Heartache’s Mosaic: The Unseen Threads of Resilience

In the midst of a scorching summer, an elderly gentleman returned from his Portuguese escapade, a spot his kids swore by after reveling in its beauty. But alas, he returned ailing, doctors scratching their heads despite weeks of poking and prodding in the hospital.

Cue his daughter, a paragon of devotion, swooping in to nurse him back to health. Days turned dire, and it seemed like the old man was on his last lap, pining for his girlfriend’s company to ease his struggle.

Yet, fate played its wicked hand one Friday afternoon. His girlfriend, all sugar-coated charm on the phone with the daughter, dropped the bombshell: she wasn’t coming. The old man, crestfallen, sat in the garden, suggesting his daughter hit the gym’s pool since she loved swimming.

Later, when the daughter returned, she found her dad chatting away with his girlfriend, who casually dropped, “Oh, your daughter wasn’t around; she could’ve joined.” Translation? The girlfriend wasn’t too keen on the daughter’s vibe. But this daughter? Classy move. Shut down the girlfriend’s request for future visits sans her presence with a “none of your business” zinger.

Days dragged on, with the old man’s health doing the limbo. Then came that night when the daughter defied her dad’s wishes and dialed the ambulance. Cue a whirlwind of gloomy days, but then, a glint of hope as the siblings orchestrated a move to a better clinic, cueing the comeback trail.

Come Christmas, the old man, not quite up for a trip, found himself at the girlfriend’s daughter’s place. Meanwhile, the siblings jet-setted off – one chasing Thailand’s sunny delights, the other lounging on a Portuguese island.

And so, curtains closed on the year. Each found solace in their favorite spots, bidding goodbye to the chaos with a hearty “Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.”

Something new – Part II

Chapter II from the book Blossom Hill

Ten o’clock in the morning, Mia is sitting at her desk at university. Luckily, she got a seat, standing right now would be hell. She had had just three hours sleep and in about half an hour, they have to give the presentation about a new interior design. The three of them have to present their latest ideas. They have worked it out on a computer. Mia has the final part. Actually, the first girl talks for over fifteen minutes; Chris presents the second part, but he doesn’t stick to his topic and takes over Mia’s part also. They are marked 50 % on presentation and now almost nothing is left for Mia to say about the project. Chris has already spread out all of the design ideas, including showing the plans, while Mia is just staring at Chris wondering why he takes her part, thinking, What should that be, doesn’t he get it? So far, everyone is impressed by the demonstration.

Now it’s Mia’s turn to fill fifteen minutes while the original presentation time is already over and everything has been said. She’s speechless and totally pissed with Chris. Taking a deep breath, she closes her eyes for a second, stumbling: “Please give me any idea to make this time up, what’s missing here, apart from covering the cost?” But the presentation is not about financial business plans. It’s about the design and bringing in innovations, and she starts: “So this is how it looks when you do the traditional planning, and everything is solidly constructed.” She points to the living room. “And the colors are chosen for a decent design, right? But don’t you think there is something missing, something called ‘life’? When I look at this, I guess I would get kind of depressed after half an hour with these walls, wouldn’t you? So, the idea is, bring some life in from the pictures to the walls, either with themes according to the seasons or you can choose to program your own. It goes like this: a lighting installation that allows you to beam pictures or videos including sound. The main beamer to the huge wall of the living room and one flexible where you can choose where to beam on to and you have the options of the timing of course. There will be a pre-set theme with fireplaces, so you can beam your fire on the wall, a nature walk, an ocean, or you can run skiing impressions for winter time and some Copacabana, or rooftop nights for summer themes.”

She takes another deep breath, spreading her installation ideas. The fifteen minutes are almost over, and this idea is new. No one has mentioned it yet. She finishes her presentation: “Of course, you will also be able to control the lighting, water, and heating system. So this gives you control. For example, you can run your bathwater by simply pressing a button. You can dim your lights with pre-set-themes—which of course is also beneficial when you are on holiday, you can create your “Kevin home alone” scenario from your holiday apartment or a café in the city, wherever you are and in addition keep your home protected from any intruders.”

Some of her classmates raise their eyebrows, but the tutor seems to find her idea appealing. Chris stared at Mia. Of course, this was nothing they had discussed before. The decent color scheme, to keep the interior in a natural balance, was her idea, so that’s why she did not hesitate to make it now look boring and rather pale and colourless and light it up with a new idea. Chris seemed unimpressed with Mia’s new ideas. He had been the first one not to play fair, so why should she bother about it now. Although they received high marks, she knew now to be more careful about who to choose to work with and be better prepared next time when it involved teamwork.

Mick actually liked the idea and asked for suggestions on how he could incorporate it into one of his projects. They went out for lunch to meet Mac and Versa who just laughed when Mia told the story about Chris who had taken advantage of the situation and how she had turned it. “He’s such a pussy.”

Mac was gossiping about him and he started telling weird stories about Chris—how he had made it through his exams and getting bonus points. The afternoon was just a boring lecture about legal stuff with loads of paragraphs no one wanted to know about, despite the fact that in certain situations it might be important.

