Date: Sat, 5 Jan 2019 03:42:59 -0500
From: Hunter Ozzy <openhearts1999@gmail.com>
Subject: Solemn Hearts Chapter 1 (Gay/Young Friends)

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-Ozzy

Solemn Hearts Chapter 1


I walked down the center aisle, crushing airplane peanuts into the carpet
with every step in a race to the exit. We landed in Athens, capital city of
Greece. This was not our final destination, but we're much closer now than
when we left the U.S. yesterday. We were to stay in a resort for a few
weeks while our home finished construction on another Greek island. I don't
remember the name of it, nor did I care to ask my parents. Don't get me
wrong, I love it here! The sandy white beaches and endless sun was a
welcome change of pace from good ol' Northeastern U.S. of A. But, I can't
say I would want to live here.
I'm an only child, as long as you don't consider my dog teddy as one of my
siblings, but let's face it, he is. Being an only child has its perks of
course. For example, I don't wear hand-me-downs, I don't fight anyone over
the bathroom in the morning, and best of all, I don't have to share
ANYthing. Not my room, not my laptop, not my snacks and especially, not my
secrets. This privacy and seclusion comes at a price though, and the
loneliness at times is too much to bear. My parents, pooling together their
intelligent minds and financial resources, came up with an idea to make me
feel better after watching me mope around my pubescent years. "A vacation!"
my mother announced with great zeal. "Pick a place, any place in the world
and we'll go. You've certainly earned it with your grades in school." I was
smart enough even then to realize that the offer had nothing to do with
academics.
I was a B+, A- student my entire life. Good enough to be recognized, but
never putting in the extra effort to be perfect. No, this trip was about
more than grades. My parents noticed the changes in me shortly after I
turned thirteen. I only know this because they didn't hesitate to call me
out on it. "Why so grouchy? Looks like someone is being an Eeyore again.
Can't you just be happy for once!" After awhile, with no changes to my
attitude or behavior, the jokes turned into more serious questions. "Are
you okay? How ya feeling today bud? What can I do to help?" One day, after
being bombarded by their inquisition into my mental wellbeing, I broke down
and cried at the dinner table. I don't know why, I just started to bawl
uncontrollably. My mother, who loved to travel before they had me, must
have been the one to come up with the idea. This vacation was supposed to
take my mind off of things, and it did, for awhile. But when we returned
home, I felt this deep pit building in my stomach and growing deeper every
day. Seeing no progress, my mother decided another vacation was necessary,
and another, and another. Long story short, my parents retired early, and
we've been traveling ever since.
Now here we are, my parent's favorite travel destination, Greece. After
visiting 43 countries across the globe, my parent's decided to buy another
house. There was no competition in their mind. "We can afford it, let's
just pull the trigger." My father encouraged to my mom at the dinner table.
They chose an island. I mean not an ENTIRE island, we're rich but not that
rich. They chose to build a home on a Greek island. When questioning me
about it, I simply shrugged. "I'm cool with whatever." I regret not taking
a stand then and there. You see, while my parents had good intentions
dragging me across the planet with them, their motives eventually became
