Romance
Count your lucky stars ✨
In a world full of uncertainties and unexpected turns, sometimes it takes just one decision to change the course of our lives forever. Such was the case for Emily, a young girl with a heart filled with wanderlust and an insatiable thirst for adventure. Little did she know that her journey to Italy to visit her divorced mother would be the start of an extraordinary chapter in her life.
By RICHARDS DIVINE💜🌸2 years ago in Chapters
A Kiss in an Hour
In the heart of a bustling city, amidst the chaotic symphony of car horns and hurried footsteps, two souls found themselves on a collision course with destiny. It was a hot summer afternoon, and the sun hung high in the sky, casting a golden hue over the streets. Time, it seemed, had slowed to a crawl as the universe conspired to bring these two strangers together.
By Chris Dalyop2 years ago in Chapters
Echoes of Eternity Final
The moon hung low in the inky sky, casting a silvery glow across Emily's cabin. She sat at her easel, the paintbrush trembling in her hand. The room was filled with the soft rustling of leaves outside and the distant hoot of an owl. A melancholy air settled around her, for this was the night she had been dreading—the night when Kael, her lover from another world, would return to his realm, leaving her behind.
By Sweet, Sour, Bitter2 years ago in Chapters
How Things Went From Wonderful to Terrifying.... Content Warning.
My first few years living with Wade were not all awful of course because that is how I got blinded and eventually silenced unbeknownst to me at first. Each and every day was a different day and I learned over the years to watch Wade's body language and to pick up little hints and signs based off what was happening in our lives as to when I could and could not tell him something or what I could and could not say. I knew better and the children knew better than to bother dad right after he woke up as he required at least thirty minutes to an hour before you were allowed to ask any questions or request anything for the day from him. I mean most everyone is a little grumpy when they first wake up but Wade would simply start yelling at you if asked the wrong thing at the wrong time. After that though things were good. At first, Wade helped me around the house and made all the boys listen to me and we all worked together as a team. He told them to respect me because I was their mother/step mother. Wade knew that my love language is acts of service so he would help around the house as much as possible and he doted on my daughter all the time. He was so enthralled with her but he wouldn't take her anywhere with him alone until she was older perhaps around 4 because he always said he wouldn't be able to take care of a baby while out running errands. This always irritated me because I mean I took care of her while doing virtually everything everyday but he always made the excuse that he wasn't good with little kids by himself and he'd told me this from the start so I had no right to be mad. In the very beginning, it started being obvious that although I had a job I could tell that he liked me being home to take care of the house and the kids. I explained to him several times that for one being home all the time made me depressed and that I was a better mother with a job and also that we simply couldn't afford it. I did keep a job throughout our marriage but it always seemed to be something that caused a chip on his shoulder. At first, it seemed he didn't even like me going to hang out with family or friends but I made it clear that I would be going to see my family at least every other week as we had a standing meeting at my grandma's every other Saturday and I was and am very close with my father. He finally gave in a little concerning this but there was a time where I literally went 2 years not speaking to my two very best friends, my sisters because of various reasons but now I can see that one was because he wanted me isolated. I was to care for him, NJ, LJ, AJ and Rayne all day everyday and never focus on anyone else. Although, when we were out and about at a retail store or somewhere he'd always tell me that I never bought anything for myself and I should get something for myself, I always thought of everyone but me, I was so selfless... He was also always sure to tell me everyday that he loved me and that I was beautiful. He loved Rayne so much that he called her his daughter, said that since he had come along while I was still pregnant it was almost like he'd had a hand in helping "make" her and he felt like she was his. He even teared up when he came to see her for the first time after her birth. He even adopted her in 2018 although we both agreed that was the best thing to do we felt and at first Wade seemed excited to adopt Rayne when it came time to he did seem to drag his feet a bit. I wanted to get it done before she went to school so she would learn the right name to write down and although initially it had been his idea as much as mine for him to adopt her suddenly it seemed like "Well, what's the hurry?" but he did go through with it anyway. I now of course regret this decision but you live and you learn. My little Rayne was very sick during the first six months or so of her life and honestly she didn't have a good immune system for the first couple of years of her life and Wade was always supportive of all the time I had to take off work to be with her. However, he never wanted to take off time from his job to stay with her. He claimed it was because he made more so it made more sense for us to lose time from my job where I made less versus his where we could lose potentially more money from him not being there. Anytime I got upset about something or claimed something was unfair I was always told I was just being emotional or not looking at things from his perspective. I was dramatic and although he didn't say it you could tell that every time I cried he found it distasteful and unnecessary. He sometimes would even roll his eyes and say, "Again?" It got to where he did this with my daughter Rayne as well because as it turned out