Every Rose Has Its Thorn 1

It all began about two years ago. At the time, I was young and full of energy. For me the world was still largely unknown and I was eager to explore it. I had graduated from college the previous year and immediately had been hired by a large and well-known business firm.

My first year at work was complete and I had the right to take a well-deserved vacation. I had gotten great reviews and a promotion seemed to be a sure thing. I took leave from work to go on vacation to the Caribbean for two full weeks. I made the necessary preparations and the following week boarded the plane, that would take me to the bright and sunny beaches.

After a couple of hours, I finally arrived. I got out of the plane and collected my luggage. Outside the airport, I waited patiently for a taxi to bring me to the hotel. I was relaxed and in a good mood. The weather was absolutely gorgeous. There wasn't a single cloud to be seen in the blue skies with just a slight breeze. I had the feeling that this vacation would not be like any other vacation. This was going to be something I would never forget. Then, it happened.

I was looking around me to spot an available cabby, when all of a sudden, my breath stopped. That's when I saw him. He was unlike anyone I had ever seen before. He was so incredible. Sure, he was tall, dark and handsome, but it wasn’t just that. There was something so special about him. For a moment, I could have sworn that my heart had skipped a beat.

He must have felt that someone was watching him, because he turned his face to look in my direction. I hastily turned my head. I didn’t want him to know that I was staring at him. Fortunately, a taxi had just stopped in front of me. I quickly got into the cab, before he had the chance to see me.

That night I stayed in a hotel-room that I had rented for the next two weeks. The room was nice and cozy and satisfied my needs. As I lay in bed, I thought of the stranger at the airport. I still could not believe that a man could be so handsome. I have to admit that he was, and to be honest still is, the most handsomest man I had ever seen in my whole life.

“God, I would love to have known such a hunk better,” I thought. “That’s for sure!” But to my disappointment, that was not going to happen. He was gone and I would never see him again.

The following day, I decided to go downtown to the local shopping district to do some good old shopping. There is nothing that gives me more pleasure than spending money, after I had worked so hard the whole year.

I came across this fancy store, that specialized in selling women’s apparel. After browsing through some of the clothes that were on sale, I was in total awe. But I’m not sure whether it was because of the fashionable designs or at the price tags that were just ridiculous! “Hello?” I thought to myself, “What are these people thinking!”

Realizing that my visit to this particular store would not extend beyond merely looking, I glanced to look through the store windows. I was staring at the crowd outside, when seemingly out of nowhere, it happened again. There he was again. The mysterious man, whom I had first seen at the airport and that had made such a deep impression on me.

Now that he was slowly walking past the store, I got a chance to take a better look at him. For the second time, I stood absolutely amazed at how gorgeous he was. After he had passed by, which had been way too quick, I rushed to the entrance to have a last look. Alas, he was nowhere to be seen among the masses. He had vanished into thin air.

That night I dreamt of the mysterious stranger. It was unbelievable how someone, whose name I didn’t even know, could have such an impact on my inner thoughts. I just could not stop thinking of him.

It was a strange dream, which I did not understand. I was standing there in an open plain and wherever I looked I could see him. I tried to get a hold of him, but in vain. Whenever I got close enough, he would disappear.


I got up the next day, brushed my teeth and took a refreshing bath. I took the elevator and was just about to step out of it, when somebody, who obviously was in a real hurry, bumped into me. He had run so fast, that the force of the collision knocked me down on the floor.

“I’m so sorry,” I heard someone say to me. “Are you all-right? I hope you didn’t knock yourself too hard on the ground.”

“I’m not hurt,” I responded, while holding the back of my head with my hand. “But why did you have to run so fast?” I looked up to see who had run into me like a train. Like lightning, I realized it. It was him! The man I had been dreaming about!

“I could probably tell you why,” he said to me, “but will it really make you feel better?”

“I guess not,” I answered. I turned my face away from him, so that he couldn’t look me in the eyes. I didn’t want him to notice how excited I was.

