***As a note to the reader, this peice is purely fictional meant to be the perspective of many people in an abusive relationship. It is meant to share awareness, not as a plead for personal assistance.

I put on my makeup

concealer over the bruise.

It still stings when I touch it,

but I know you didn't mean it.

Another night I held you as you sobbed

begging my forgiveness, to stay

You won't do it again

You love me so much

and I did

and I will

We're part of a small group at church

When we go there together every week

people tell us how lucky we are

What a miracle to still be so in love

What's this mark?

I just wasn't paying attention at work

You're so funny, you clutz

You should be more careful

and I laugh

and I cringe

I prepare dinner, your favorite

you had a great day at work

you made the big sale today

I'm so proud of you

We meet with your friends later

You tease me about my flaws

Everyone laughs, I do, too

Even when you tell the secret ones

and I go along

and I try not to cry

I prepare dinner, everything is right

You had a bad day at work

I breath and just stay quiet

But you're drunk again

I let you yell at me

I'd rather you do it to me

than some poor person

some stranger who doesn't know

and I protect them

and I take it

I wake up on the floor

another blood stain to clean

You're crying in the corner

You thought I was dead

You're so sorry again

You won't do it again

You'll try harder again

No more drinking again

and I believe

and I forgive

I used to fight back

I'd yell at you too

But it's quicker to just sit there

until you're done

I could leave but I won't

I have no family and your friends

wouldn't believe me anyway

You're such a great woman

and I'll forgive you

and I'll be your man

In the mornings, I wake up thirty minutes too late, rush out the door, but still manage to grab a coffee and egg sandwich on the way to work. I stand at the corner of Fifth and Main, waiting for the bus. The city is always so busy in the mornings, and traffic has already begun to back up. No doubt, I was going to be late to work, again. Hopefully, my boss was stuck in this jam as well. Or maybe she had a horrible car accident and wouldn’t come in at all today, but that was wishful thinking.

“Pig!” I try not to look around at who was yelling. Every once in awhile, a creepy homeless guy tweeked out on something would wander around the street corner, yelling at passerbys. I always try to ignore him, not wanting to give him an excuse to breath on me. “Piiiiig!” He yelled again.

Pretending to check my phone, I snuck a quick peek at who he was yelling at, and instantly regretted turning around. This crazy guy was yelling ‘pig’ at this woman who had a little extra weight on her. Her face was red, and she was obviously trying to ignore him. I felt mortified for her, and wondered for half a second if I should say something.

“Chicken!” He hollered again. This time he was following after a young man who was jogging by, the homeless guy limping along after him, “Chicken! Chicken! Chicken!” The jogger flipped him off and yelled an obscenity back at him, but the crazy guy only cackled. Suddenly, the guy starts flailing his arms behind another man in an expensive looking suit, “Human! Human!” The gentleman looked down his nose at the yelling moron, and was able to quickly hail a taxi.

The homeless guy was silent for a moment, then I nearly jumped out of my skin when he yelled two inches from my ear, “Chicken!” Idropped my coffee, causing a huge wet brown stain down my pant leg, “Are you serious!?” I yelled at him. He just cackled, “You are what you eat! I know what you ate for breakfast, girlie!” I backpedalled away from him, and thank you all that is good the bus came, so I could get away from him. Who ever heard of someone knowing the last thing you ate? But then I thought about it. I had finished my egg sandwich at the bistro...

The tests all came back positive. My worst fears were realized. I never wanted to see the day I would have to say good bye to my dog. You're my first best friend. You gave the best kisses and snuggles. Your heart could brighten my darkest day. I wished you could stay forever, but we knew this day would come.

I took you to get a whole burger to yourself. We went to the park to run free, pestering squirrels, annoying birds, and chasing your favorite frisbee. We laid on a blanket, napping in the warm sun. I tried my hardest not to cry.

We drove out to the beach, the windows down as we drove. Your head stuck out, tongue in the wind. You sniffed everything, bounded through the waves, and dug holes for hours. The curving roads helped us to forget that this would be the last time.