she was quite "emotional" too just like her mother. It became clear after a few years that I was there mostly to be a good wife and raise the children and that was my main purpose according to him. The boys NJ, LJ and I took time forming our bond as they were quite different from my son AJ as far as personality goes but eventually I grew to love those boys as my own. How could I not? Those boys had a rough childhood and it was just the beginning unfortunately. They had seen their mother with different men cheating on their father from what I'd been told, they'd been exposed to all their father's different girlfriends and apparently the party scene quite a bit. Granted, my father had had a few different girlfriends while I was growing up as well but if Wade was moving in with different ones that wasn't stable for the boys and these boys were clingy and wanting affection when I first came into the picture. They needed some TLC and in a bad way. They wanted and craved stability. NJ was such a sweet, good hearted loving child who loved to make people laugh and that boy loved and still does his dad. He has always idolized his dad and that was very obvious from the start. LJ was a rough and roughty child who liked to break everything in his path just to see how it worked. It wasn't that he was a bad child by any means, in fact LJ is one of the sweetest children you'll ever meet but he had no respect for other people's things. I'm not sure if that's because no one ever respected him and his things but because of this behavior it made our bond a little slow to come by but his sweet and caring nature eventually won me over. Not to mention, when Wade and myself got together LJ wanted to go with me everywhere I went. If I was going to my grandma's he came too, the gas station, he hopped in the car. It didn't matter where, LJ was coming with me. I took to calling him my little buddy. Over time, all this turned darker as did everything. NJ started ratting out anything he found to be unacceptable said by myself or my son AJ to Wade and we would literally get into trouble. It would stir up drama and fights within the family. I would get angry that NJ was doing this and Wade would get mad at AJ or myself for whatever lies or twisted words were said about us. It was Wade and his boys against myself and AJ. Wade was constantly trying to get AJ into trouble. I remember a couple of different occasions for reference. Once, Wade wanted AJ to get punished because he said he found my ex's name scribbled on the bathroom wall. His theory was who else in the house would do that? I now, looking back, think Wade did that to set AJ up. I don't remember fully but I don't believe I punished AJ for this but I did question him and I thought at the time that maybe he just missed his dad and that's why he did it. It never occurred to me that Wade would lie about something like that. Second occurrence, I was laying in bed one night and Wade came in there and said that AJ was "throwing ice all over the floor in the kitchen". Now, my son is like his dad and loves to eat just shaved ice so I told Wade that it was probably just accidental and he was making shaved ice and would pick it up when he got done. However, Wade insisted that "No, he's literally taking ice out of the ice bin and throwing it on the floor." Confused as to why he would do that I went and asked AJ about it and he claimed that no, he wasn't doing that. I looked and there was no ice on the floor except maybe one or two pieces. I told AJ to get those when he got done and went back to bed. It was always something like that. It was like Wade was out to get AJ and the only reason I could figure was because of Wade's insane jealousy for my ex and the fact that AJ acted so much like his dad. Wade mocked my ex constantly and even in front of AJ which made him very upset and he would get his boys to join in on the mockery. I will admit that I joined in occasionally but not to the extent that Wade went to and I do regret my part in that now as I see how it affected my son. That was not fair and I realize it was a way for Wade to demean my son and his father. LJ eventually started believing his father's lies somewhat and lost any respect he had for me. He wouldn't listen and neither did NJ to a thing I told them to do. They both argued constantly and LJ took to destroying mine and my son AJ's things or stealing them behind our backs and then lying about it. They never once got punished for the lying or the stealing as it "couldn't be proven." LJ would steal things from my son and take the items to his mother's house so seemingly it had just gotten misplaced or disappeared. At one point, since Wade preferred to work nights it was my job to get the children up and to school in the morning because they were all living with us full time and NJ was having trouble getting up in the mornings. He made us all late a few mornings in a row and one in particular he claimed that he couldn't go to school because he didn't have any clean clothes. By this point, he was a teenager and responsible for washing his own clothes which he knew. He'd gotten up too late to take his shower which he insisted he take only in the mornings and he was mad at me because I had told him to just get some clothes on and come on. I told him to call his dad since he was trying to get out of school even though Wade was at work I felt this was something Wade needed to be called in on since he was giving me such trouble and arguing so much. Wade got angry with me because I'd told NJ to call him at work and literally asked him, "And why are you calling me about this? While I'm at work?" To which NJ replied, " Because she told me to call." as if I was the biggest idiot on the planet. Wade was ultimately just a big bully and even admitted to me that he had been that in school but that he'd changed his ways. It took me so long, too long to realize that he really hadn't changed at all. I'd say around the year 2019 to 2020 is when things really started to change for me and my eyes started to open. That's when the abuse picked up. The more awake I became, the angrier he got.