“I think I know how to make it up to you,” he said. “I’ll treat you to the best dinner one can find on this island. Agreed?”

“That’s fair,” I said as calmly as possible. “But no hanky panky, understood?” “Don't worry,” he said, “I'm a professional. That I am.”

I was still in shock to meet the man who had captured my mind so much in the last few days the way he had. He had no idea what went through me at that moment. The adrenaline rushed through my body, because his proposal was exactly what I had wanted. I was overjoyed at such a luck turn of events. I now had the opportunity to get to know him better!

--o--

 Click on Part 2 for what happens next in this series.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn 2

That evening, we were sitting at a table in a very expensive restaurant and Karl, as he said his name was, had ordered some seafood. Oysters to be precise, for the two of us. He had also ordered some fine ( and no doubt, very expensive! ) wine to be brought to our table. I concluded that he had to be rich or at least well-off, to be able to go to such a place. His entire appearance pointed in that direction. He wore an Armani-suit and a golden Rolex watch, which gave him the image of a very successful individual. I also noticed that he was even more handsome than I had previously thought, now that I could observe him more thoroughly from up close.

“I take it you’re a tourist from the United States?” he said to me. He opened the bottle of French wine and filled two of the crystal glasses with red wine.

“Are there really that many of my countrymen here?” I said with a smile. “There must be for you to say something like that.”

“I wouldn’t say that, Ann,” he answered, “but from the way you act I can tell your American. You Americans are so unique. So full of confidence, so different from all the other people in the world. I know, I’ve met people from all over the world.”
“Anyway, you’re right,” I said. “I’m an American born in New York. I arrived here just two days ago.”

“Do you like it here?” he said.

“It’s great, really great,” I answered. “It’s better than I had hoped for. The people are friendly and the weather is terrific.”

“Yes,” he said. “That’s the Caribbean I know. I grew up here and I’ve always liked it. Even though I’m now a busy businessman and has to travel a lot abroad, I still reserve time to spend my vacations here.”

“Have you ever been here before?” he asked. “Nope, first time here.” I told him. “Good,” he said with a smile. “Very good.”

Our conversation ended, when a waiter appeared at our table with the ordered dishes. Being hungry, I wasted no time to sample some of the delicacy. While I took another bite from the delicious dish, I looked up from my plate and saw that Karl, while crossing his arms and holding his chin with one hand, was staring at me.

“You’re not eating your oysters,” I said with a frown. “Is there something wrong?”

“Nope,” he said with a smile. “Nothing is wrong. It's hard to eat when you're distracted.”

“Distracted by what?” I asked.

“By you,” he said. “I was just admiring you.”

“And may I ask why?” I said.

He took one of my hands and held it in both of his hands and said: “Because your looks are just so absolutely, unbelievably breathtaking.”

I could feel the warm blood rushing to my cheeks, when he looked me straight in the eyes. I turned my eyes away and looked down at my plate. I took a moment to get a hold of myself and said as calmly as possible: “You’re exaggerating.”

“No, I’m not!” he insisted. “I’ve seen many beautiful girls before, and there have been many, but believe me when I say that you are something else. You are in a class by itself. You’re the kind of girl that makes a man want to fall down on his knees and thank God that He made him a man. In fact, you’re so fine, I wish you were mine!”

I just sat there, giggling like a little girl. I could only hope that he didn’t see that I was blushing.

“Excuse me,” Karl said, “but would you like to go out with me?”
I raised my head to look at his face. He had such a charming smile, that I got a warm feeling in my stomach. Resistance was futile and so I smiled back and said: “Why not!”


Thus my romance with Karl had begun. From that day on, we spent all of our time together and with each passing day, our passion grew stronger. We went out and it was beautiful. I remember how we spent those long romantic nights at the beach, walking side by side, hand in hand. Or we would just lay there on the sand under the crystal-clear night sky with bright stars shining upon us. During those precious moments at which I thought of nothing else but the two of us. It seemed as if time stood still.

