Wrong Person, Write Love.

Prose 023: Live On.

***

"I really thought, writing for someone who doesn't appreciate poetry is the worst. And so, I wrote for someone who loved them more than anything else. And then I realized-- it doesn't matter if you're appreciated or not, or loved or not. If they want to leave, they will leave.

And you will just keep on writing."

— Aries Writes

***

"Tell me, how were you able to forget about your first love?"

I tried my best not to frown when my friend suddenly asked me that question. I kept my smile and took a deep breath before looking away from him and staring at the view in front of us instead.

I don't really like seeing my friend so devastated—and right now he looked really terrible and hurt. I was so taken aback; we were just talking about funny quotes, really. But I knew I had to tell him something so he'd stop over thinking. I am well aware that nothing that I say or do would help ease the pain, but I'd like to at least keep those questions haunting him at bay even just for a moment.

"Your question caught me off guard," I honestly told him. He cracked an obviously fake laugh. "Your eyes say it all," he said.

"Hmm... well, all I can say is that I never really did much at all. I just went back to doing the things that used to make me happy before. I read a lot of books, watched a lot of movies, and wrote a lot of letters and poems... I... spent time with people who make me happy."

When I looked at him, he was just staring in front of him and looked as if he's thinking deeply. I heaved a deep sigh, knowing that I didn't really helped much at all.

"But you know, no matter how much we try to distract our self from those feelings of... regret, or pain, or resentment, there'll just be moments at night or when we're alone that makes us remember them all at once."

"But that's okay. I think that just shows that you were able to care deeply for someone even though you know they can't be yours. Real feelings just don't go away. Just let them be there and you'll be surprised one day that they aren't that overwhelming anymore."

He finally looked at me, tears welling up from his tired eyes. "Can time really do that?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "No one knows for sure. But what else can we do? The world won't stop just because you aren't ready to smile again just yet. But no matter what happens, even if you still have those tears on your eyes... you have to live on."

For the first time ever since I met him, he shed his tears. I just stayed silent and sat beside him with my eyes closed, praying that he may soon find genuine happiness again.

Back then, I didn't know how I am supposed to tell him that I haven't really even moved on yet.

Who would believe the words of a hypocrite like me, right?

But... I had to say those words.

I also needed to hear it.

Because just like everybody else, I know I have to live on, too.

- Aries Writes

Art by Henn Kim.