Heartprints in the Void

in

eath my weight. The tears that stain my cheeks feel cold against my skin, gathering at my chin and dripping onto the hand-writt

did I

, and through my hazy vision, I re-

ly

. From the moment I met you, I knew you were the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. You see, I once dreamt about you. Before we met, I had a dream abou

someday I'd meet you and I'd ask you to marry me. I envisioned a life wher

side me, I wish I could have you for the rest of my life, but I'm not the same man I was w

, live. Live your life to t

n another life, we'll meet again. In another life, where th

ad

my hand, placing it flat over the letter, and as I look down at the shiny diamond ring o

Years

ubbles. It'

Bernard as he wiggles his butt to lower himself onto the dark gray

y. It's never the packing that gets me. Packing? I'm excited for. It's the unpacking that, for the life of me, I

ed the last box, thus ma

head, it d

s eyeing me with anticipation in his eyes

y: we walk to the park so he can g

in my

ve to the doorway, reaching for the leash hanging

d sits, following quickly beside me as I take the first step out. People hardly talk about this, but the

little bit of

yfob over the monitor, and it peeps. I tur

ing and have to take your dog out multiple times daily. Unfortunately, I can't say that I had the luxury of pick

s cardio

n the street. The park is only a block away from my apartment and the gym that I

college for nearly five years, I avoid driving if I have to. I hate to be that

e. In fact, if I never had to leave home, I probably never would. It's not that I don't like people. It's that I don't like st

favorite part about coming to the park is the little food truck that pa

t's that the greatest perk of it is getting to

macros diet, so I feel absolutely zero sha

lap around the concrete trail and he's ready to sit. This is when I get to go up to the fluores

cheerfully,

te my iPhone to the Apple Pay app, ta

lucky if I didn't get yelled at by a customer for something that was out of my control. I guess that really doesn't have anythi

, taking my boba tea as he thanks me k

it on-and lower myself to it. Holding Bubbles' leash between my legs, I pierce the

y fair skin as I think about what tomorrow will

uite literally getting paid to do nothing, hence the 3-year contract. But while I waited, I kept my old job as a technical administrator-for double the income. It wasn't until two weeks ago t

peaking, most things that people are passionate about aren't enough to make a living from. So if you're like me, you settle. You focus on som

doesn't actually feel like you're settling when y

suddenly stain my round glas

time

as I straighten on my feet. With Bubble's leash around

and the sky grows darker. The loose leaves rustling on th

year, is right around the corner. For the first time i

ever snows again

y? You don't mak

standing at the corner of the block. He holds his phon

, talking to you. Why would I do that if I di

g, at best. Dr

ack later. I don't hav

he back of my throat as I sh

sh

colliding with another much larger than mine. I

amiliar, deep, h

s like a split second, scanning his stern features, but he doesn't stop, hardly giving me

ts me in the next second. My heart sinks to the pit of

e promise of the rain falling hard on me. But it hardly fazes me. In fact, were

de