for it last week."

"Well Shi pay the man."
Mo knowing she only worked part time and couldn't pay the whole rent by herself those 5 words came out of his mouth. Shi was pissed and angry and asked him was he not coming home and helping pay the rent or did he not care what happened to his children. At that point she was almost at the point whether he cared about her or not. Shi only cared about the well being of their children.

"Mo please stop playing with me and come home and take care of your responsibilities. Our landlord said we had until the end of the month."
Mo being the jerk he was, he told her she handle it and hung up. The end of the month came and Shi still didn't have all the funds for rent and still no Mo. He was gone for nearly three weeks. 
Shi let her parents know that she and the girls would move back home until she got on her feet. She got a call from the landlord and that call ended her rental agreement. 

Shi parents came with a u-haul and helped her pack her and the children stuff. Then all of a sudden Mo pulls up with one of his friends. He walked in the house as Shi was exiting. Mo called to Shi. 
"Ma, dad give me a minute to see what he wants."
All they could do was nod in anger.
"What do you want Mo?"
"So that's it you found your way out huh? Guess you was ready to leave? Why didn't you pay the man you could do it?"
"Mo, how could I when you know I only worked part time and the rent is more than what I make. Are you serious right now!!!!! A WAY OUT?!! A way out you have got to be joking right now hahaha. I been in this relationship with you for years and you tell me you don't see yourself marrying you, but yet I been here through the cheating and the fights and the pain let alone you leave me for three weeks and have me thinking, wondering if your ass got arrested or dead somewhere. You not return my calls and half of everyone didn't know where you were. Even though I think they were lying. I even thought I wasn't good enough. I even had complications during my pregnancy with both our girls because you decided to cheat then too.... and let's not forget I had the second child without you. My mom was there through it all. A WAY OUT!!!!! Our landlord gave us until the end of the month to have the rent but yet u left for three weeks no call. That was like you were saying forget me I can do by myself since I broke you stupid little phone."

Shi was going off on Mo because she had enough. By the time she was done he went back outside and watched her and her family finish packing their things. He gave his girls a hung and kiss and left. Shi couldn't believe the bull Mo put her through. And what he had the nerve to say those words to her. 
She left that apartment broken.

A month later Shi was back home with her family and her kids. Mo's family had visits from Shi and the girls and every other time Shi took the girls to visit Mo looked at Shi with lust in his eyes. As the months passed Shi continued with school and work and taking care of her girls. 
Four months have passed and Shi forgot she was on that dating site, she got a chime. Who was it she wondered. 
There he was again! Tye came back around and this time he spoke, "hi beautiful." Shi thought  he was not serious but he spoke with her mom about him remembering she turned him down before, what made him come back did he want what the others wanted she thought, remembering her past.

"What should I do mom, should I say something? Should I say hi back, what do you think?"
Shi felt nervous to reply because she told herself she wasn't dealing with anyone for a while, hints the reason she was single for months. Shi mom told her to give him a chance to see where things go. So she did with her reply back, "hi."

With that being said she got a response back from Tye and they talked on the phone. He wanted to meet as so did she but was nervous to do so remembering the past and what happened before.

Even though Shi heart was still a little set on Mo she wasn't sure what to do, is why she didn't date anyone, she wanted to give them time to see if Mo was stupid on his mistakes and wanted her back. Tye and Shi texted each other for a week and when they were ready to meet Mo called Shi wanting to talk. 
Shi wondered what he wanted even though she was waiting on him. Her mixed feelings were all over, she grew feelings for Tye but still felt a little for Mo. Shi spoke with her mom for advise whether to see Mo, but it was all up to her so instead of finally meeting Tye, Shi met up with Mo to talk and see if they were meant to work it out or stay apart. 

When Mo saw Shi he couldn't believe the beauty he let go. Mo flirted with Shi and knowing that she still had feeling for him Shi caves to Mo's charm. Mo and Shi made passionate love that night and fell asleep.  Later that night Shi woke up realizing she fell for Mo's charm she quickly dressed. Mo woke up to Shi putting on her clothes.
"Where are you going come lay back down."
"No, I have to get home to our girls this wasn't suppose to happen this way. We were only supposed to talk and that was that I made a mistake."

