Apologising several times to the girl with a nameless name badge who kept telling me there was no need to apologise, I paid for my blueberry muffins and toffee before heading back outside into the sunshine. The street was busy, and life was everywhere, and yet although it felt good to be part of the hustle and bustle of all things, being around others drained me of what precious energy remained in my possession. I never had much to begin with these days. A poor diet and irregular hours took care of that. Most of the time, what I did have was used up on Meeko’s temper tantrums, bless her. Fitting in was the biggest of burdens; those on the street alongside me seemed to be doing a great job of it, but for me, it gnawed away at my bones. It was the same too for Meeko. In fact, she probably had it a lot worse than I did. She was beautiful and intelligent, and as such, society expected her to travel down an expected path. That she had no interest in walking that path had made things exceptionally hard for her, especially when it came to not meeting her family’s expectations. Her mother, in particular, was less than impressed that her only daughter worked in a café and was dating some bum who harboured absurd dreams of being a writer. People had given up on me a long time ago, however, and as such, there was less pressure on me to perform. Rubbing shoulders with these creatures that outwardly looked the same as me, it seemed that life without them would be a lonely affair, and yet with them, it was an unrelenting struggle—especially if you wanted to live your life on your own terms. Hurrying along not wishing for my toffee to melt, I eyed up those about me secretly wishing to be just like them, while at the same time not-so-secretly enjoying the fact that I wasn’t. There wouldn’t be much to write about if I lived a life already lived, yet you’d be surprised at just how many wished for that very same thing.
A Journal for Damned Lovers UK
A Journal for Damned Lovers US
Categories: Lucid
Author S. K. Nicholas 
We sometimes, find the idenitical things that others are experiencing like we are, and that, is what connects us, making us, a little less, than strangers…
Connection is definitely the key. If we open up a little more, our lives will become richer and less lonely for sure.
You’ve described the life of an artist who doesn’t conform to society’s norms perfectly. Yes, there’s a part that tells us to join the rat race, but then another celebrates individuality. It’s a war. And I loved the way you ended the piece.
That’s very kind of you to say, my friend. I’m so pleased the message resonated with you. It certainly is a war for us, and yet one that’s very much worth fighting for.
I have loved your writing for a long time now, but I’m a lazy reader. Can you have this made into a film so I can watch it as much as I want…please? )❤
Haha. Whenever I write these pieces, or the X and I pieces before them, I always imagine what the scenes would be like if they were a movie. Maybe one day 😉 ❤
and my next question will be…
Who would you choose to play you both?
Ooh, y’know I’m not sure. I always think of people from my personal life when writing. I’m not sure I could pick famous actors for the roles.
Someone better looking than me for the role of “I” though, for sure 😉 x
The writing is the heart of the film. What will or will not happen. Just put your heart on your tongue. What more is there to do?
Exactly 🙂 The only thing to do is to do the only thing worth doing!
And that is ….?
Keep on keeping on.