Do you remember, in December, how we swore we'd never change? Even though you're leaving, that our feelings would always stay the same?
Well, I do.

I am so sorry my dear.
This is all my fault.
I should have listened.
And now because of me, our lives will never be the same and I will never forget what I've done to you.
So all I can say, hope, wish dearly...is that you'll one day forget about me and move on because I'm not worth crying about, but I know you won't forget.
I'm sorry.

What is there to do when you can't exactly die? There's no purpose in life if you can't seem to find something to do?
Can't I just leave this world? I wish. I'm obviously done with my time here...so why bother?

Its dark past always radiates a shadow across the once forgotten city. Ancient inhabitants who roamed the great land are long gone. Over time the never ending modernized towers of new city had erupted from the ground, destroying the dark woodlands while replacing it with a mechanized gleaming forest of steel and glass. Perhaps the new technology is good for the land. People move on in life. People forget. However, one thing is known. You can never get rid of the history.

It was a beautiful day and the sun is just beginning to dip into the horizon sending an entire army of shadows onto the floor as the sunlight slowly fades away. The wind picks up and gently carries away germinating seeds, crushed leaves and life's problems. Someone shoves you as they frantically run the opposite direction and you watch their body disappear into the grey city. People seem to always pick up their pace as they race home before darkness sets in. For some reason, you noticed that every night people never want to stay outside to enjoy the cool, crisp air of the beautiful city and decided on the fact that people have too little time on their hands to worry about the night air. Looking up, orange and pink replaces the light blues of the sky and tiny stars twinkle in the far distance casting a beautiful array of different colors.

I'm going to enjoy the sunset," you think to yourself smiling. "I have no idea why day after day, night after night, people of this gosh darn city never seem to slow down and enjoy life. It's wonderful to live.

Gaining your sense and returning to reality, you notice that you've just got yourself into a dilemma. Where in the world have you wandered? No longer are the streets brightly lit from the setting sunlight. No longer are the roads brushed clean. No longer do you know where you are.

Twisting scrap metal towers create dark grotesque shapes against the disgusting brick wall. Sewer man holes lay overflowing, a repulsive odor making its way while staining the air with its wretched stench. Darkness really starts to set as the beautiful colors of the sky disappear. Even the large city-powered streetlight is broken because no person in the entire city wants to replace its old bulb however, a small lantern hanging from the top of a fire escape gives the only source of light and warmth. Aged, dirty, tattered fabric hangs from long lines crossing across the buildings in a delicate web. It seems like the web is the only means of connection in this squalid part of town. Panic races through your body as you frantically run out of the tiny city corner, only to find yourself deeper in the forest of reeking disease. "There's no way out" you breathe. "No way out." Running. No, sprinting across the city hearing your heartbeat grow in your ears, you trip over a large rock and tumble into another disgusting corner of the darkness. Hiding now. Hiding from the darkness. You huddle into a corner to wait everything out.
This is going to be a long night.

Something warm illuminates the air as you slowly open up from your tightly curled fetal position. Rubbing your eyes you ask yourself, "Is it day time?" Birds chirp from the wires suspended above while a warm breeze rolls in scattering the leaves and shifting the suffocating air. Taking a deep breath, you stand up and look around. The sun has, in fact finally shown itself.

Although the small part of town wasn't as horrible as nighttime, it was still filthy and uncared for. It seemed like only the dirt-poor of society lived among the disgusting rubble and rats. Muddy disease-ridden puddles lined the side of buildings along with piles of decomposing trash. Graffiti covered the rundown brick walls with profane language and strange images. One image was odd…odder than the rest of them. As you step closer to examine the piece of artwork, you notice its grotesque and dark visual effects. The picture had an image of a fire surrounded with small hut-looking buildings. In the middle of the fire was a representation of a burning body.

What in the world is this?" You ponder to yourself. "Who in their right mind would draw something like this? I mean…I understand this area isn't the best place in the world, but this is just wrong.
Yes. It is wrong.
The voice came from behind you. Screaming like a lost toddler, you flip around and throw yourself against the wall with your arms up in defense.

PLEASE!" You scream. "I'm sorry! I know I'm not supposed to be here, but please forgive me because I'm new to this city and I got lost!
He laughs. He laughs a maniacal laugh only someone with dark intentions would laugh. You run. You run out of that area like no other, the man's laughter slowly fading away with your increased distance.

Alas. You believe you're far enough away and collapse onto the curb of a busy street with exhaustion as passerbys stare at you with confusion. Looking up, you realize you're back into a greater part of the city. A part where you know you can stay safe.
Never again will you stop paying attention to your location.
Never again will you venture out into the darkness alone.
Never again.

A few years pass.
As you're happily humming to your favorite song while strolling through the city with your iPod, you glance another graffiti drawing on the wall near your favorite bookstore. Confused and angry, you walk up to the vandalism wondering why on Earth someone would ruin such a cute little part of town with repulsive graffiti. While taking a second look at the piece, you can't help but to remember the symbols.
Then it hit you.
Those years ago, when you were lost in the dark part of the city nearly attacked by some deranged man, this was similar to the graffiti piece you once saw. It had the same construction. The same burning body. Okay. Now you're scared out of your wits.
What is this doing here? Why is it everywhere I go?" You whisper to yourself, eyes wide backing away.

An old man steps out from behind the building and once again, you scream. He hushes you and smiles kindly. You can't help but to notice at his one problem. Glancing quickly at the man's missing arm, you narrow your eyes and back away with distrust. He had long snow white hair, a once-white tattered shirt that hung loosely from his shoulders and torn black jeans but despite his peculiar appearance, he had a sincere smile.

You want to know about him?" he says pointing to the body in the middle of the fire. "I can tell you if you want. I know you live in this city and if you're going to stay, I believe you should know your town's history …because you can't change what happened in the past."

-insert crazily long story here-

The town's dark past haunts you as you walk home. "How could that have happened?" You think to yourself. "That's utterly upsetting. I feel sorry for the guy but I truly doubt he still wanders this city because that's just absurd.

You begin to ponder about believing what the old man just told you because the legend could have been just a folk tale intended to scare everyone. Then again, before night falls everyone seems to rush home and shut themselves up and it seems as though people are afraid of their city's history. "Hmm..

The sun slowly disappears from the sky as you walk over to the graffiti drawing. Staring at the body in the middle, you scoff at its hilarity.

It's not funny, a voice in the background whispers.

I know, but honestly…do you think that this entire history actually happened? Because it seems very unlikely. I don't think all these people were alive during that time. Don't yo-" His deep scarlet eyes glare at you from the shadows as you drop your drink. Frozen in time, you just stare into the darkness as the malicious eyes disappear and an entire body emerges from the darkness. He steps under the street light and towers a full two feet over your head.

You don't know me at all my friend," he whispers, voice icy.
I-I-I--…" You stammer, unable to find the correct words. Did he just say "friend"? Is he insane? He's is definitely not my friend.It's ok. I won't hurt you like most people will think. Take the time to know me better?
You're still unable to speak correctly and all you want to do is run…run away, but you somehow managed to sit down under the streetlight surrounded by darkness.

har har har.

har har har.

har har har.

I know this city isn't what you expected it to be, but just remember that life is unexpected.
I wouldn't mind another visit though.

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