Realized that she was back at the place they once lived together Shi sat in the car and cried. How could she be so stupid to let Mo back in and he was still living in their once apartment together. Shi vowed to never let him get to close to her again, that's when she realized she was over Mo. Her feelings have grew for Tye. Shi went home and washed off the filth and dreamed of Tye. The next day she got a text from Tye "good morning beautiful." Shi felt bad because of the night before, but didn't tell Tye what happened. She only replied with a hi. 
Shi spoke with her mother and told her what happened and they both sat in silence, but soon got over it. That following week was a heartfelt tragedy to Shi's family so she didn't spoke to Tye for a week. As he texted her she finally responded I want to meet you. Nervous as ever for their first meet Shi was dressed to empress but not to much. 

Tye approached her and spoke but her nervousness got the best of her which almost scared him away. He could tell she was nervous so he let her calm down and to know that he wasn't gonna hurt her. Shi and Tye took a stroll through the park and had a long conversation about their past life. That night they realized they were meant to be. A few nights passed and they met up with each other every night and they finally wanted to take their meeting a little further. 
Tye and Shi made love in her car which had her body in chills. He was in a daze that they both couldn't believe the sex. Every night Shi and Tye got together they couldn't keep their hands or their bodies apart from each other nor did they want to part. Tye knee that Shi had to go. 

Every night when Shi left Tye she would dream of him and couldn't wait to be in his arms again. A year went pass and their relationship was still strong. Tye took Shi home to meet his family. She fell in love with them as they did her. His family knew that Shi was the person for him. A few years later between all the ups and downs with people trying to break their relationship Shi and Tye is still strongly in love with each other and their three beautiful children and pets. Shi and Tye have been in love from day 11 to 6 years later. As she dream every night one day she will be his wife!!!   

WEDDING!!!!!!

Over the next several days Vale and Marie talk over the phone. She starts to notice he only texts or calls after sundown, but doesn't think to hard on it. She quite enjoys their chats. Gen has called her finally and asked a million and one questions about "tall, dark and handsome".
"He's great we have been talking over the phone a lot" Marie smiles as she thinks about his deep voice.
"What!" Gen shrieks as Marie pulls the phone away from her ear. "You gave him your number!? I cant believe it! You have never had a male contact that is not business related." She is practically screaming the whole time. 
Marie hears Gens husband in the background and listens as Gen tells him about her giving her number out. "It's not a big deal" Marie sighs. she imagines Gen jumping on the bed and her husband shaking his head. "We just talk."
"Are you guys going to meet? Have a date?"
"I'm not sure where this is going Gen. Its fine to take things slow you know. I have plenty of time to settle down." Gen operates on full throttle most of the time and Marie not sure if she can calm her down this time. "Look I have to get ready for work. Can we catch up later?"
"Of course love! Don't keep me out of the loop with tall, dark and handsome!" Gen giggles like a school girl. "What was his name again?"
"You better be careful, your husband is going to get jealous." Marie chuckles quietly. "His name is Vale."
"Well a mysterious name too! Love you girl don't forget to call me while gazing into lover boys eyes!"
"Love you too sis." All Marie can do is smile as she hangs up.

Marie gets showered and dressed for work. She works part time as a cocktail waitress at a gentleman's club, but doesn't mind the work. She has to make ends meet so the extra job covers what her day job doesn't. She puts on the black heals that are part of her uniform and brings her long hair into a ponytail. Marie looks in the mirror to make sure it looks good and puts her jacket on. As she opens her door she bumps into someone and drops her keys.
"Sorry!" Marie gasps as she drops down to pick them up.
"It alright" Marie looks up and sees the face that goes with that familiar voice. vale is standing in front of her with a bouquet of flowers. "Are you going somewhere?" He looks at the dark tights and heals.
"How embarrassing. I'm off to work right now." She looks at the flowers and blushes a little. "Are those for me?"
"Yes!" Vale hands the flowers to her. Marie takes the flowers in to put them in a vase and notices Vale doesn't follow "May I come in?" He asks from the doorway.
"Of course, please come in." Marie thinks it odd he waited for an invitation, maybe he was raised a certain way.
"You have a lovely place." Vale looks around "lots of windows." He smiles to himself
"Yes. I enjoy the fresh air, and being on a higher floor away from the fire escape I can keep them cracked most of the time." Marie doesn't notice his mischievous smile as she is distracted by the flowers.
"Where do you work?" Vale asked in a cheerful way as he comes to the kitchen where Marie is putting water in a vase.
"Oh, its a small place. I serve drinks and food." Marie blushes a bit. He must be thinking the worst with the way she is dressed.
"Oh. Can I drive you than. I was hoping to spend some time with you." Vale speaks sweetly.
"Well, it's a gentleman's club, if that doesn't make you uncomfortable." Marie places the flowers in the water and puts the vase in the living room.
"Not at all" he smiles sweetly
"Ok." Marie locks up her apartment and follows Vale to his car. 