By Lindsey Altom2 years ago in Chapters
Echoes of Eternity 4
The ancient temple stood before Emily and Kael, its towering stone pillars and intricate carvings a testament to the forgotten civilization that had built it. A hush fell over them as they stepped through the temple's massive bronze doors, which creaked open with eerie deliberation, revealing a dimly lit chamber beyond.
By Sweet, Sour, Bitter2 years ago in Chapters
Becoming A More Loving Person
First Corinthians 13 ends with these familiar words, "And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." Love is also the first fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5. But what is love? Love is probably the most misunderstood word in the world. Part of the problem is that we use this one word to describe a lot of things. We water down its meaning by overuse. I love my wife. I love America. I love pizza. I love my dog. I love you. I'd love to have my back rubbed. We use the word love in so many different ways that is has, literally, lost its meaning. It's difficult to give or receive love when you don't even understand what it is. Now, we need to clear up a couple of popular misconceptions about love. Most people think love is a feeling. It's a sentimental knot in your stomach. A quiver in your liver. An ocean of emotion. True, love does produce feelings, but it is more than a feeling. In a "Peanuts" cartoon, Charlie Brown and Linus are talking, and Linus says, "She was so cute. I used to see her in Sunday School every week. I used to just sit there and stare at her, and sometimes she'd smile at me. Now I hear she's switched churches." Charlie Brown looks up and says, "That'll change your theology in a hurry!" How often we rely on our feelings, and let our feelings motivate us to do all kinds of things we might not normally do. As I said, love produces feelings, some very powerful ones, but it is more than a feeling. Another misconception is that love is uncontrollable. Have you ever said. "I fell in love" - as if you had tripped? We just assume that love can't be controlled. "I can't help it if I'm in love. I can't help myself; I'm in love." Or the opposite: "I can't help myself; I just don't love him anymore." We talk as if love is uncontrollable, but the Bible says love is controllable. In fact, Jesus commanded that we love others. His words indicate that we do have control over whom we love and whom we don't love. Love is a matter of two things: First, love is a matter of choice. The Bible says, "Over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Col. 3:14). Notice those two little words, put on. Love is something we can choose to have. If it were a feeling, we couldn't command it. But we can command a choice. And love is a choice. It is controllable. The Bible also says that love is a matter of conduct. Love is something we do. It is an action, not a feeling. The Apostle John expressed it this way, "Let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth" (1 John 3:18). Too often we love with words or tongue but not with actions. A young man said to his fiancée, "I love you so much I would die for you, my love." She replied, "Oh, Harold, you're always saying that but you never do it." Love is more than words. It's more than feelings. Unlike us, the Greeks had four words to differentiate different types of love: storge, which means natural affection; eros, which means sexual attraction, philia, which means emotional affection or friendship: and agape, which means unconditional, giving, sacrificial love. When the Bible speaks of God's love for us and the kind of love we're to have for Him and for other people, the word is always agape. It's a commitment to act. Do you know it's possible to love someone you don't even like? Remember I said in chapter 2 that in order for God to teach us to love. He puts us around some unlovely people. It's easy to love people who are kind and lovely, but God is going to teach us to love, He'll bring some hard-to-love people into our lives. Now the fact is that our lives are full of people we don't like. We don't like the way some people talk. We don't like the way they act. We don't like the way they dress. But most of all, we tend not to like people who don't like us. I once heard a story about Lady Astor, who did not like Winston Churchill. One day she said, "Winston, if you were my husband I'd put arsenic in your tea."
By Raymark Marcos2 years ago in Chapters
How Things Went From Wonderful to Terrifying.... Content Warning.