Wherever we went, people would make casual remarks what a great couple we were. I also noticed that, when we were walking down the streets, a lot women would turn their heads, just to have a look at Karl. That would remind me that someone, as handsome and charming like Karl, was actually by my side. Even now, I still have a hard time believing that it actually happened. It seemed almost too good to be true.

Those days I spent with Karl were, without any doubt, the happiest days of my entire life. Unfortunately, like all good things, it had to come to an end. My vacation was nearly over and I would have to return to my job in the U.S.

--o--

Click on Part 1 for what happened previously or on Part 3 for what happens next in this series.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn 3

The day of my departure, Karl brought me to the airport and to the terminal. I didn’t say a word the whole time it took Karl to drive me to the airport. I wished that I could make time slow down, so that I could enjoy these precious moments a little longer. But I knew that, no matter how hard it was, it was inevitable that we would have to say goodbye.

“Promise to keep in touch,” I said with a soft voice. My voice was so full of emotion, I could barely recognize it as my own.

“Promised,” Karl said. “I’ll try to visit as soon as possible.”

“God,” I said, “I never imagined that it would be this hard to say goodbye.”

“Maybe this will make things easier,” Karl said. He took out a nicely-wrapped gift that he had been carrying in a bag. It felt and looked luxurious and expensive. Something that must have taken a lot of money and time crafting. Surely, something like this must contain something extraordinarily. Perhaps jewelery made of gold, pearls or even diamonds.

“What is it?” I said.

“Something that will make you remember me,” Karl responded. “This is one surprise you'll never ever forget.”

“Must be something very special,” I smiled. “Are you sure?”

“There is not the slightest doubt in my mind,” Karl said with a huge smile on his face. “In fact, I'm pretty sure you'll be thinking of me all the time.”

“Can I open it?” I said.

“No, I want it to be a surprise,” Karl said. “You have to promise not to open it now or during the flight. Believe you will want to be alone when you open this. You will not want the public to be seeing you once you react.”

“You're being so mysterious,” I said. “I'm becoming very curious.”

“It's better that way. I really mean that.” He said. “Once you’ve arrived home safely and you're all alone, then you should open it. I guarantee you that once you've opened this package and seen the contents, it will take your breath away. Literally.”

The attendant at the departure gate signaled that it was time to say goodbye, because the plane was about to leave. I hugged and kissed Karl for the last time, turned around and boarded the waiting plane. From the corner of my eyes, I could see that he was staring at me. The emotions became almost too much to handle. Small teardrops rolled down my cheeks.

During the four hour flight, I thought of my romance that had now come to an end. I felt so sad after we had to say goodbye. Of all the men I had dated before, Karl came closest to being Mr. Perfect. He seemed to be the perfect soul mate. I felt like we were made for one another. He just didn't have any flaws. He was so handsome and yet a complete gentleman. Successful but still respectful. Someone with whom you could spent the rest of your life together. Not like all the previous jerks, losers and psychos I had met before.

I realized that someone like that may only come by once in your life. Imagine what it would be like to never have met someone you could love. To some day be old and still all alone. To have had nothing but broken marriages or other bad relationships. To think what could have been if I had not let Karl go. I could not just let him go. I didn't want to have any regrets later in life. I was determined to not let our relationship end. I could only hope that he would still remember to call me as he had promised. Perhaps there was a chance that, although an ocean separated us, we would still remain together.

--o--

Click on Part 2 for what happened previously or on Part 4 for what happens next in this series.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn 4

When I finally arrived at J.F.K. airport, I exited and gathered my luggage. Outside, I quickly found cab that would take me home. The weather was absolutely terrible. It was raining cats and dogs. Thunder and lightning roared through the skies. Almost like a bad omen. Not to mention the freezing cold, unlike the nice and sunny beaches that I had left behind. The grisly weather made me feel even more depressed than I already was.

With heavy legs that felt like lead, I opened the door to my apartment. There was no one in the cold and dark apartment to greet me. Just the silence and the loneliness that overwhelmed me. I realized that moment how much I was going to miss Karl. I sat down on a chair to let the emotions pass by.