When they arrive at her job Marie thanks Vale and heads into work. She doesn't notice when he walks in half an hour later and sits in a private booth. He didn't tell her he was a member and wants to keep it to himself. Vale was on the hunt again, and it felt good.

All through her shift Marie felt as if she were being watched. It was the strangest feeling to look and see people immersed in the show but feel as if you are being watched. The men could be a little rude once they got a couple drinks into them but over all they were just there to have a good time. She sweetly rejected phone numbers and refused dates all night. She just couldn't shake that feeling!

Vale watched Marie as she worked as was pleased that none of the men here had her attention. It made her so much easier to watch. He was amused that she seemed to feel his eyes on her as she kept looking around and then returning back to serving the drinks and food to the tables. She was so beautiful and he couldn't help himself as he smiled and imagined that she would be like once he caught her. He wondered if she knew she was the pray he was stalking. He just wanted her to be his and only his. He smiled as she finished her shift and walked out in her coat.

When Marie stepped out into the cool air she didn't feel like she was being watched anymore. She started to walk home slowly enjoying the cool air, when she felt the hair raise on the back of her neck. She looked around to see if someone was around but she couldn't find anyone, yet the feeling of being watched put her on edge. Marie started to walk faster as her heart started to race.  She took deep breaths to try and steady herself but was not succeeding in any way. Her heart was racing as she walked more briskly. Marie had never felt this frightened when she was walking home and couldn't find any logical reason for it. Why was her heart racing as if she were being hunted? When she got to her apartment door she was in such a panic she couldn't get a grip on her keys. Marie finally was able to open her door after dropping her keys several times, rushed in and swiftly locked the door behind her. She sat on the floor leaning with her back against the door and tried her hardest to hold back the tears burning in the corners of her eyes as she took deep breaths. What was wrong with her? What had made her so panicked?

Vale felt a little bad watching her through her window, trying to hold back her tears. He just wanted to see how she would react under the stress of being prey. He was actually surprised how well she kept it together. She never ran, didn't scream or go into a building that was not hers. She made it home, she must be very strong willed. He smiled to himself as he started for home, for the sun is the only thing that can keep her from him now.

Marie finally collected herself and stood up, checking that she did in fact lock the door. "What in the world got into me?" She whispered to her self as she rubbed her eyes. Heading to the shower she heard her phone ding and she went to look at who was texting her. It was Vale. She leaned against the doorframe to her kitchen as she read his text. Then went and sat on her couch to talk to him for a bit.

Vale: Hope you got home safely. 
Marie: Yes I did, thank you.
Vale: Anything interesting happen at work?
Marie: The usual. Sorry we couldn't hang out.
Vale: No worries. What days do you work?
Marie: It depends. I only work part time so it is different days.
Vale: Sorry for just showing up. I didn't know you had a night job.
Marie: Don't worry about it. I was happy to see you. Thank you for the flowers!
Vale: No problem. Are you free tomorrow night?
Marie: My next day off is the day after tomorrow.
Vale: It's a date?
Marie: Sure thing! My place?
Vale: Perfect! 7?
Marie: Perfect!
Vale: I'll see you then.
Marie: Yes! I have to get to bed, but I will text you tomorrow.
Vale: Sounds good. Good night.
Marie: Good night

Maries earlier panic was replaced with butterflies as she smiled at her screen. She went to shower and when she lay in her bed she was fast asleep in no time.

Vale sat smiling at his screen as he texted with Marie. She didn't even bring up what had happened. He wasn't sure if he should continue to get close to her, but he simply couldn't help himself. Something about her just made the darkness that was always knocking stop for a while and he could imagine a life where he wakes without that nagging voice of despair and loneliness.

Marie lives a quiet life, until the fateful day she finds who she thinks is the one. Little does she know her world is about to change!