entirely selfish. It wasn't about keeping me happy anymore, it was about
them living the life they wanted and worked for before they're too old to
enjoy it. I became a piece of carry-on luggage to them, and even as we
traveled the world and met thousands of new people together, I still felt
more alone than ever. I just wanted to stay settled and actually go to
school. I didn't love school, but I wanted the chance to make friends
again.
"Welcome to paradise!" My father announced triumphantly. It was so played
out by now that I cringe every time my parents drool over someplace
immediately after exiting the plane.
"Yeah, this airport sure is paradise. Look at that beautiful kiosk over
there! And the majestic wet floor signs over ther-"
My father quickly snatched me into a playful but firm headlock. "Silence
child. All that sarcasm won't get you far in life." He said as he let me
go, not before ruffling my hair of course.
I hated being manhandled, but I let it go with a deep audible sign and kept
on my course. Through the airport I took in the sights and sounds of
different cultures mingling about. Passing through the crowd, my ears
lingered to every stray conversation; each with their own tone, language
and purpose. From the bold and slow English, to the soft and melodic Greek.
The airport played host to a grand orchestra of language, which I always
found truly fascinating. I spoke a little bit of many languages but sadly,
I'm only fluent in English. Since this is apparently my new home, I guess
Greek will be chance to learn another one in its entirety.
We fetched our luggage, our dog and a quick bite to eat before heading
outside to the town car. Our next destination was the hotel near the coast
of southeastern mainland Greece. In the morning, we'll take another plane
to Santorini, where we'll stay for a week before ferrying over to our new
home. Even with the AC of the car on full blast, I still had to shed my
hoodie to escape the suffocating humidity. When that didn't solve the
issue, I took off my patriots hat as well to let my head breathe. My golden
locks fell to my shoulders. Much to my disdain, strands started sticking to
my forehead and teasing at the corners of my eyes and mouth. My dad
couldn't help but notice my struggle and make his usual comment about
"cutting the mop off" to me. I wouldn't dare follow his advice though. My
surfer hair is my signature! I'm not a surfer, but still!
I sent a few texts to one of the few friends I still keep in contact with.
Ebba, a girl I met in Sweden a few months ago. We became friends pretty
much instantly but on rather weird circumstances. We met at the hotel we
were staying at, she offered to show me around Stockholm so of course I
agreed. Three days later, after a few innocent lunch dates, Ebba leaned in
and kissed me in the middle of a cafe. I nearly choked on my pastry as I
threw myself backwards a few feet. I was terrified, and she was more than a
little offended by my sudden repulsion to her. I apologized a thousand
times before she would hear me out.
"It's not you! I swear!"
"Whatever, kukhuvud!"
I had to spill the beans to try and preserve whatever friendship we might
still have. Friends are pretty rare for me nowadays, so I didn't hesitate
to tell the truth.
"I'm gay, Ebba."
It wasn't so hard to say those words anymore. In fact, it was pretty easy.
I never stay in a country for more than a few weeks, so I don't care who
knows my secret. But still, despite telling dozens of people in the past
few months, I've never made the attempt to tell my own parents.

