I have a website where I post a weekly chapter to a web novel called Solo Assassin. The story is about a young innocent man who ventures into the world of hunting with powers. His journey leads him down the path of assassination. Torn between his ideals, he must decide to turn from his ideals to change the world, or succumb to the corruptness and remain as a follower.

I’m using this web novel to challeng myself with captivating dialoge, gut wrenching heart ache, heat warming romance, and awe inspiring action.

I also post all of my prose submissions and most of my writing prompts on a short story link on my website http://devineugeneweber.unaux.com/solo-assassin/

I have wonderful epectations for my web novel which is still in its infancy.

I've always found dreams able to impact my heart in degrees I have never experienced in reality. Not because I lack emotion, nor am I heartless, but due to the people whose shoes I find myself walking in. Their stories can be so inspiring, they are worth sharing.

One night, I found myself as an old man, lonely, heartbroken, and simply surviving every second which passed by. I hadn't felt happiness since my wife Lyla passed away many decades ago. The memories of her touch, the soft sound of her voice, the deep brown eyes that could shake my very soul everytime I peered inside them, was alway on my mind. Her pure love for me taught me how it felt to be loved, as well as how to love another. We grew together, laughed together, and made unforgettable memories together. Memories which played like an old film every day in my brain. I have always been encouraged by friends to start dating and finding someone to love again, but the very thought ripped my heart asunder. I felt I was betraying Lyla with the very thought.

I grew stubborn, and the more my friends pushed for me to date, the more I pushed them away. In the end, I had no one, no friends, no family, and no shoulder to cry on. The very thought of living was a burden, but I did it anyway because I knew if I wanted to see my wife again, I wouldn't want to do so with her knowing I gave up.

I made it a habit to go on daily walks, being outdoors made me feel the closest to my darling. It was the only reason I got out of bed in the morning, the only reason why I made certain to eat every meal. My life was these walks. I wouldn't miss them no matter what the weather. Raining, hailing, snowing, windy, or outright bone chilling cold, if I wasn't walking, I wasn't living.

At first, these walks were a burden, but the more Lyla dragged me on walks, the more I began to enjoy them. We never cared how fast we were going, as long as we were with each other hand in hand, that was all that mattered.

Pushing past the aching of my body, I slowly put on my shoes and grab my cane. I quickly left the house as fast as I could, though my pace was rather slow.

Feeling the sunshine heat my skin was refreshing. I could feel all my worries fade away in an instant. Old memories of my darling talking up a storm surfaced in my mind, bringing a smile to my face. Oh, how happy I was to be walking.

On my journey through the city park, located near my house, I spotted a little girl about four years old talking to her mother. The little girl sat on a bench next to her mother, holding flowers in her hand while her mom poked away at one of those useless 'phones smarts'. I approach the bench and sit down next to the little girl. The mother looked over at me for a moment before focusing back on her little screen. I glance down at the flowers in the little girl's hands. "What do you have there?" I ask in my shaky voice, seeing countless flowers squished together

"Flowers." responded the girl

I smile to myself, I just love the responses children give. So simple. If my wife and I could've had children, I'm certain I wouldn't be so alone.

"What are the flowers for?" I inquire, digging for more information

"I don't..." she paused for a moment to look up at her mother who gave her permission to speak to a stranger "I want to pick my favowite flower." she declared with passion

"Wow!" I say, trying to add what little energy I could in my decrepit voice "What are you thinking of choosing?"

"I like this flower." she states pulling a yellow dandelion from the bundle "My bwother likes eating them. I like my brother happy."

I try to hold in the chuckle but fail to do so

"You like this yellow flower too?"

"Do you know what this yellow flower represents?" I say, ignoring her question

The little girl looks up at me confused "What does wepwesent mean?"

I smile wider since I found the little girl so cute "It means that every flower has a story to tell. Want to know what this flower wants to say?"

The little girl nodded her head as her eyes gleamed with excitement for story time.

"This flower is trying to tell everyone about money and wealth." I say, picking one of the dandelions out from the bundle to tickle the little girl's nose.

The little girl giggles as she grabs the flower from my hand "I like money!" she says with satisfaction "Money gets me candy. I like candy." She stares at the dandelion for a moment, pondering on whether she likes the plant or not. The excitement she previously showed withered to dissatisfaction.

"You don't like it?" I ask curiously

"This flower is not pretty." she said, letting the dandelion drop onto the bench where several other flowers rested. She turns to me and holds the bundle of flowers up to my chest "What flower do you like?"

I felt a bit taken back by the question but still felt a sense of joy for being asked. Taking a moment to look at the flowers, I spotted the flower my wife loved the most. Reaching my hand up to the bundle, I shakily retrieve a purple Lilac flower. "This is my favorite." I state, momentarily getting lost in past memories

"What stowy does this flower tell?" asked the little girl, bringing me back to our current conversation

I take a moment to examine the purple flower petals blooming around the stem. "This is called a Lilac flower."