*****

STILL A YEAR AGO BEFORE APOCALYPSE

Eden is still writing urgently and frantic on her journal inside her apartment.

Sometimes she looked around from her door to the windows as if expecting something to break in and attack her.

When there's nothing that she seemed to have heard or sense, she went back to writing, her dominant hand moving fast as if she's in a hurry to get this over with.

Also, it's almost as if she's writing a fictional story in her journal but in a grim truth, the story-like entry she's writing in is not fictional at all.

And sometimes Eden hoped that it was and it was just some horrifying nightmare she had dreamed in her sleep.

But she couldn't deny the reality when she had seen it and witnessed it firsthand, even though somehow she managed to make it through and escape alive.

She kept on writing vigorously with gaze focused but her mind drifted as if immersed in the dark memories she had experienced and had gone through before in those sudden horrifying days.

*****

JOURNAL ENTRY: 7TH DAY, 1ST MONTH JANUARY, YEAR 2XXX

It was so surreal.

I had hoped at first that it was just coincidence or something.

But I couldn't even deny the obvious signs even if they were right in front of me in large prints.

I'm sure you're wondering what it is that got me so panicked and frantic about like some madwoman who had just gone nuclear-like crazy frenzy.

I'm going to just write it all down here in my journal personally so that anyone who might find and read this will understand.

It's also in case I might not make it out alive if ever that might be the case for me when that happens.

Anyway, I'm rambling on.

This is how it happened, when and where it started, and how I've been there and seen it all through until I managed to come back and return home into my apartment.

It was just my first day at work, during the day as a part-time office assistant in a small firm situated in a very high-rise building in the city.

It was fortunate for me that I'm a quick learner and I managed to do a good job working at the first day, milling around in the office and following my orders given to me by my supervisor and superior, almost feeling like a robot designed to serve its master to the fullest.

This would be offensive to some people at first but you have to admit it's funny because for me I've always been some kind of docile type and knew better to listen and respect my superiors even if they're mean to me and just follow and do what they say.

I didn't mind this at all because all I want is just be at the sidelines quietly and give no complaint whatsoever over any nonsense even if it's for yourself.

This job pays well and of course, I need the money despite that I do have money saved for myself.

You never know that in the future your money would run out so quickly and your normal life will instantly become a difficult one.

Anyway, moving on, this is when I noticed during lunch break the first signs that something's wrong.

I didn't bring a packed lunch with me and the canteen food is worse when I saw it so I didn't buy them.  I was standing by in a room where they served coffee and took one, and as I drank half-way from my cup, I saw it.

One office employee was coughing hard in his work station and he seemed to be looking worse.  His face was looking dark red and seemed to swell and he also looked to have trouble breathing.

I remember that when I just entered the building, I had met that same employee and he was normal and healthy-looking before and didn't have the slightest symptom that he was going to be sick.

Well, right now he is, and it's strange and weird to me that the guy was sick so fast that I thought he had contracted the hidden plague or something.

I didn't know that my outrageous thoughts were true in the future.

And then the sick employee suddenly lurched forward as if he's going to vomit but instead he just collapsed in a heap on the floor, startling his other workmates and the others reacted to check on him.

I didn't go to see if he's alright because a large crowd was instantly forming around him and it wasn't long before someone finally called for help and then two medics swiftly came into the building at the workspace and taking the fallen sick employee away.

I was a little surprised at seeing the medics already there even when I noticed that one of the people in the crowd was about to call for an ambulance through his cell phone but there was already medical personnel assigned in the building and they seemed to be prepared for this.

It strangely got to me and also had a bad feeling that something is up.

But I didn't think much of it when my lunch break was over and I went back to work.

I finished for the day at my part-time job and almost had forgotten what I've seen before at the office when I was rushing to my next part-time job for the night shift which is as a cashier at a small grocery store.

I quickly catch a bus heading to the next job location I'm going and when I reached my destination, I went straight to the back of the grocery store and dressed up in my other work clothes from office shirt, skirts and heels to cashier employee shirt, pants and shoes.

I wasn't late nor was I early but I came right on time to meet my night-job superior at my night part-time job and learn what I need to do and start working for the night.

Even though I knew I would come home late and would get a few hours of sleep and work the same as always with these two part-time jobs from now on and beyond, I didn't mind at all as long as I can do it and keep on living normally.