Ebba: Did you tell them yet Jordy?

Me: No. Stop callin me that...

Ebba: But Jordy iss soo cuuttee

I decided to leave her hanging for awhile. She was in playful mood, which
doesn't bother me except I don't like the nicknames she gives me. She gives
me a new one every week it seems, Jordy was just a weak shortening of my
name Jordan. But sometimes the nicknames are ten times more creative and
embarrassing. I'll let her stew for awhile until she's begging for my
forgiveness and equally my attention.
I zoned out for awhile, plugging my headphones in and distracting myself
from all the "Beautiful" sights and sounds that we passed by. I'll be
spending the next couple years of life here, I'm in no rush to care so much
so soon. My parents on the other hand, wasted no time in "oohing and
aahing" while chatting up the driver about anything and everything under
the Greek sun. I paid the three of them no mind, until the driver mentioned
something interesting.
"The island you're going to, my brother works there. In fact, his son works
at the resort you're staying at! Make sure to tell little Eros that his
uncle Niko says hi!"
I perked up a little after hearing that. I always make an attempt to find
people around my age in my travels, Eros might just be close, if not a
little older. In the end, none of it really matters. I'll be long gone
before any real friendship could bloom but still, I enjoy gaining
perspective on the lives of teens around the world. Truly, I just want to
understand what it's like to have a normal life.
Through the day we drove for hours, making a few pit-stops for restroom
breaks or sightseeing. Eventually, we arrived at the coast, and our new
hotel. After a twenty minute argument with the concierge, we finally got
permission to bring Teddy in with us. He was so excited to be free of
portable carrier/prison that he immediately peed on the floor of our room.
Of course, that will remain our little secret. I cradled the furry little
mutt and drifted away to Greek local news channels while my parents planned
the day ahead. I just wanted to finally arrive so I could get away from
them. No one should have to spend this much time with their parents.
The next morning we headed out to the harbor for our ferry ride to
Santorini. I wasn't made aware of how long the ferry rides were, so it's
safe to say I was more than a little peeved to spend half a day still
couped up with my parents. I practically collapsed when we made it to the
island resort. I was so tired, not physically, but mentally drained. Me and
my dog took a nap in our room while my parents... well I don't know what they
did, I'm just glad I wasn't involved. The resort wasn't like a normal
hotel. You know when you google "Greece" and you get those resort pictures
of beautiful whitewashed buildings and blue-domed roofs overlooking a
stunning inlet bay or sandy beach? Yeah, that's this place. Three bedrooms,
two bathrooms, a fully functioning kitchen and two eating areas indoor and
outdoor. When I finally pulled myself out of bed and rejoined the land of
the living, there was no more sun shining through the wooden shutters. I
was hungry and alone, but more so than everything else, I was sweaty. I
fell asleep with my clothes on and no window open during the Greek summer
weather, I needed a bath. Luckily the resort didn't fall short here, a
grand roman style tub was beckoning to me from my bathroom. Inside, fluffy
white towels, complimentary soaps and scrubs, and scented candles adorned
the edges of the tiled bath fixture. I slip out of my clothes quickly, lit
a few candles, and drew a bath for myself. Wasn't long before I was soaking
away all my stress and sticky sweaty skin oils too. The scrubs were rather
course, but felt lovely when gently applied to my smooth skin. From head to
toe I massaged my body in oils, soaps and conditioners. It was all a bit
overkill but I was really just into the pampering mood. My long, slender
body was still given plenty of room given the bath's incredible length, so
I was comfortable enough to lay my head back, close my eyes, and relax.
All that relaxation suddenly ended when I heard the bathroom door close
quickly causing a rather loud bang. My heart nearly shot out of my chest at
the sudden noise and the prospect of being caught naked. When I looked to
the door, I saw nothing. Someone must have opened it quietly but quickly
slammed the door shut when they noticed I was in here. Annoying, but it
wasn't uncommon for my parents to walk in on me. I dried myself off,
dressed in a clean linen robe and walked out into the living area to find
myself alone still. Teddy was still sleeping in my room, some guard dog he
is. Where are my parents? Who opened the bathroom door?
I repeated those same internal questions to my parents when they came
stumbling through the door a few hours later. They went out to "see the
town" but found the local bar instead it seems. They had no answers for who
came in the room while they were gone. The door was locked, and they were
out having the drinks. My dad did offer one possibility though.
"Maybe resort staff? They probably came in to check the towels or
somethin." He said, just coherently enough to pick up.
This was a much more frightening prospect than just my imagination. The
idea of some stranger walking into the bathroom when I was most vulnerable
and not knowing they were there was just plain creepy. My mother
interrupted my nightmarish thoughts with an half-hearted apology.
"Sorry for not bringing you any food honey, you- you were just sleeping so