After a couple of minutes, I got up and proceeded to unpack my luggage. I had put all of my clothes in their drawers and opened all of the packages that I had brought home, except for the one that Karl had given me. I looked at it and anxiously wondered what it might contain. Karl did say the contents would make me remember him for always. My curiosity got stronger. I shook the box and then tore off the wrapping. To my surprise, the box only contained a letter and a sealed envelope. I took out the letter and read:


Dear Ann,


By the time you read this, you’ll be back in the U.S. and I’ll be far, far away and long gone. Please don't try to find me because you won't. Many others have tried before and they've all failed. First of all, I want you to know that I will always remember you and that we had something very special while it lasted. Even though I have done this many times before, I never seem to get tired of this. I really had a lot of fun. However, this is not the only reason that I decided to write you this letter. 

The real reason is that I have a confession to make. I haven’t been totally honest with you. For starters, my name is not Karl. What my name really is, I won’t say. You most likely thought, like many other before, I was the man of your dreams. In reality, I am most likely your worst nightmare. 

We did not meet by accident, when we bumped into each other. Rather, it was carefully planned by me, ever since I saw you for the first time at the airport. Yes, I did saw you and I know that you were staring at me. I couldn’t resist the opportunity and followed you to the hotel. It was also no accident that you saw me when you were shopping in that store for clothes. I wanted to make sure that I continued to occupy your mind so that when the moment came we actually met, you would be obsessed by me. As soon as you told me, you had never been here before, the thrill of the hunt was on. 

Like I said before. I'm a professional and I take great pride in what I do. You may think that I just wanted to get in bed with you. But that wasn't the main reason. That was just a way to accomplish my real goal. Now you are probably asking yourself what the reason is behind all the charade. To answer that question , you will have to open the envelope that came with this letter. That will make everything clear to you.


Love,

        Karl


I was totally surprised and didn’t know what to think after I had read the letter. I was sure that we had met by chance and had not suspected that Karl had seen through me and had hid the fact from me. I broke the seal of the envelope and read the words that would haunt me for the rest of my life...

“I am a carrier of the AIDS virus!”

I was shocked and yet I could not believe that it was true. I refused to believe that Karl, or whatever his real name was, had faked everything. I called the number he had given me and sent him an email, but they were all bogus. I could not believe that he had pretended to love me, when all he really wanted was to inflict me with the deadly virus. I went to the doctor to have myself tested.

When I finally heard the news, I was petrified. The result of the test was positive. My fate was sealed. I cannot describe what went through me as I sat there absorbing the bitter truth. “Why, why, why?” I cried. I didn't understand why someone would do something like that. Whether it was out of revenge or because he derives some sort of sick pleasure out of it. He could have simply raped me and that would have been easier to take. He also wanted my heart, only to break it. I cried and I cried, but there were no answers. Nothing could change what had happened. All that was left for me to do was to wait for the day my life would come to its tragic end.

--o--

Click on Part 3 for what happened previously or on Part 5 for what happens next in this series.

Every Rose Has Its Thorn 5

“Now you know my story, father,” I said from the hospital bed I was lying on. “It’s been two years since the events, that I’ve just described to you, took place, but still I remember them as if they had happened yesterday.”

“I’ve noticed that the symptoms of your illness are already in a very advanced stage,” Father Gregory remarked somberly.

“I look terrible, don't I? It wasn't that long ago that I seemed to have a bright future ahead of me. I had so much going on and had it all taken away from me. It's not right.”

“I've received the best medical care in the best hospital available,” Ann continued after a moment of silence. “The doctors have done all they can, but my illness is one for which there is no cure. It’s now just a matter of time before the end will come,” I said. “I don’t have a lot of time left and it’s all because of that sick bastard.”

“Did you report Karl to the police?” Father Gregory asked.

“I sure did,” I said. “I immediately went to the NYPD after I realized what had happened and they did contact the local police to try to arrest Karl.”

“So what happened?” Father Gregory asked.