It was also fortunate for me that I have weekends as the off days of my part-time jobs.

However, I didn't know that everything was going to change when the time passed by and days go by until the 7th day that I finally realized that everything is falling into chaos and the whole world is already falling into the depths of Hell itself in a literal sort of way.

Within those 7 days, as I worked and went home back and forth as usual and normal, I noticed signs, symptoms, and also sightings that I wish I could shake it off as mere coincidence or just imaginations that were made-up in my head from being almost overworked.

During the day time, more office employees had gotten sick suddenly and the workspace I was assigned on was about to become so empty it's like it's the holidays or there's a job strike going on.

I was getting unnerved about this but I kept on working as normal and usual as always.

Then there were more that started to happen during the nights.

I had noticed unusual symptoms from the buyers in the grocery store I'm working at during night-shifts.  Some seemed to be idling about between aisles absently as if they're drugged or in a depressed haze.  While some seemed to be staring intently at the frozen meat in the freezers or some staring at other people that were near them or walked by them with hungry expressions in their faces as if they haven't eaten at all.

I was glad that those people who were staring at others didn't happen with me because when I saw and noticed them approaching the cashier counter, I manage to quickly switch with another night-shift employee I had made friends with to take over as cashier and move away from their sights.

I knew it was a silly excuse to do that with one of the first friends I had made here in the city.  But I was getting a little freaked out with everything that's been happening that I started feeling paranoid and selfish for myself and my life.

The only time I felt safe is when I come straight home back to my apartment.

When the weekends finally came, I was relieved but then it still went wrong and I've seen and experienced it, increasing my paranoia and fear of something unknown about to come which I didn't know that it already has.

On the 6th day, I was sitting outside next to a coffee shop, drinking a cold creamy latte frappuccino to refresh myself and relax when a car accident occurred suddenly right in the street near the place where I'm at.

Two cars, one Hyundai and an SUV crashed against each other head-side on, either one of them had run through a red traffic light or not.

People reacted at the chaos and some had gone to the scene to try to check on and help with the injured drivers in the two vehicles.

Someone had called for an ambulance and as a crowd almost formed so many around the two crashed vehicles, it arrived an hour later fast as it was called and three paramedics came rushing to the scene to help and rescue the victims of the accident.

I stayed put to where I am by the coffee shop and I almost strained my eyesight to watch from far away to see what it's happening.

That's when I noticed something very strange and so creepy that I thought the hot sun up high is getting to me and I'm having heat hallucinations.

When two of the paramedics had placed one of the two driver victims into a stretcher and one of them declared soundlessly that this one's dead, I thought I saw its corpse twitching in the stretcher as if it's on a seizure. I also noticed that the two paramedics had strapped the seemingly twitching body tight and secure so that people and witnesses close by would have thought that the body would fall off inside the ambulance and nothing else.

But I somehow knew better when I saw the twitching and I also had thought that I saw the other victim who looked to be dead as well in the other crashed vehicle, its bashed head moved and seemed to lurch sideways as if trying to lunge at the paramedic that was going to remove him from the driver's seat.

I frowned at this and then felt like leaving already as if I didn't want to see what will happen next.

I abandoned my half-finished frappuccino and left the place as fast as I can in another direction.  I was having such deep bad feelings that were churning inside my gut that I felt like wanting to go back home in my apartment and stay there up to the next day.

I didn't think of writing this down the day before today because when I went home and then felt like sleeping it off which I did, it went out of my mind as if it's a normal occurrence that is usual in the city and I had shrugged it off as my imagined paranoia or fear.

But then I was wrong when on that exact 7th day, in the late time of night.  I had my sights on the first thing that got me crashing into a horrifying reality that everything had already gone to pieces in a very worst way.

It was on the 7th day that I stayed at home during daytime feeling out of sorts and trying to calm myself and think clearly on what had just happened the day before when around five in the afternoon I had a call from my cell phone.

I answered it and heard that it's one of my friends who worked with me at the night-shifts in the grocery store.

I heard her begging me to take over her night-shift at the store because one of her family members was at the hospital and she was worried and wanted to go there but couldn't because she needs the job too.