Just one more ice cream cone. Just one more belly rub. Just one more. I knew I was being selfish. I saw how tired you were. I saw how you were hurting, though your tail wagged all the same. I just want to make these last few moments stretch just a little longer. Oh God, just let this moment last just a little bit longer.

And you were gone. I was left alone. I'm not angry at you. Please, don't think I could ever be angry at you. I know you are happy now, at peace and in no more pain. But it doesn't change that you're not here. My tears fall on unlicked cheeks. My arms are empty of your furry body. Wherever you are, I want you to know that you are the best good boy the world will ever know. And thank you... for loving me, too.

The setting is in a desert cave beneath the depths of the ruined palace. The path was treacherous but our adventurer braved the extreme heat and merciless path to finally find the lamp of Agro-dabifun, the ancient sultan who claimed to have discovered immortality and limitless wealth. He was horrendously executed for rumors of using dark magic and was buried deep beneath his palace where he could never be found. Until now...

Adventurer: "There's an inscription on this lamp, but it is covered in dirt." He wipes off the debris and copious amounts of smoke pour out. It coagulates into a humanoid form.

Genie: "At last! I am free! For your servitude, mortal, I will grant you three wishes. Ask anything you wish, and it will be given to you."

Adventurer: "... only three?"

Genie: "Yes, whatever you wish, I shall grant it."

Adventurer: "Ok, but why three? Why not five or ten?"

Genie: "I beg your pardon?"

Adventurer: "Are you somehow limited only three? I mean, unless you have some handicap on your magical ability, you should be able to grant a limitless amount of wishes. I feel like I'm being jipped here."

Genie: "SILENCE! You dare question my power!?"

Adventure: "Oh, no. Your power is evident. I'm questioning your logic on why three is the magic number, no pun intended."

Genie: "I have decided of my own accord that I shall grant three wishes and three wishes only. Unless you have decided that having only one will suffice if it follows your reasoning!"

Adventurer: "Ok! Fine, I'll take three wishes. I have another question, though."

Genie: "What is it now, you annoying scum?"

Adventure: "You said whatever I wish, it will come true."

Genie: "Yes."

Adventure: "But what if that's not possible? Once again, not doubting your power, but could you... say... make a square circle?"

Genie: "... I don't follow."

Adventure: "Look, it's really simple. You say I can wish for whatever I want, so I would assume you could bring impossible and illogical things into reality."

Genie: "So, what do you want me to say?"

Adventure: "Just be more specific with your words. You're being very general, and it's causing quite a bit of confusion."

Genie: "Your wish is my-"

Adventure: "That's not a wish."

Genie: "You asked me to do someth-!"

Adventure: "No, I asked you to clarify the parameters of your verbal promise to me in the exchange for my service. It's not a wish because it directly relates to what exactly it is you are promising me. It's how bargaining and trading are done."

Genie: "FINE! I, the genie, hereby promise you the exchange of three wishes, which are numbered at the discretion of myself, for your servitude of releasing me from my lamp. These three wishes will be limited to logical results that exist in this universe."

Adventurer: "Excellent! Thank you for clarifying. Now, I wish for three more wishes."

Genie: "Are you serious? No!"

Adventure: "Why? Is it logically impossible for you to grant more wishes?"

Genie: "As a matter of fact... yes. Since I only promised you three... it would break our... contract."

Adventurer: "Ah, I see. That makes perfect sense. Ok, I wish for more genies."

Genie: "I can't do that."

Adventurer: "Why not? It fits the parameters of our agreement."

Genie: "But... fine, ok. What else?"

Adventurer: "I would like the ability to travel through time."

Genie: "Hey, that's pretty good. It's been awhile since I've don-"

Adventure: "To be specific, I'd like the ability to travel back in time to the exact moment you granted me three wishes."

Genie: "ARE YOU SERIOUS!?"

Adventurer: "It only makes sense. That way I could reverse whatever damage my previous wishes have done, and I would be able to come back to this moment from the future to get three more wishes."

Genie: sighs heavily

Adventurer: "And for my last wish, I'd like to free you from your prison."

Genie: "I'm... uh... my goodness, thank you. You would really free me from this wretched place?"

Adventure: "Of course! If I got three wishes from just letting you out for a little air, imagine the amount of wishes I could get for setting you free!"