Read the full story here

“Love’s Philosophy,” by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine?—

See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou kiss not me?

Hurricanes

“Love’s Philosophy” by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822)

The fountains mingle with the river
And the rivers with the ocean,
The winds of heaven mix for ever
With a sweet emotion;
Nothing in the world is single;
All things by a law divine
In one spirit meet and mingle.
Why not I with thine?—

See the mountains kiss high heaven
And the waves clasp one another;
No sister-flower would be forgiven
If it disdained its brother;
And the sunlight clasps the earth
And the moonbeams kiss the sea:
What is all this sweet work worth
If thou kiss not me?

A night out & Whatever

Sisley: ”Oh, it’s Marc from the Newquay Weekend, I guess.” Mel answering: “Yes, exactly, and guess what else, he’s coming over for the weekend, there’s the Belushi’s opening party he is on the invitation list, and he’s asking me to join him. You want to come down and join us there will be many prominent people there I heard Madonna is on the guest list, too.

Sisley: “Wow, what a guest list, I will see. Is it Friday or Saturday?” Mel: “The party is on Saturday”. Sisley: “Well then I could make it, yes I will be with you, London is always a good idea.” Mel, cool than see you on Saturday.” Sisley puts the phone down.

Tina who was standing there listening the phone conversation with big ears: “Oh, guest list? Who you’re going to meet, your Robby? I thought we are going to the Bar One on Saturday. But this sounds like you will be in London next weekend?”

Sisley: “Well you heard right, we can go the week after. Or if you like tonight, I’ll be free. We could ask your Trainee Sue to join but please don’t ask the other girl the finance trainee. I took them the weekend to Liverpool and she was acting so stupid no matter what I suggested she always wanted to go somewhere else even Sue was bothered, and you know her. Normally nothing can disturb her patience but even for her it was too much.

Tina: “Well I promised Phil to learn with him for his examination but okay, I tell him we can do this tomorrow, then we can go to Bar One tonight.

 

It’s a quarter past 9 pm and the three girls Tina, Sue and Sisley sitting in the Bar. Tina drinking her third Lager, Sisley just ordered a Gin Fitz and Sue is having a Pina Colada.

Jack passes the girls table giving a “bussi, bussi kiss” one on each of Tina’s cheek than looking at the two girls “Oh, hello ladies, I see you’re enjoying your drinks, but what’s a night out without meeting the right man?” He blinks to Sisley: ”So here I am!”

Sue rolling her eyes thinking ‘Oh, no! What kind of jerk must that be, making an announcement like that.’ Sisley smiling at Jack: “Well, we all met the right man already, Sue is married and her man comes over next week, Tina’s man is studying and I’m meeting my Mr Right next weekend in London.

Sue adding: “It seems like all the right man are somewhere else but here, so the question is who are you?” “Well, Ladies I’m the man who made the interior of Tina’s beautiful flat.” Sisley: “Oh wow, it’s really fresh and lively great color choices. You couldn’t leave the flower pattern out, could you? I actually thought, it looks just like an IKEA show room.”

Jack: “Oh, thank you, yes she wanted something to lift up the mood for those many rainy days here up north but she still loves a bit tradition! Have you seen the kitchen and the bedroom by the way?” Sisley: “Oh, yes, it’s a bit a wild one, with some safari patterns.” Sue adds: “Yes, for whatever taste but mine.”

Jack turning towards Sue: “Why, do you prefer a more exclusive style for your taste with a bit more, leather and  as cold as you are, steel?” Sue answering: “I guess that’s none of your business, Jack!”

Jack: ”Okay girls I got to move on Jil is waiting for me she asked me to help her with some suggestions for a new interior for her new flat here in Manchester. So I will see how I can do my best to add some live to her new space. Was nice meeting you, ladies.”

Sue looking at Tina: “Who the hell is this, he talks like he’s the solution to any problem. Does he has a potency problem?” Tina laughs out loud: “Oh, Sue, you really hit home.” Sue: ”What do you mean?”

Tina flashing a bright smile then starts explaining: “It’s a while ago now, but when he had decorated my apartment the first time and the bedroom was ready he had spent the night there and we were going really wide but suddenly he was screaming like hell but not for pleasure. Anyway, the night ended that he had to go to the hospital.”

The two girls Sue and Sisley looking at each other, pressing lips together for keeping themselves from bursting into laughter than in a Chor: “What? Are you kidding” Tina replying: “You know girls I’m not the skinniest, light-weight.” Sue and Sisley rolling their eyes.

Tina adds: “Yes, it took him about six month to recover but now you hear all the woman how impressive he is and what great job he does. But you won’t ever see him with a girl-friend. So for a serious relationship forget him.” Sisley and Sue are going over to the Bar. Sisley:” Do you believe that story, how could this happen?” Sue giggling: ”Oh, she on top must be really a heavy job. But I don’t know, maybe she made the story up because she couldn’t land on him and he went for someone else.”

