Okay, I’m not a fan of KISS, I just like the lyrics.

Artemis was standing at a cliff, entwined in a tangle of his reverie that he could not break free of. How he wished he could forget everything…

Out of love, there’s nobody around

all I hear is the sound of a broken heart.

Out of time, there’s no more waiting for you

Now the hurting’s through a new day starts.

A new day starts indeed, except it has no meaning without her. Holly. Holly, Holly, Holly. The hurt wasn’t through, though. It would never be through. The sharp stinging pain of rejection still stung as much as the year before. Of course, they could never be together. Humans could never co-exist with faries. The lamb hang not with the lion.

And I feel a change in my life,
I sailed into dark and
endless nights
And made it alive

Holly had envoked a drastic change inside of him. The feeling of love was too much for him to describe. Being able to share his secrets, his past, his pain had released him from the prison of his own soul. There was someone else he could relate to…the experience of losing a father…the faith of colleagues…and more. He was no longer the selfish boy that would have harmed for his personal gain.

Everybody’s got a reason to live, baby
Everybody’s got a dream and a hunger inside
Everybody’s got a reason to live,
but it can’t be your love

Holly could never be his. The realization had hit him. She was pretty, athletic, smart…she could pick any man she wanted, why would he want him? A pale, skinny, unathletic mud boy who had imprisoned her for his own gain. He was probably just a scab in her memory now. A scab that would fade away with time. Artemis never stopped thinking of her. He thought about her as he worked, ate, and slept. Holly completed him. His soulmate, or at least to him…

Out of touch, with myself for so long,
now a feelin’ so strong comin’ over me
Down the line, there’s a lesson I’ve learned
You can love and get burned, if it has to be

The memory was as alive and fresh as that very day… it washed over Artemis, drowning him, never letting him go.

“Um…Artemis?”

“Yes, Holly?” She seemed extremely uncomfortable.

“I…er…have something to tell you…we…can’t go out anymore.” Artemis did not reply. He knew all along that he wasn’t good enough.

“We’ll still be friends, though…” Holly and Artemis both knew that they could never be just friends. No matter what, they would always be something more

“Well…I’m so sorry. It’s for the best…goodbye” Artemis just stared back at her, watching her leave. Why, why didn’t he run after her?! Why!?

And I see a change in my life,
and I’m not alone when I’m strong inside
And I realize

Holly had an unbreakable hold on him, Artemis realized. But why did she have to take that wonderful thing away? Did she not realize how much she meant to him? Or…she didn’t care. She had no reason to…

Unconciously, Artemis took a step forward, having Holly’s last word goodbye ring through his brain. No amount of math, no ruler could ever measure his feelings. If she hadn’t left…oh, the future they could have had…

One measly word had ruined it all…

 Everybody’s got a reason to live, baby
Everybody’s got a dream and a hunger inside
Everybody’s got a reason to live,
but it can’t be your love

One word had broken him, unrepairable.

Everyone needed a Reason for their existence. Without it, they were better off gone. No one wanted a broken wheel that could not move a cart. No one wanted a smashed vase that couldn’t hold flowers. No one wanted a hammer that was bent beyond repair…

 Dazed, Artemis took another step, and pummled down to the waves below. He had lost his Reason, and forfeited his place in the world…

Okay, not exactly great, but I’d LOVE reviews! If I get enough, I’ll put Holly’s chapter in as well! 

Some other stories by Star Jinin:

• Short Update!
• Beautiful Lie
• The Unknown Audience
• Death Note
• Untimely meeting ;)