In October of 2014 my daughter was born and Wade immediately took over as her father. My ex husband was sort of in and out of his son's life at first and it took the first couple of years after the divorce for him to really get it together so to speak and establish a solid routine with his son. By this time, Wade and myself had married and he had well established himself as my daughter Rayne's father. To back up a little, we married in April of 2015 just 8 short months after initially starting to date. There was pressure from Wade to marry and my family as my family is very conservative Christians and thought it best if we were to live together we needed to be married. In all honesty, I was not ready and I knew then that I was not ready for another marriage but with the pressure from my family and Wade who would even say things along the lines of "Baby, you better put a ring on it." making a reference to the song Single Ladies by Beyoncé. He was joking when he said it but he was also not joking and you could tell that. He proposed to me in November of 2014 which also incidentally was the same month in which my wedding anniversary had been with my first husband. He did so in my grandma's kitchen in front of my grandma so I felt pressured to say yes. I felt I had no choice to take things slow, it was either marry him or lose my house and him. I didn't like either of those choices really but I chose the one that seemed less scary at the time. I knew that I wanted to marry Wade probably, one day, I just wasn't quite ready then but what was the difference between then and a few months and/or a year down the road right? By the time we wed there were already cracks in our foundation but I chose not to see them. He constantly was jealous and told me that I brought up my past too much with my ex husband and that he was afraid I'd never love him as much as I'd loved my ex. Because of this jealousy which I didn't even realize was full on jealousy at the time, I soon became not allowed to speak of my ex in his presence. If I did, it was met with a death glare and very judging eyes. I would be told that I compared everything he did to my ex and that that was not fair to him. I'm not saying that this didn't occur on occasion I'm just simply stating what I lived through all the time, no matter the situation. Also, he did speak of his ex and brought things he'd lived through with her into our relationship frequently. There are certain things I cannot remember and certain things I can and there are things that no longer have a timeline in my mind's eye but simply a tainted memory of things lived through and things learned so I apologize if this comes as a bit scattered at times. I remember when we first got together and started fighting although it did take a few weeks for this to happen that I would have to go to the bathroom to get away from him. I remember I told my co-worker Sue this and she asked if I was okay? I remember thinking "Well, yeah, why wouldn't I be? Wait, should I be worried?". I told her I was fine that he just got a little insistent when arguing and didn't like to let things go so I had to separate myself. Also, there was the other time a local customer who knew of Wade warned me that he had a "temper" and to "be careful". I chalked it up to him just being nosey and it being a small town. I do remember bringing this incident with the customer up to Wade though and I asked Wade what the customer could have meant by that and Wade turned the question around on me by asking me "Well, what do you think he meant?" We then just laughed it off as a nosey customer. Speaking on the jealousy again, I remember one time I was texting back and forth between my granny and my daddy and I had left my phone on the charger on the seat of his truck to go inside for a minute and there was one or two things that they had said which he glanced at my phone and thought he saw, I honestly can't even remember what it was but it got Wade to thinking I was cheating on him and demanded I let him see my phone when I got back outside. I did but he thought I had deleted the message by then and didn't believe me. Also, once, we had just gotten through making love and I noticed that I had a text from a male customer of mine that had been trying to help me get a job. I went to see what the text was and to text him back and Wade went crazy on me saying that I was being disrespectful to him since we had just made love and I tried to explain that it was job related but he wouldn't hear it. To him, I was texting a potential lover right after making love to him and it was a slap in the face he said. So, hopefully all this gives you some context and I'll try to get back to the storyline now. Wade had a problem with addiction to cover up what had happened in his childhood. He used work as a coverup as he was and is still I'm sure a workaholic, he drank too much, he used pills and other substances. When we first got together, Wade told me that he had had a horrible car accident in his early 20's which caused him to have severe back troubles and shortly after that he got hooked on prescription pain medication. He told me that he was off those finally from his own free will because he looked at his boys one day and realized he wanted better for them. So, he told me that's why he drank some to help ebb that addiction. I thought that was so amazing that he could just stop the pills cold turkey like that for his boys. I truly admired him for that. What it took me a few years to realize was that he still was battling addiction just using a different poison....
By Lindsey Altom2 years ago in Chapters
Echoes of Eternity 2
The days in Emily's cabin turned into a whirlwind of enchantment and uncertainty. Kael, the enigmatic traveler from another world, revealed more about Eldoria with each passing moment, his words casting a spell on Emily's heart. It was as though he held the key to a universe of secrets, and Emily was determined to unlock every one of them.
By Sweet, Sour, Bitter2 years ago in Chapters