Sisley’s phone making a birdy tweeting sound. She received a whatsapp message from Ben a guy she had met on a wedding just a week before she had moved over to the UK.

She reads the message that is displaying a kissing couple another one with a romantic moon and below a text “I’m feeling better when I hear from you and kiss you Good Night.” Sisley looks up at Sue: “And here’s another one.”

Sue asking Sisley again: “What, do you really believe this?” Sisley still giggling and replies: “Whatever!”

Short Story – London Calling

Sisley a young graduate who had a job offer near Manchester and took the whole tour from Italy to her new home by car had planned to make a stop in London to meet with some friends earlier from school.

One of her friends Mel had lately moved to North London and another friend Nicole would fly in for the weekend so all three would spend the weekend together.

At three o’clock she arrived and parked the car near her friends flat in a small Road in Islington.

She called her friend who was still at work, who gave Sisley an address where she could meet her. Sisley took a cap one of those typical London caps which was better than taking the own car to the City at the rush hour.

At four she arrived at the agreed meeting point. Mel was already waiting outside the office. Sisley paid the cap and got off. They haven’t seen each other for a while it must have been more than two years since they last met.

Sisley was hugging her friend and Mel was screaming for joy. Then they moved on getting something from the shop and back to North London to Mel’s flat.

At seven Nicole from Italy arrived. For tonight they had planned to go out: Starting in a SOHO pub where they would meet some of Mel’s colleagues and later on, they would join a party in a club.

When the girls arrived at their first destination of the night, Mel’s colleagues were already in the pub and had ordered the first round. One of them was impressed asking: “Wow, you flew in from Italy just a few hours ago and you took all the way from Italy by even driving on the left side, you girls are really tough.”

At eleven they moved on to the Club where they had a special party. The music that was playing was a mixed house, some soul, and R&B. They got some drinks and started dancing. It didn’t take long, and they got an invitation for another round of drinks from the lads standing next to them.

It turned out the guys came from Leeds and they actually were the Leeds football team who had a game here and were now having their triumph party in the club. Nicole was excited, and she immediately got close to one of the Leeds-Team players.

Sisley and Mel could bet who Nicole would spend the night with and they probably wouldn’t see her for the rest of the weekend.

Saturday morning Mel and Sisley were in deep sleep when at six o’clock in the morning Mel’s phone rang. It was Nicole asking for the address again and if she could come in now. Something with the Leeds guy she had met on the party before had gone wrong. Once she had opened his hotel room she had found out that there was one too much in the room actually more than just one too much. The guy didn’t invite only Nicole but two more girls were already waiting there and a threesome or more wasn’t Nicole’s idea of one-night stand.

The girls got up at eleven and all could have had a couple more hours of sleep. Somehow the excitement for some shopping on Oxford street was stronger than sleep as there was another party for Saturday night announced and they had to get some topnotch outfits.

They got ready for their shopping tour starting at Morgan, Kookai, Topshop, left side of Oxford Street up and the right side back down, a short coffee break at Nero’s and back to North London. For dinner, they chose PizzaExpress that was always a good choice and you knew what you would get. The girls talked about old times and how great this City was, what cool guys they had met the night before.

Back to the flat now they had to hurry up to get ready, dressed in their party outfits and a good makeup had to do as they all had the dark shadows from last night under their eyes.

Sisley loved this City and asked Mel if she could stay a few days longer as she would start her new job only on Thursday. Mel agreed, and Sisley called her Hotel to change her booking that she would arrive three days later. Partying all night long this was really a fantastic club, full of famous people, everyone looked amazing and they had live singers, Go-Go’s and they were asked to sit in the VIP area, Neil was already there with some guys and they all danced the night away.

Early in the morning Sisley and a good looking guy who had introduced himself as Rob were standing at the stage screaming into the mic “Rock me, baby…” Than Sisley got a Solo dance part, the crowd was screaming, the champagne was still floating over some body parts and Mel’s hair meanwhile had changed to a sexy wet look. Some flashlights went through the room which eventually would make the title picture of a favorite daily.

At almost four o’clock in the morning Mel and Nicole came over to Sisley asking for going back to the apartment. Sisley and the guy she had sung with “rock me” and danced with all night were hanging close together they quickly exchanged phone numbers than Sisley kissed the guy goodbye on his cheeks and joined the two girls for leaving the club. Nicole decided without further ado to join the cute guy she had danced with and who was already sitting in a Taxi waiting outside the club, while the other girls chose the taxi behind.

At this point, Sisley didn’t even know who she was hanging at the club with and whose number she just had gotten. Only the next morning she would find out that this was that Roby – a famous star, who she had partied with when she saw the “Sun’s” daily newspaper front cover displaying Roby, her friends and her with the Headline “Roby rocks it!” and a more detailed description about the Rockstar.

TO BE CONTINUED

Love #quote

“Love is more than just a game for two, two in love can make it.” Nat King Cole

All Power

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