I wanted to refuse at first because of what I've seen before and the wild chaotic thoughts still running in my head but I felt pity for my friend and accepted and then I went and prepared myself to take over my friend's shift and work at night again, even if it's supposed to be my first weekend off.

But I didn't mind and I felt like owing my friend a favor for helping me switch when I had first encountered the strange people who were staring at others before.

I went to the grocery store at a fast pace like I wanted to get this over with and return home as soon as possible and my friend who called me had thanked me so much that she gave me almost so many tight hugs before she left in a hurry to go to the hospital and check on her family.

I sighed as I watched her leave then entered through the back and readied myself to work my night-shift as cashier as usual and I greeted the other employee working for the night, a young man in his late teens and almost an adult that is mopping and cleaning the floors between aisles.

I saw that there weren't many customers and only about two that looked to be searching around for their groceries and I sighed as I went behind the counter and waited for the customers to come and pay their purchases.

It was a few hours later that something unexpected suddenly happened.

I heard a loud slamming noise and bumping thuds and I turned my head almost in an instant turn that I could've broken it and I saw what looked to be a homeless man banging his head against the entrance doors of the store.

I was startled and stunned at this and I just stood there behind the counter confused and silent and the young employee who was mopping the floors stopped and went to look and check on the head-banger to see if he's okay.

But just as he had opened the door, the head-banging homeless man lunged at him and attacked him so suddenly that the two customers that were still inside the store and I just watched stunned shock and horror, we didn't have time to react on what we're just seeing right before our very eyes.

The homeless man opened his mouth wide as he could and chomp his dirty teeth into the young man's throat and started tearing it apart and EATING him.

The two customers that were still there reacted first with screams and yells, and one of them which is a burly man went to help the dying employee and try to pry the cannibal man off.

But it soon became a grave mistake when more of the carnivorous cannibals like the homeless man came bursting inside through the entrance, which is two more of them and one of them instantly lunged and chomped on the burly man at his arm while the other one goes for the second customer which is a feeble elderly woman who had tried to run and flee.

It took a split-second for me to finally react and between fight-and-flight, I choose flight.

I ran as swift as a startled fawn and went to the back of the store where the employees' room is and I hurriedly shut the door behind me and locked it, ignoring the screams and yells from outside and the munching hungry sounds from the monsters.

Then I felt myself collapse down in the ground, my back against the locked door, my bottom sitting on the floor, my legs curled up with knees near my face, and my hands over my mouth to cover and silence the cries and sobs that are emerging from my lips.

I kept on ignoring the terrible and sickening sounds I'm hearing from outside the door and soundlessly prayed myself to God for forgiveness and salvation.

*****

Eden stopped writing and looked like she finally wanted to vomit upon remembering that horrible and terrifying sights she had seen and the incident she went through before, which she did in a sudden dash to her bathroom and you can hear her retching and puking into the toilet, throwing whatever's in her stomach out.

Then there was a sound of the toilet flushing and Eden came out, looked to be staggering weakly and tired as she slowly went back to her desk to keep on writing on her journal.

She had to let everything out and try to erase it from her mind and have it etched and written onto her journal so that she might be able to sleep peacefully.

So she kept on writing what she had experienced and seen, all the signs, symptoms, and sights of the beginning and rise of the zombie apocalypse.

*****

*****

I am alone.
In a Zombie Apocalypse.
I'm on a self-journey to find more survivors or trying to find a safe place.
Or I'm just living through it and surviving all by myself.
Listen to my story.
Listen or read about my survival.
It is all here in my SURVIVOR'S JOURNAL

*****

A lone survivor.
Since the beginning of the Apocalypse.
She survives through a hellish fallen world.
With nothing but her wits and a few skills that she has from her former normal life and learned throughout the apocalypse.
Listen to her tale.
Listen to what she has gone through in her survival through everything and how she managed to stay alive.
Listen or Read her SURVIVOR'S JOURNAL.

*****

"How long have you been alone?"

"Since the very beginning."

"How did you survive by yourself?"

"Nothing.  Nothing but with just my wits and a few skills and smarts that I have learned throughout everything."

"I'm surprised you're even sane and alive for so long and being alone."

"Oh, I'm not alone.  I have my journal."

*****
(Author's Note: This is a fictional story.  It is not based in real life at all.)

*RING*

"Hello?"

"Soo! Have you seen the views of our videos yet?"

"Nope. Why?"

