Invade thy heart

A fresh start

Aurora

It hurts. Physically, not so much. But damn, that heart f*****g hurts. It's been two years, but betrayal, loss, and death have a way of leaving their mark. After two years of being surrounded by their happiness while I wallow in self-pity, I decided I needed a break.

I immediately informed Ariana, my business partneroommate/friend, that I was taking time off from work and this goddamn life for some time. She understands why this is important. She knows it all; in fact, she is the one who suggested that I go on a vacation.

I am a journalist by profession, and Ariana is a film producer. We met in the first week of college and soon became really good friends. After we graduated from Boston University and later got our Masters from Harvard, we worked for different media companies for about a year and a half. Both of us were highly unsatisfied and disappointed after experiencing the corruption of these companies firsthand. We decided to start our own company where she would manage the production aspect, and I would manage the news and content. Our start was rocky, but gradually, we started gaining more attention. At present, I would say that we are pretty successful and accomplished with our company.

For the past two years, I have indulged in working so much that I can now officially be called a workaholic. I personally do not think that being called a workaholic is an insult, no matter what my classmates in 7th grade say. They were low-key stupid anyway.

After a lot of research, I chose the destination of my escapade: Singapore. A country that is environmentally friendly and has good food... Count me down for the trip, brother. I booked my flights for the next day and started packing. Hmph... Finally, I will find some peace away from this hellhole.

One week later

Okay, Singapore is a lot better than I remembered. I was in 6th grade when I last came here with my parents. It was my first official international trip. I went to Canada before that, but I don't reasonably consider that international.

Thinking of my memories of the past used to bring me happiness, but it causes nothing but pain now. Anyway, I came here to enjoy myself and not think about anything else.

After walking on Orchard Road and having a delicious meal inside the nearby Orchard Mall, I took the subway to the beach. It's dark now. The tide was high, and the shining moon created a serene presence. Sitting on the sand, I felt the peace I had wanted for the past few years.

I got up and decided to take a stroll along the beach. I have been doing this every day since I came here. It's weird how being with people can make you feel lonely sometimes, whereas being alone can make you feel fulfilled.

I continue to stroll when I see the hints of a few shadows behind me. My heart started beating faster as I realized the potential of a looming danger. I sped up my pace, but before I knew it, I felt multiple rough hands grabbing me. I scream as I try to fight off these men. Then suddenly, I felt something hit my head, and my world went blank.