peacefully. You can order room service or-"
"Nah, I'd rather go out, get something to eat by myself."
"Well, okay. But don't go far! The resort has a few restaurants in it!"
My mother only has one tone after a few drinks, I rolled my eyes and left
the drunkards to their business as I got dressed to go out. Still pretty
warm out there, so I didn't bother with my usual jean and hoodie combo. A
simple tee-shirt and cargo shorts will do, even if it's not the most
fashionable choice. Teddy whined and begged to accompany me, looking into
his literal puppy dog eyes was too much to resist. I grabbed his leash and
ventured out with my best friend at my side.
A summer breeze brushed the side of the coast. The trees responded, and
danced happily in the wind. Too few though, most of the landscape was
dominated by the resort and neighboring village. Islands like these don't
have many natural occurring trees anyways, they're too volcanic and arid.
Even as the moon hung precariously over the Mediterranean, many tourists
were still out and about. The village was alive and buzzing, mostly due to
the resort's popularity. It wasn't like most cities though. The only noises
to be heard were clinking glasses and laughter amongst friends. Even with
all the activity, it was still so calming.
"Hello sir, about earlier."
I was startled by the sudden interjection and turned around to see a boy,
around my age, standing behind me but avoiding eye contact. He was shorter
than me by at least a head. 5,4 maybe? Olive colored skin that glowed
slightly underneath the warmly colored street lamps. Most of his skin was
hidden behind his shirt though, a uniform, with the resort's name on it. A
boy... works at the resort... Eros maybe?
"Huh, sorry I'm not sure what you mean... Eros is it?"
He was obviously startled to hear me get his name correct. I tried to
soothe that fear as quickly as possible.
"A driver named Niko said his nephew Eros worked at this resort. Is that
you?"
The boy smiled at the mention of his uncle Niko.
"Yes! Sorry for seeming so shy, I was just worried how you knew my name
already. I figured you called the front desk to complain and got it that
way."
I was the one confused now. What was this boy going on about?
"Complain? Why would I do that?"
The boy looked at the ground again and hung his head in shame.
"For walking in on you. When the other two left I thought the suite was
empty so I went inside to stock up the towels and leave a thank you note.
I'm so sorry for what I did and I hope-"
"Ohhh... that was you then. Glad I'm not going crazy. Anyways, don't worry
about it."
I have to admit, I'm a lot less worried now seeing that my peeping tom is
more cute than creepy.
"I have to ask though, what did you see?"
The boy gave a half cocked smile and let his eyes wander around aimlessly.
I felt a similar rush of embarrassment after watching his reaction.
"N-nothing. Just the water. Oh and the bubbles... you used a lot of the
soaps." His answer gathered some strength towards the end, but he still
couldn't maintain eye contact.
Teddy, who is normally standoff-ish towards strangers, was taking the time
to circle the boy and sniff him. Eventually, the leash around his neck was
encircling the boy's ankles and I had to jump in to try and untangle the
mess. Much to the amusement of Eros, who giggled and patted teddy
constantly.
"Sorry about this, he's usually not so rambunctious."
Eros bent over and picked up the mutt. I normally don't approve of people
holding my dog, but... he is kind of cute. I guess it doesn't hurt just this
once. Besides, Teddy seems to approve of the attention.
"He's cute. Not many tourists bring their pets with them."
"Well I'm not a tourist, I live here now. I mean not here, but in Greece."
"Really? Athens?"
"No, one of the islands. Not sure which one. I'll ask my parents but this
all happened so quickly, I wasn't really paying attention."
I laughed nervously but I was overcome with embarrassment and guilt. I
tried to come off as more than a tourist but I don't even know which island
I'm going to live on.
Eros set Teddy to the ground and motioned for me to follow him. After a few
minutes of walking and one very long flight of stairs, we came to a small
office for the resort down by the coast. Neighboring the small shack was a
even more meager building. In fact, it was more like a stall with a cloth
canopy roof and thin wooden walls. An older man, who's face told a story of
decades of sunny days and laughing, stood behind the wooden counter and
poured himself a cup of ouzo. Three stools were perched in front of the
stall, Eros sat in the middle one, so I placed myself on his left. He spoke
softly in his native tongue to the elder man. I hadn't taken the time to
study any Greek lately, but I could tell he was asking a question. The
vendor mumbled a few words and turned around to begin preparations. There
was a small stove in the stall, a coal pit with a spit hanging above it and
a few pieces of pottery. I tried to watch in as the old man worked but Eros
tried to pry my attention away.
He reached over the counter and grabbed the bottle of liquor the old man
drank from and began to pour his own cup. I tried to play it cool but I was
terrified at the prospect of being caught. My parents have let me try
certain drinks before, but I never found alcohol too tempting. The hairs on
my neck stood up when the man turned and shouted at Eros, I was sure he was
caught and I was his guilty accomplice. But much to my surprise, Eros just