"Check it now! It has gone crazy! The number is so unbelievable."

Soo who just woke up quickly took his laptop and opened the MyTube website. He looked at the video he uploaded last night and saw the number of views

"WTF! How come there are so many views?"

"Right. Why are there so many views? Did you buy them?"

"You know how much money I have. How can I pay for the views."

Soo looked at the numbers again and again. He refreshed the website, and the numbers have increased. The video he uploaded last night has about a hundred thousand. It was unusual for his first video. Usually, for a new broadcaster, their views would not reach this number on their first videos even after a few days. Soo looked at the comments and was quite pleased by the pleasant comments about his songs. Some of the commenters also requested them to do a live broadcast.

"Sae Ah, do you want to do live broadcast? There are quite many people requesting for live broadcast, what do you think?"

"Of course! I will do it!"

"Then let's do the live broadcast this Saturday, are you fine with it?. We also need to prepare a few more songs to be released. When are you free?"

"I'm always free. I can record anytime."

"Then, let's meet tomorrow to record a few more songs."

"Alright, see you tomorrow."

"See you."

Soo, who saw that his project was doing well fall into deep thought.
He was thinking about whether he should resign from his day job. Even though he was often bullied, the treatment from the company was not bad. He received numbers of bonuses, and the pay was not bad. But, he has long hours of work time. After thinking for some time, he resolved himself to resign from the company. He opened the writing program on his laptop and started typing his letter of resignation. He printed it out and put it in an envelope and wrote resignation letter on top. He prepared himself up and went to the company, but this time he did not go to his station. He directly went to the Human Resources department and handed in his resignation letter. The resignation was processed quickly.
After he was done, he quickly went outside and walked away without looking back. It was the place that he had suffered the most for more than a year. He did not feel a slight regret after resigning. He decided to walk for a while and went to a nearby convenience store. He wanted to get a free booklet where lots of part-time jobs were listed. He took it and bought several foods and drinks while he was at the store, then he walked home. At home, there was nobody except for him. Ran was in school until noon. Soo decided to look at the booklet and looked for a part-time job as he has nothing to do. He wanted to look for a job that he could do while Ran was at school and did not take much of his time as he wanted to use most of his time to study and create music. He looked for it and finally found the job he wanted. A bicycle store close to his house was hiring. The criteria matched, and the pay was not bad. He immediately called the listed number, without any interview, he quickly got appointed. It seemed that the store needed some helping hand.

After looking for a job, Soo went to the music room to do some writing and recording. He wanted to write some songs while he was free. While he was writing, a particular idea popped in his head. He has a thought of creating songs for duet or group. He thought of contacting the four girls that he founded with Sae Ah. He felt that they were talented and to be left unused was a waste. He wrote a note, to contact them someday.
In the afternoon, Ran has come home. She was surprised when she saw her brother was already home. She ran to him after taking off her shoes and gave him a bear hug. Soo picked her up, then carried her to the living room and sat on the sofa.

"Oppa! Why are you home?"
She asked while looking up.

"I came home early today because I wanted to see your face."

"Hehehe. Don't lie!"

"Really! I wanted to see you so much that I came home earlier."

"Really?"

"Yup! Also, I resigned from my job so I can stay at home more with you."

"Huh? Bad Oppa! How are we gonna pay the debt if you don't work? What are we gonna eat?"
Tears appeared on Ran's eyes as if she gonna cry in seconds.

"No-no, Oppa still working. You know the songs that Sae Ah and I recorded right? The song has become famous, so Oppa gonna write more songs to have more income. Oppa also will work part-time while you are at school. So don't worry about debt and food, okay?"

"Really?"

"Yeah! Don't worry. What do you want to eat for dinner?"

"Hmm.. barbecue!"
Ran wipe her tears and said it cutely with a bright smile.

"You sure? We just ate barbecue yesterday with Sae Ah right. You want to eat barbecue again?"

"Sure! I love barbecue!"

"Alright-alright. Let's go to eat barbecue later."

"Yeah!"

The two of them joked around for a while before Ran got tired and have her noon nap. While her sister took the afternoon nap, Soo went to the music room to continue working on the songs. The songs that he wrote this time has multiple genres from rock to pop music. Soo also has been learning about music arrangement and knew a bit of it.