“He is nowhere to be found,” I said. “They’ve looked everywhere, but it looks as if he has just disappeared.”

“Sounds like a professional,” Father Gregory concluded. “This is a guy who knows exactly what he's doing.”

“Alas, it now seems that Karl is well known in the Caribbean and even Central America for his heinous acts,” I said sadly. “I’ve been told that I’m not the first to have fallen for his charm, but just another in a long list. He seems to go after foreigners who don't suspect a thing. Those unfamiliar with the local area.”

“Who is this “Karl” character anyway?” Father Gregory asked.

“Nobody really knows who he,” I answered. “but according to local folklore, they refer to him as the Incubus.”

Father Gregory jumped up in shock. “After the medieval creature?” he said.

“Yes,” I said. “Like the Incubus in the ancient medieval folktales, who seeks unsuspecting young girls and then has intercourse with its prey to suck the life out of its innocent victim.”

“Let’s see if I got this straight,” Father Gregory said, “A very handsome Karl waits at the airport and preys on potential victims. If he spots anyone, who seems to be attracted to him, he goes after her.”

“When she has become spellbound by his attractiveness, which apparently happens a lot,” I added, “he then makes sure that they “accidentally” bump into each other. Then he methodically charms her, until she is so in love with him, that they end up in bed together and thus infects her with the virus.”

“Very diabolical,” Father Gregory concluded.

“That’s it,” I said with a grudge. “His victims never suspect a thing. They all think that they’ve met someone special. Their true love they've been looking for their whole life.”

“He is probably still out there, searching for its next victim,” Father Gregory said. I could see that he was clearly disturbed and worried. “A handsome man with evil intentions. People should beware of him.”

“That is why I’ve turned to you,” I said. “I’ve spent the last two years looking for Karl to bring him to justice, but I’ve had no luck. Now my end is near. Somebody else has to continue in my place to put an end to this. Will you be that person?”

“I swear by the word of God that I will not rest, before I’ve brought Karl to justice,” Father Gregory said. “Your death will not be in vain. That, my child, I promise you!”

“Thank you, father,” I said. “You’re a good man. I knew you would not let me down. I can now go in peace.”

With that said, my last strength began ebbing out of my battered body. My vision of Father Gregory became blurrier, until I could no longer see him. I realized that the end was near and thus closed my eyes. I grabbed Father Bishop’s hand tightly before I exhaled my last breath and then quietly passed away.

--o--

Click on Part 1 or Part 2 or Part 3 or Part 4 for what happened previously in this series.

Good Things Happen To Good People 1

“Get up!, get up!, you lazy tramp!,” an angry voice shouted. “I have some work for you to do.”

A foot kicked Heidi in the leg. Heidi woke up, still sleepy and tired from the day before. She had gone to bed very late, because she had so many chores to do.

“Clean up the bedroom, the kitchen, the bathroom, and it better be done when I get home!” With that said, the door was slammed shut.

“Good morning to you too, Ivan,” Heidi said.

Another day had begun for Heidi. Another day of hard work. That is how her life had been since she had left the country she was born as a twelve-year-old to come live with her half-brother, Ivan, and his wife, Mary, in the United States. Her situation had become a lot worse for her. But things weren’t always that way.

Heidi’s was well off when she still lived with her parents. Both of them cared for her and did all they could to make sure she was happy. Heidi was thus born in relative comfort and that lasted for a number of years.

Then, on a terrible Sunday, Heidi’s parents were killed in a tragic car accident. Heidi was now left alone and would not have been able to take care of herself. She had to stay with relatives. Her only relatives left were Ivan and Mary, who had migrated to the U.S. many years before. Needless to say, she was glad and grateful for the kind gesture when they invited her to come and stay with them. Unfortunately, as she would soon find out, the kindness was not going to last.

From the very first day she arrived in the US and set foot in their apartment, Ivan The Terrible, as Heidi called him, made it clear that she would have to work if she wanted to have a roof on top of her head.