laughed off his comments before taking a swig of the slightly cloudy
spirit. With no further protest, the man went back to preparing the food. I
was dumbfounded, even more so when Eros slid a cup my way. I looked at the
cup and then back at him with a mix of confusion and amazement.
"Don't worry agori mou! It's not too strong. Agota here doesn't mind if we
have a few cups, so long as we don't get in trouble. Also, I've heard he
keeps the stronger stuff in the back."
We chuckled together but I still felt uneasy about the drink. Teddy, who
sat in my lap, looked up at me as if to silently judge me before I made a
decision. Despite his furry and judgmental face, I chose to lift the wooden
cup to my lips and sip the sour liquid. Not too surprising, the strong
notes made my mouth feel numb as it teased my gag reflex. Not to seem
uncool, I fought back the urge to spit the drink back up and swallowed
hesitantly. It went down rather smoothly all things considered. Eros
giggled at the apparent grimace on my face.
"Not for everyone I guess. So why did you and your family move here?"
I took a moment to swirl my drink around the rim and search for answers
somewhere in the cup. Honesty being the best policy, and the easiest option
as well, I went that route.
"I don't know why. I mean, I know why we moved but I don't know why Greece.
I guess my parents just liked visiting here so much that they decided to
make it our permanent home. It's nice, don't get me wrong, but I don't know
if it'll stick for me."
Eros didn't hide the disappointment in his facial expressions but seemed to
take my answer in stride.
"It can be a lot to take in I guess, but you'll love it here! I hope you
stay, not many people around my age still live here."
"Well, I'll be here for awhile I'm sure, but you know I won't be living on
Santorini right?"
Eros obviously thought ahead because he wasn't phased by the obstacle.
"A ferry ride away isn't too bad. We can still be friends!"
I felt my cheeks warming a bit. I've only known him for 15 minutes but he's
already talking about friendship. It's not uncommon though. Normally, I'm
the one pushing friendship onto people from start. When you move around as
much as I do, you don't have time to waste. Friendships can be built in a
day, as long as both people are open to it. So, what the heck, I'll bite.
"Yeah. Yeah I guess you're right.
Clearing his throat, the man turned to face us with two ceramic bowls in
his hands. A hefty amount of steam spilled from the bowl and dissipated
into the humid night air. He set the bowls in front of us, a savory aroma
rose from the dish and filled our nostrils. Eros seemed to appreciate the
scent as much as I did because we dramatically inhaled simultaneously.
Inside the bowl, a hefty portion of beans and various vegetables bathed in
a reddish orange broth. I could spot onions, carrots, celery, and the smell
of tomatoes wafting from the soup.
Eros didn't take his time dissecting the meal like I had, he obviously has
chowed down on this many times before. The boy began shoveling piles of
bean and broth into his mouth like his life depended on it. I dipped my
utensil in, sipped the smooth tomato based soup and savored the flavor.
Matching Eros and his lack of modesty, I began to attack my bowl in a
similar way. The dish was simple, but delicious.
"What is this? I asked after gulping down over half of my bowl.
"Fasolada" Eros groaned after setting his bowl aside and patting his
stomach.
I watched closely as his tongue peaked out of his mouth and slowly ran
across his lips. He ran his fingers through his thick brown hair, turned to
face me, and leaned against the wooden wall of the stand.
"I Like to come here to escape from the resort. I like working there, but
my boss is a scary lady. If everything isn't perfect in every room, she
lectures me for hours!"
Eros seems to be pretty comfortable around me, almost weird how he acts
like we've been friends forever.
"That sucks, but at least you got a paying job. That's rare for someone our
age where I come from."
I instantly regretted my words. I have no idea why he's working, for all I
know, he could be forced to work by his parents or something! Luckily, he
didn't seem to take offense to it.
"Yeah I guess so, could be worse."
There were a few moments of relative silence, only interrupted by the roll
of boiling water coming from old man's pots.
"Sorry for kidnapping you like that. I hadn't ate all day and it felt rude
to just walk away after introducing myself."
"It's okay, I enjoyed myself as you can see." I turned to him and mocked
his dramatic belly pat with one of my own.
We both giggled at my gesture as I reached into my wallet for a few bills.
"How much do I owe him? I've got American dollars, Swedish Krona, and I
think a few Euros..."
"Nothing. My treat."
"But I can pay you I just..."
"Nah, hopefully this makes up for me seeing you naked."
I was just pulling the spoon away from my lips as I nearly choked on the
last bite. In between my coughing fits Eros extended his hand and placed it
on my arm, gently squeezing my bicep.
"You okay? Don't die on me! I was only kidding! It was just your chest that
I saw!"
Once the wind returned to my lungs, I tried to laugh off his "joke" then my
gaze fell to his hand, which remained on my arm. I pulled from him
subconsciously, feeling awkward with the sudden skin on skin contact. There
was a pained expression in his eyes when I pulled from him, but it was soon
replaced with a mischievous grin.
"Wait... are you ticklish?"




