They risked it all for love.

"What is it that you want in a relationship? And please, be as descriptive as you can be" He asks with a smooth barritone that rings bells of pleasure in my ears and other places I dare not to mention I ponder on the thought for a moment then I look at him "I want to be respected, I want stability and commitment, I want to be able to build a life with someone, to have them cherish, protect and love me. I want honesty and I want to get married and have a family." I stop and chuckle, feeling all kinds of silly, with the way he's looking at me. I can't tell if he's thinking that I'm too wishful given the era that we live in where people are quick to deceive each other and dive from one partner to the next. Commitment really does seem like a thing of the past. "I want a family, I want to settle down, get married, provide for and protect my wife as I should. I also expect respect, honesty, loyalty and transparency" he says and it almost sounds like we are negotiating terms of a deal "And love"I add "Love..." he says slowly like it's his first time hearing of the word, it almost sounds foreign coming from him "Yes, I want to be loved" "What is love, exactly?"

"For a place called Paradise City, this island sucks. I don't think a single day has gone by that I haven't thought about stabbing the shit out of myself," he said. "Especially since I'm forced to live with you every second of every day." "Sh. I'm trying to science," I said, not looking up from my binoculars. "See anything interesting?" "Not really. My vision's a little clouded from the fog and rain clouds you constantly emit." He laughed. "You never fail to amuse me, Rea." "But you just said-" "I just said you make me want to stab myself. Interpret that however you'd like." With a love for whales and all life (besides maybe humans), Reagan Winebrenner had never even seen an ocean until her senior year in high school. But the moment she saw her first humpback, she knew she had found her passion and future career. A few years later and an invitation to Paradise City in hand, Reagan has her entire summer laid out for her, working on the project of a lifetime. But with five other students completing their projects as well, will they discover something worthwhile, or will they end up a psychology lesson for future generations? A New Adult Watty Winner 2019

inheritance /ɪnˈhɛrɪt(ə)ns/ noun a thing that is inherited. "he came into a comfortable inheritance" Similar: legacy bequest endowment birthright estate heritage bestowal

"May I join you?" He sat down before I even said anything, I looked at him and carried on with what I was doing. "Want to hear a fun fact?" "My sister used to work at this place, she loved working here, she met the people she loved here" He said while looking around the place. "I wasn't ready you know? Like she was here and now she is just gone. Forever" I let out a sarcastic laugh Me" I know what you mean" I ordered four more tequilas, and paid for them. "Fuck life" He smiled, I pushed two tequilas his way and downed mine. Me" I have to go, it was nice meeting you sir" I pat his back and then grabbed my things. "You from England?" "The accent" I nodded Me" Well I'm from Cape Town but I moved to England when I was 6 years old with my Aunt." He also got up from his chair "Enjoy your vacation" I shrugged Me" I'm actually here for a funeral and my brother is getting married two weeks after that" He laughed "Isn't there a movie about that?" I laughed too "There is, I really have to go. It was nice meeting you" He said Me" Goodnight" He smiled "Goodnight" I laughed because Qhama really didn't recognize me and I feel stupid, because in a room full of people. He would be the only person I recognize, I guess I don't matter anymore.

prologue Grief /ɡriːf/ Learn to pronounce noun 1. intense sorrow, especially caused by someone's death.

Words We sat on opposite sides of the room, she was asleep. I think he was exhausted, so was I,but we both didn't want to sleep. We couldn't sleep, maybe a bit scared that if we close our eyes then she will be gone. Nathan"I'll ask the nurses if they can organize a bed for you" Me" Am fine here" He didn't argue, for once he didn't try to control the situation. "You can get one for yourself" Nathan" I'll sleep next to her" For the next two days we spent waiting for her to wake up. Each day felt like a huge battle that we were losing, it felt like she was gone and maybe we both knew she was gone but we didn't want to admit it. Days turned into weeks, Nathan and I refused every suggestion the doctors made. Some days they said she was improving, would be taken to surgery then they would discover something new. It just felt like nothing was working, and our options were limited. Me" I can't stay here" He didn't answer me, I grabbed my things and went to the door. "Don't give up" He whispered, I turned around and looked at him. Me"I need to bring her toys here, I need to bring Mr Elephant, she needs her toys here." "I just need..." I bit my bottom lip fighting the tears "I'm sorry for everything" Pulling up in our drive way, my mind took me back to when Nate and I moved in here. The house has changed over the years, we have also grown up in a lot of ways. We were happy, we thought we had it all figured out and it turns out we knew nothing. I also never imagined myself here, in this house with him. Maybe subconsciously I know I don't belong here, maybe I am the reason my daughter is fighting for her life right now. My bad luck, why did I think I could be happy?. I drove back to the hospital and Nate was sleeping, I put the sandwich on the table then Mr Elephant next to Claire. Looking at them, I couldn't help but reminisce about the first time I met Nathan and how we got to this point in our lives. !

My story matters. I am often judged by what I do, as if being a prostitute is some character trait. #### Fiction The places mentioned here have nothing to do with the story.

Prologue " I love fearlessly and I want to be loved the way I love. I am worth it, and because I know my worth I don't know how to settle for temporary pleasure or love. So please don't bother me, unless you are planning on loving me the way I deserve to be loved." We both stared at each other not saying a word, afraid to speak next because whatever is said next sets everything in motion. " You should go" I said walking towards the door then opened it. He cleared his throat, then grabbed his jacket mumbling something under his breathe; " See what happening right now? Where we are right at this moment is all your fault" He said his ocean blue eyes staring at me shimmering with tears; " You wouldn't know love because you don't even love yourself. You are the problem Zoey, no one else but you"

He needed a fresh start and she needed a distraction from the world