“Look, you need this place to stay,” Ivan said harshly. “So from now on, you will do what we tell you to do.” “And if you don’t like it, get out!” he barked, well aware that there was nowhere else she could go.

Heidi got up and realized how cold it was. “It’s freezing!” she thought. She wished that Ivan would also warm up the kitchen, where she had to sleep on the floor, and not only their own room. But he and that evil witch, Mary, were too selfish to think of anyone else. They really fooled her. They never wanted to help her. All they wanted was a slave.

She picked up all the trash on the floor. As usual, they had deliberately made a complete mess for her to clean up. She noticed the foul smell in their bedroom. “There’s rotten food under their bed!” Heidi shouted. “That’s disgusting!” She had the feeling that she was about to throw up, so she rushed to the bathroom. But that was a mistake. Ivan had left a large, smelly deposit in the toilet for her to clean up. Heidi looked disgusted and wished from the bottom of her heart that she didn’t have to do Ivan’s filthy work. But, at the same time, she realized that if she didn’t, she would have no place to stay and she didn’t have the money to rent a place.

“If I could just get a college degree, then I could get a good job,” she mumbled, while cleaning the floor from the stinking garbage. “I could pay for my own room and I wouldn’t have to put up with all the abuse.” Unfortunately, she had to drop out of college. She just could not afford to work and go to school at the same time. The recent tuition increases and higher standards set by the Board of Education had also forced her out. Heidi sighed, life looked very bleak. Worst of all, she saw no hope of things getting better.

It was now six o’clock. Heidi left the apartment and went to Andy’s grocery store. She got a loaf of bread and went to the cash register to pay. An old lady was just about to leave, when Heidi noticed that she had dropped her purse.

“Excuse me,” she said. “I think this belongs to you.” The old lady was charmed by her honesty.

“Thank you, my child!” the old lady said. “I don’t know what I would do without a month’s pension.” The old lady offered Heidi money for her good deed, but she refused.

“I can’t accept this,” she said. “I only did what was right.” The old lady accepted her decision and left. Heidi then bought a lottery ticket from Andy.

“Why didn’t you take the money?” he said, while waiting for the printout. “Don’t you need the money?”

“Yes, I do; but not at the expense of someone else,” Heidi said. “No, I couldn’t have taken  her money.”

“You know, you’re very nice person,” Andy said as he handed her the ticket. “I know that life is very hard for you and Ivan and Mary are not exactly the best of people. You deserve better. Maybe someday, things will turn around.”

“So do I,” Heidi sighed. “So do I.”

--o--

Click on Part 2 for what happens next in this series.

Good Things Happen To Good People 2

Heidi was returning home and waited to cross the street. A black limousine slowly drove by. She looked at the car.

“That person must be rich to afford something like that,” she thought. “I wish I had some of that money.”

Suddenly, Heidi heard the screeching sound of tires. Another car had ignored the red light and drove on. The driver desperately tried to hit the brakes, but it was too late. He was going too fast to be able to avoid a fatal collision. The result was a thundering sound as metal collided with metal.         

Both cars were reduced to a wreck. Heidi rushed to the scene to lend a helping hand. The driver of the car that had caused the accident had paid for his reckless driving with his life. There was also  nothing Heidi could do for the driver of the limo. It became very obvious from their remains that they were both dead. All of a sudden, she heard someone moaning from the pain.

“Please, help me..........”, a stranger pleaded.

Heidi pulled a severely injured man out of the backseat. No sooner had Heidi pulled him to a safe distance or the cars exploded. Heidi kneeled down and looked at the bloody stranger. The first thing she noticed was that he was a rather handsome man.

“Don’t worry,” she said and began to apply first aid. “Everything is going to be just fine.”

“Thank you,” the stranger said as he touched her face with his hand. “Tell me, what is your name?” But before she could answer, someone pushed Heidi aside.

Amazingly, paramedics had arrived on the scene in a nick of time. An ambulance had been close by and seen what had happened. They hastily lifted the wounded stranger into the ambulance and quickly drove away.