Mouse, horse, swine, and dog

Came across a figure sunk in the bog.

"Alas!" Neighed horse, “I believe it has fur.”

“Nonsense,” grunted pig, “A mossy rock as it were.”

"A rock?" Pipped mouse, "A mountain more so."

And dog only sniffed, the stench making him groan.

"Well, I know I’m right," horse said with a whinny,

"Egads!" Shouted pig, “No, you’re the ninny!”

"Hey!" retorted mouse, "I saw the thing first”

"You're all wrong," dog barked, “Your brains are burst.”

The four continued walking, bickering into the night

Because who cares what it is, as long as you're right.

Be careful. Because life is unpredictable in ways that you can't imagine. We keep to ourselves, make our own plans, and feel secure in our routines, and we never really think about how close to the edge of chaos and destruction we are. And if we do begin to think of such meaningful and enlightening things, we become distracted by our rumbling tummies.

If you sit down at a fancy restaurant and order your favorite meal, an eggplant parmisiano with a light salad and garlic bread, you would expect to recieve what you ordered. If you were to, say, be served the severed head of your sworn enemy, you would be quite surprised but delighted by your luck, just as warlords and kings of the past would have been. Being served an inedible human head certainly doesn't happen often, but it definitely does happen. Life's surprises can be very pleasant.

He gazed her across the dinner table in the candlelight. She giggled, blushing and looking away, "Please, you've been staring at me all night." "I can't help it," he gushed, reaching to take her hand gently in his, "Every time I see you, you're more beautiful." She touched her reddened cheeks, "Aww, thank you." But she seemed to be distracted when she said it, almost saddened by his words.

"What is it," he asked, "I hope I haven't offended you." She quickly shook her head, "No! No, please. You have been so wonderful, and my time with you has been so amazing, and I... I can't lead you on like this." He took his hand away, concern written on his face, "Wh... what do you mean leading me on?" She began to tear up, but she steeled herself, "I have to tell you something about myself, but I'm afraid you won't love me anymore." He smiled at her, "My love... nothing could ever make me stop loving you."

She took a few deep breaths to steady herself them reached behind her head, unzipping the flesh suit. Her pretty brown curls were replaced with long antennae, red lips for dripping pincers, pink dress with a shiny black exoskeleton, and instead of her soft hands, she had eight skinny black legs. She refused to look at him, unwilling to witness his horror, "This is the real me. You say you'd love me no matter what, but how can anyone love me?"

He sat in silence then abrupdtly stood up from the table. He kneeled before her, taking her spiny leg, "I also have a hard truth to share with you, my love." He tore away his face to reveal a fanged Lovecraftian horror with jagged teeth, green and red slimy scales, jagged claws, and a barbed tail like a scorpian. She gasped at him, "But!... You!"

"I know," he whispered, "I am Drakthorian. Your people's sworn enemy. For millenia, the Drakthorians and V'lkj"ynian have battled bloody wars in space and time. Destroying worlds in their path. But, alas, I have fallen madly in love with you. On my life, I swear no harm will ever come to you. Will you... will you enslave this world with me? Would you rain hellfire and doom on this wretched planet and create a new species with me?" She took his extended maw in her spinned quills, "Yes, my love! I will! For all eternity!"

And so the once sworn enemies became the death of Earth together. Turned the waters red with blood, destroying world governments, and filling the air with ash and fire. Together, they had over a million doom spawn which ravaged the Earth and left no survivors, fleeing from their home planet to destroy planets of their own. But they both stayed on Earth, where they would always call their home, unconditionally in love until they both reduced to acid together watching the red sun explode like a billion fireflies.

”I heard she’s a dating a human.” She leaned across the table, “Excuse me?” He looked back to her. “Why is it any of your business?” He placed down his glass of blood, “Whatever. Gees, sensitive”

She fumed until she opened her front door. Squeals of delight filled the air as two demichildren ran to her. “Grandma is home!” She scooped them in her eight arms, kissing them.

“Hi, Mom. We stopped to say hi.” She hugged her too, “Yog-athi! How is Bill?” “He’s awesome.”

If she knew one thing to be true, it's all hearts are worthy of love.