The 991st Story

They were childhood friends, born and raised in the same community. They played in the same park. They went to the same school. Their parents were friends. Their friends were friends. Their enemies were enemies. They knew every little bit about each other. And so on and so forth. This story had been told so many times before, and Lief had written this same type of story so many times before. He wondered if Love was running out of concepts, but then again, after thousands of years, even Love himself should have reached his limits.

Luxe—Lief’s 991st main character—had been in love with his childhood friend for forever. After having observed them for 16 years, Lief was pretty sure Lenore, the female lead in this story, was very much in love with Luxe as well. However, for whatever reason that perhaps only Love could explain, apparently, one of the most difficult things a person in love could do was be honest.

***

Luxe smiled. Lenore pursed her lips. His blue eyes affixed on her. Her green eyes, unblinking.

“Lenore,” Luxe finally breathed to break the silence. “I have to tell you something.”

He paused. And there was another silence.

“It’s something,” Luxe continued after a while, “I have been meaning to tell you for a long time.”

Then another silence, broken only by the chirping of birds.

“Lenore,” he spoke again, “I—”

And the two fell into another silence. The birds were still chirping nearby.

“I…”

And then it was silence again. Sounds of the birds’ flapping wings could be heard.

“Lenore, you see…”

And then it was silence again. The birds had already left.

“I…”

Damn it! Just say it! Lief was screaming in his head. Peeking through the gaps in the bushes, Lief had been watching the pair from the moment they entered the park.

“I…” Luxe said with a gulp, “…think the color of this dress doesn’t really suit you.”

“What?” Lenore stared at Luxe blankly.

Now Lief could only sigh—and curse a whole lot in his head. According to the Book, this was supposed to be the day, the happily ever after ending to this story. Lief only had one page left allotted for this chapter, and he definitely did not intend to spend even another year tailing Luxe and writing about his never-ending strings of failed confessions.

Lief had come to a decision, though very begrudgingly. He had been very prudent when it came to using hearts during the past years. Chroniclers were supposed to only watch and write as Love’s plot unfolds. However, at times, some interference was necessary to achieve the required ending.

Lief clapped his hands. The small glittering hearts appeared as soon as his palms touched. There went his decades-worth of hearts.

Luxe’s heart began to throb faster and faster. His feet suddenly lunged forward. Luxe then held Lenore’s hand, pulling her closer until their faces were just an inch away from each other. Strands of her long brunette hair brushed against his cheek as he inclined his head to be able to gaze at her more closely.

Lief clapped again, summoning more hearts.

Then Luxe’s mouth fell open on its own. And the words he couldn’t utter for years just spilled out, “I love you, Lenore. I have always loved you.”

Lenore stared at Luxe, at a loss for words. Then her eyes began to brim with tears. Lenore hugged him, “You idiot,” she said in between sobs. “I love you, too.”

The two embraced tightly. And the rest…was how it was supposed to go.

Lief clapped. The Book appeared and fell onto his lap. He reached for the quill inside his cloak and went on to write the final sentences to this chapter.

And so on and so forth…And they lived happily ever after…

Lief closed the Book. A red glowing light enveloped the Book as it processed the newly completed chapter. Now Lief merely had to take the Book to the mystic waters to collect his hearts. With another clap, the Book disappeared.

And with one last clap, Lief was teleported home to his castle. The only traces of him left were tiny fluttering red hearts.

***