Both Ivan and Mary were home. “Well, well, if it isn’t the ugly slut,” Mary said to Heidi when she returned home. Heidi ignored her and remained calm. Mary became irritated by her calmness, but didn’t know how to get her mad.

“Am I not the bomb?” Mary said as she looked in the mirror.

“Depends on what kind of  a bomb you’re talking about,” Heidi said softly.      

“What is that you said?” Mary said angrily.

“Nothing,” Heidi answered.

“You’re so stupid,” Mary said. “Just look at you, you’ll always be a nobody.”

“We’ll see,” Heidi said to herself. “We’ll see.”

Heidi got up and noticed that Ivan and Mary were both gone. She thought of the vivid dream she had the night before. In that dream, she had won the lottery. “Could this be a sign?” she said to herself.

She went out, bought the newspaper and returned home. “Did I win?” she anxiously thought. She opened the newspaper and..........

“Yes!” she screamed. “I’ve won!” She jumped into the air out of joy. “I’m finally free.” She thought of what she would do with the whopping $1,000,000 she had won.

“First, I’ll move out of this hellhole as soon as possible,” she said. “Then I’ll get some new clothes.” Heidi was really excited. “My life as a slave is finally over.”

Heidi didn’t tell Ivan and Mary that she had won the lottery. As usual, they were making fun of her.

“Laugh all you want,” Heidi thought. “Soon I’ll be the one laughing.” She paid no attention to them and instead concentrated on the television.

Suddenly, the program was interrupted by a news break. Heidi couldn’t believe what she heard next.

The newspaper had made a mistake in printing out the lottery results. “We’re sorry for the inconvenience that may have resulted,” the woman on T.V said. But Heidi wasn’t listening any longer. She was crushed.

“I was afraid that winning the lottery was too good to be true,” she cried. But at the same time, she realized that what had happened characterized how her life had been so far. A huge disappointment.

--o--

Click on Part 1 for what happened previously or on Part 3 for what happens next in this series.

Good Things Happen To Good People 3

“Did you hear what I just said?” Mike’s voice sounded.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Dave said. “Could you repeat what you’ve just said?” 

“Alright, that’s it,” Mike responded. “It’s that girl again, right?”

“I just can’t get her out of my mind,” Dave said, while staring out of the window. He turned around and looked Mike straight into the eyes. “I have to find her,” he said to Mike. “I just have to.”

“But how are you going to find her?” Mike responded. “Nobody knows who she is and you can’t tell either, because you were born a blind man.”

“Maybe I didn’t see her,” Dave admitted. “But I can recognize her voice. She has the sweetest voice I’ve ever heard and judging from the lines of her face that I’ve touched with my own fingers, the prettiest face in the world.”

“That, Mike,” he concluded, “I know for sure.”

The ad in the paper from Dave was in all the headlines.

“Extra!, extra!,” the paperboy shouted. “Read all about it.”

Everybody was talking about it. Here was one of the richest men, and according to many women, one of the handsomest men in the world looking for a girl, whom he didn’t even know. Dave called upon the girl that had saved his life to come forward, because he wanted to reward her for her heroics.

Not surprisingly, hundreds of pretty girls showed up. Every single one of them claimed to be the one. They had spared no cost to look at their absolute best for this occasion and to win Dave’s hand. But every single one of them would leave disappointed. As soon as Dave had heard her voice and touched her face with his fingers, he would say with much disappointment that she was not the person he was looking for.

“You have a very sweet voice,” Dave said to the girls, “and you have a very beautiful face, but you are not the girl I’m looking for.”

Also standing in line was Mary. Her turn was the shortest one of them all. Dave didn’t need to touch her face to know that she was nothing more than a opportunistic gold-digger.

“Throw her out!” he shouted to Mike, when he realized that she was trying to take advantage of his feelings. Mary had no choice but to leave, but she cursed Dave before she left. The profanity that came flying out of her mouth still echoed long afterward.

Dave was beginning to lose hope. “It’s been weeks,” Mike complained, “and we still haven’t found her.”