*Meanwhile in California*



"No more, please, no more!" the hysterical screeches begging for mercy fell
on deaf ears. Mercy was not in Bjorn's vocabulary. The first pillow was
thrown at him, not by him. He didn't start this war, but he was sure to end
it. Gripping his boyfriend's wrists he pinned his arms to the bed,
positioned his knees to secure them, and then released his hands so they
could return to their mission. He attacked him from all angles, targeting
the most sensitive of his tickle spots including his rib cage and arm pits.
The boy squirmed and writhed but made no progress in his escape.
"Please! I'm gonna pee myself!" He shouted through fits of uncontrollable
giggling.
"Say it then!" Bjorn demanded through gritted teeth.
The boy resisted, but was in no position to hold out any longer. He had to
give in or risk soiling himself.
"OKAY! Okay okay okay. You're right!"
"Right about what..."
There was a moment of silence as the tortured teen bit his tongue and tried
to save pride anyway he could. This silence earned him another round of
sharp fingers ravaging his sides.
"OKAY! YOU WERE RIGHT! The Justice League could have beaten Thanos... I
guess."
Of course Keaton didn't believe what he was saying, they were Bjorn's words
not his; but he couldn't survive any longer in his current predicament.
Satisfied with his supposed victory, Bjorn released the boy and plopped
down to the side of him, positioning himself on his side so he could gaze
upon his boyfriend once more. Keaton rolled over too, faking an essence of
frustration and expressing it through pouty lips and fluttering eye lashes.
"Come on don't pout! We've got to get up and finish packing. One more day.
One more day until we trade in our coastal Californian paradise for the
frozen wastes of the fatherland."
The day of there trip has finally come to fruition. It's been a few months
since the boys hatched their plan bring Keaton along for Bjorn's yearly
trip back home. Never having left the country before, Keaton was torn
between excitement and crushing anxiety as he prepared for the vacation to
Norway. He had no winter clothes, no mittens, no caps and at first he was
afraid he had no passport and the trip was going to be ruined! Luckily, his
dad acquired a passport for him earlier that year in preparation for a
vacation to Cancun that never happened. All the stars were aligned, the
parents were in agreement and a single stroke of sunlight shun through the
clouds and bathed the Johnson household in good luck. Nothing stopping them
now, the flight leaves tomorrow at 5 AM. Realistically, they only have a
few hours before they needed to be on the road if they wanted to get to LAX
in time. It wouldn't be long before Angela busts through the door, yells at
her son for his lack of productivity and lectures his bf for being a
distraction. She isn't wrong in the slightest, but Keaton still wasn't
ready to face the truth.
"You're right, let's get started."
Most of what was missing was picked up today by Keaton's mom or Bjorn's
dad. Theres a few more pieces of winter clothing that they'll get when they
arrive in Oslo. It was just a matter of packing the essentials. After much
deliberation and soul-searching meditation, Keaton decided the PS4 could
stay here in the states. An idea that would seem nothing short of
blasphemous a year ago, but today the console rarely gets touched. With
school, surf, and Bjorn in his life, he usually keeps himself occupied
without the need for gaming. All he really needed was a sketch pad, some
clothes, and a toothbrush. Some days, he even finds himself wondering if
his phone is useful anymore with his lover living just across the street.
It does seem that the boy in his life has become the only thing in his life
as of late, but it just felt natural. Even so, they mutually agreed to
break apart to finish packing, then a quick sleep, if sleep was possible,
before their flight.
That night, within the inner confines of Keaton's deepest subconscious
thoughts, he found himself dreaming of a unfamiliar landscape. Snow
blanketed the open field around him, but none fell from the sky. There were
no mountains, no trees, and there seemed to be no sun either. The only
thing visible, for miles in every direction, was a snow covered field and a
bright blue sky. Looking towards the stars, Keaton squinted into the vast
familiarity of the atmosphere. Only, upon further inspection, did he find
small hints of pink and purple tones that highlighted the blue in such a
way that it mimicked a painting he once saw in a gallery. The corners of
his mouth curled involuntarily until his smile beamed back at sight before
him. He felt lost in the clouds until a familiar feeling pulled him back
into the earth and wrapped his body in a warm embrace. He looked toward the
snow, which held him firm, planting kisses of snow flakes around his face
with no evidence of there being any snowfall. Pecks of ice sent shivers
down his spine, exciting him to his very core. Then they would melt,
causing warm streaks of water to dance gracefully across his chest and
back. He couldn't decide which felt better. The thrilling cold and warm
embraces of the snow, or the everlasting beauty and enchantment of the sky.
Whenever he looked to one, the feeling from the other would fade. It seems
as if he couldn't have both. Breaking him from his trance, he heard a
voice. Distant, disembodied, but a voice no doubt. He looked forward, the
source of the noise was just on the horizon, where the sky and snow met.
Standing against the backdrop of the two earthly pleasures were two
figures. Both, calling to him.


***** End of Chapter 1 *****

Yes it was a short one this time. But this gives me more opportunity to
reevaluate, take feedback, and make changes. Let me know how you feel. I'm
not sure how long this story will continue on this platform, so contact me
now to stay in tune with what's to come and where you can find me. Will
Open Hearts continue? I'm not sure. But it will live, to some degree, in
this series until it is resolved.

Openhearts1999@gmail.com

Ozzy Out.