"Lilac." repeats the girl in an attempt to memorize the name

I turn my gaze to the little girl with a cheer "Good job. You said that correctly."

I could tell the little girl enjoyed the brief praise due to the excitement returning to her eyes.

"Lilac flowers are meant for princesses. They teach everyone to be clean, and to always make the right choice."

The little girl looked over at the flower in aw "Weally?" she asks with wonder

"Really." I confirm "Do you want to be a princess?"

The little girl nods her head with vigor "My daddy tells me every day I'm a princess."

I smile once again before setting the flower behind the little girl's ear. "Then a princess you are."

The little girl blushes silently, pressing her hand to the flower behind her ear. I take this moment to stand up from the bench. "Now you be a good princess, okay?"

"Okay." responds the little girl, slightly rocking side to side with glee.

The next day, the weather was sunny once again. Exiting the house in the late morning, I began walking the same path I had been walking for the past thirty years.

For some reason there was an event going on at the park I always walk through. There were hundreds of people spread all about the park, mingling while eating the food provided through the barbeques. Most of the movement I could see appeared to be little children running from one inflatable playpen to another. The sight of families enjoying themselves was a touching sight, but there were too many people around for me to enjoy my walk. I turned around to head home, but stopped when a glass jar resting on the edge of the sidewalk caught my attention. I look at the jar to see a large bundle of Lilac flowers stuffed inside them. I turn my gaze further into the park to see hundreds of jars filled with Lilac flowers spotting my walking path. A feeling of love hits my heart full throttle, bringing tears to my eyes. I don’t know why but I felt my wife standing beside me for the first time in a long time. I turn to my right where she would always stand to see nothing but vacant air. I could feel the longing sensation which normally would pound my heart with misery, gracefully turn into something I wasn’t expecting to feel when I woke up this morning. My heart felt like it was about to explode from the pure joy. I felt I was walking beside my wife once again. A feeling I have dreamed for, for decades. I began walking along the path, unbothered by the numerous people surrounding me. I spot a man tending to one of the park barbeques and walk up to him. I wanted to know why the Lilac jars were dotting the park, and felt in my heart, he was the one to ask.

Approaching the man, I grab his attention by saying “Excuse me young man.”

The man sporting a thick dark beard turned to me while flipping another burger “Hot dog or hamburger.” he asked

I shake my hand side to side as a gesture to refuse the food “I’m not here for any food. I wanted to ask you a question.”

“Ask away.” states the young man, turning his gaze back to the grill

“What’s with all the lilac flowers?” I ask, making certain to keep my budding tears in check

The man started rolling the hotdogs around while talking to me. “You can thank my daughter for that.” states the man, pointing at the same young girl I talked to yesterday. She was eating her food awkwardly, covering her mouth with relish, mustard, and other hot dog makings all around her mouth. “She suggested we use Lilac flowers for this event. After she told me what the flower stood for, I thought it was a perfect idea.” The young man looked at some of the flowers behind me “I think it adds a nice touch to the event.”

I couldn’t say anything. I knew the tears were ready to flow the moment I opened my mouth. I muster up the strength to at least say thank you before turning around frantically in an attempt to hide my waterworks.

“You sure you don’t want any food?”

“No thank you.” I said, raising my voice slightly so he could hear me without having to turn around.

I never expected the conversation I had yesterday with the little girl to give an unexplainable joyous sensation. I lost count how many times I circled the park, I just couldn’t stop, I was afraid if I stopped the emotions would faid. My heart was swollen with love and joy, and for once in a very long time, I felt meaning in my life once more.

I could hear the sweet words my wife would always whisper to me, “Don’t give up my love. Never give up.” I forgot those words at the same time I began pushing my friends away. Having come to remember those encouraging words, I found it in my heart to persevere once more. “I'm sorry my love.” I say to myself, imagining my wife walking by my side holding my hand “I became a man you always taught me not to be. I promise, I will change.”

I pause for a moment to see the same gentlemen from before gathering the flowers frantically before the sun completely set. I walked up to him grabbing his attention once again “May I have one of those jars young man?”

The man turned from his cart to see me “By all means, take as much as you want.” he says handing me two jars

“Thank you.” I respond, wrapping the Lilac flowers with my available arm before returning home. I smile once again forever grateful for the short conversation I had with a little child. Life sure is beautiful.

When I woke up from the dream, I couldn't keep the tears in. I don't think I'll be forgetting those emotions for a very long time.

-Devin Eugene Weber

devineugeneweber.unaux.com

#sanyamweather