“She will turn up,” Dave said. “I’m sure of it. She will turn up.”

But to Dave’s agony, that did not happen. Despite all of their efforts, she could not be found.

“Maybe she was a foreigner on vacation and has already left the country,” Mike said to console Dave.

Dave said nothing and stepped into the limo to go home. Dave couldn’t accept the fact that he would never see the girl again who had captured his heart.

“It cannot end like this,” Dave said to himself. “It won’t.”

Suddenly, the limo came to a screeching halt. “Hey, watch out where you’re going!” Dave heard the driver shouting to someone trying to cross the street.

“I’m sorry,” someone replied. “My mind was somewhere else.”

That voice struck Dave like a lighting bolt. “That voice!” he thought. “I’ve only heard that voice once before.” Dave expectations rose like mercury on a hot summer’s day. But he had to be sure and jumped out of the car.

“Where are you?” he said.

“I’m really sorry,” Heidi whispered. Dave said nothing and just touched her porcelain face with his hand. As his fingers followed the delicate lines of her face, his doubts evaporated.

“You’re the one!” he shouted. “You’re the one!”

“All of my life, I’ve been looking for the right girl,” Dave said to Heidi, who was sitting on the opposite side of the table. He stood up from his chair and fell on his knees. Dave held Heidi’s soft hand and took a deep breath.

“Will you marry me?” Dave said, while staring into Heidi’s eyes. Heidi didn’t have to think about it. Dave was everything she was looking for in a man and more. He was truly someone every girl dreamed about.

“I would love to be your wife,” she responded.

The highly anticipated wedding between Dave and Heidi would become the biggest event of the year. The party was filled with celebrities, dressed in the most precious gowns.

“There are a lot of pretty girls around,” Heidi said to Dave.

“I have no doubt there are a lot of gorgeous women around,” Dave said. “But, although I can’t see, I’m also sure that compared to you, they all disappear like snow in the sun.”

Heidi blushed, but what Dave had said, was no lie. Despite all the beauty around, no girl could compare herself with Heidi. They all paled in comparison to her. Her radiating good looks took every man’s breath away.

“Let’s go outside,” Dave said to Heidi. “I have a surprise for you.” They both went outside.

“Remember how you told me you’ve lost the lottery?” Dave said. Heidi nodded. “Look at the clouds.”

Just as Dave had finished speaking, planes dropped out of the clouds and released 1,000,000 roses over their mansion.

“A rose for every dollar that you’ve lost,” Dave said. He turned towards Heidi, when she didn’t respond, and touched her face. He felt the drop of tear that ran through her face.

“Why are you crying?” Dave said.

“It’s nothing,” Heidi said. “I just can’t believe this is really happening. After all the hardship that I’ve been through..........I always believed that someday I would be rewarded for my good deeds. It’s just so ironic that a car accident would change things after another car accident had killed my parents and started my miserable youth.” She wiped her tears away.

“But in the end,” she smiled, “it was all worth it.”

Indeed it was for Heidi, because Dave would prove to be the perfect husband for her or any other girl for that matter. Their tale of love at first sight would forever be remembered by people, even after they had long passed away. Even to this day, people still remember and talk about Heidi and Dave, who had found one another under different circumstances and who would go on to live a long and happy life.

--o--

Click on Part 1 or Part 2 for what happened previously in this series.

The Unknown 1

Its been ten years since the great onslaught that swept through the land. Thousands of people were struck down by the savage attack of a force previously unknown. Everyone, including the armed forces, seemed unable to end the siege that held the country hostage. Finally, as the situation became desperate and faced with total annihilation, the tide turned with a timely discovery by a group of brilliant scientists. The scientists injected the virus into a few captured species and set them free. The infected quickly spread the disease throughout the entire population. After a couple of days, their ranks were decimated, effectively ending their assault. Only a handful of the once mighty force remained. These few fled and were not seen again. Everything had returned to normal. At least, that is how it seemed..........

To be continued