Time goes by; soon, the time for dinner came.
Ran woke up and went to the music room to remind her brother. 
Soo was almost done with his works when Ran came inside. He immediately ended his actions and went to have dinner with his sister. It's been a long time since they have dinner together just the two of them. They spent the great precious time together for some time before they finally went home. When Ran went to sleep, Soo went back to his room and opened his laptop.
He was searching for singers to collaborate on the internet. Some caught his attention, but most of them were average singers. Soo decided to give up on searching and ended the day.

...
...
...

On the very next day, Soo woke up early because of habit. Soo woke his sister up and went to prepare breakfast. After they finished eating breakfast, Soo would bring her sister to school. It would be the first time he brought her to school. Soo took the bike, put his sister at the back seat and went to her school. It was still early in the morning. There were not many cars on the road but, there were quite lots of people on the side walking either going to work or home. On the way to his sister school, Soo suddenly heard someone singing. The voice was not bad, comparable to Sae Ah's. Soo went to take a look and saw a woman on the side of the street, performing. She was holding her guitar, seated near the entrance of the subway station as she was covering a famous jazz song from the 90s.

"Oppa, what are you looking at? we should hurry, if not I'm gonna be late."
Ran who sat behind him, suddenly spoke.

"Right! We should hurry."

The school was already nearby, so it only took a few minutes for them to reach the school from the place Soo saw the female singer.

"Alright, see you later. I will pick you up after school at 3."

"What!? It's at 2 pm Oppa! My school finished at 2. Don't forget okay."

"My mistake. See you later."

After dropping Ran at school, Soo went back to the place he saw the singer. This time, he was quite surprised. The singer was covering his song, Moon on the Water. Soo took a good look at her, and he could see four red stars floating above her head which was the same with Sae Ah stars. 

*Status*
Name: Kang Shin Ji
Job: Student
Singing: A
Dancing: D
Acting: F
Entertaining: F

After looking at her status, he finally could deduce the meaning of the colours of the stars means. The colours mean the ability they are best at. For example, Sae Ah and Shin Ji both have their stars in red, so they were best at singing. The stars probably mean the ability level. Both of them has A as their ability level for singing, so the stars should correspond to the best ability level people had, Soo thought.

After the singer finished singing, Soo approached her.

"Hello, you are good at singing."

"Thank you."

"You brought a different expression of the songs. I never thought that someone would sing the song that I created."

"Huh? Did you create the song? Are you Soo?"

"Yeah, let me introduce myself. My name is Kim Soo."

"Soo! Your song is perfect. I heard it multiple time until I could remember the lyrics."

"Really?"

"Yeah! Oh! I haven't introduced myself. My name is Kang Shin Ji, and you can call me Shin Ji."

"Nice to meet you. So, I approached because of a reason, do you have some time?"

"Ah? Do you want to talk to me? Alright, how about at the cafe over there? I worked there."

"Okay, Let's go."

The two of them walked towards the cafe. It was close by, so it only took a few minutes. After arriving, Soo ordered some drinks and brought it to the table where Shin Ji already sat at.

"Here. It's on me."

"Thank you, but you don't have to though."

"So, do you know about my MyTube channel?"

"Yeah, of course. I listen to your song through your channel."

"Good, I wanted you to become a singer on my channel. Currently, I have one singer, but I would like to have another one so that I could make different ranges and types of songs."

"Heh? Me? Singer?"

"Yeah, I can discuss the contract with you now. Are you a student?"

"Yes... I would like to, but I don't have any free time."

"I see, I can give you my number first. If you have time, you can contact me."

"Okay, I have a question, is it alright?"

"It's okay, what is it?"

"What kind of songs will you let me sing if I sign with you?"

"Rock ballad and ballad. Your voice is great for that genre. I got inspired after listening to your rough voice while singing my song it creates a different feeling than the original. It was good."

"I see, I will contact you as soon as possible."

"Alright, then I will leave for now. Bye."

"Bye."

Soo leaves the cafe and returns home to rest before going again later to pick up his sister.

part time work from home

Home away from home

From the Moon: Home

Doraemon: Nobita's life after doraemon left

Classmates to Soulmates

The Mood Ring

The Recipe of Love [COMPLETED]

Life of Shi

The vampires heart

SURVIVOR'S JOURNAL

I am a Superstar

People search part time work from home also like: