The Deceptions of a False Fairytale

** Author's Note: This short story is a personal story from a previous relationship I had that I put into words to share with everyone. Within the text, there are several mimicry quotes from the short story "The Black Cat" by Edgar Allen Poe where I used the same syntax structure but changed the words. Names were changed in the story, and although the story is not word for word what I experienced, it gives everyone a feel for what I went through. Hope you enjoy:) **

From a young age, she believed in fairytales, that she would one day meet her prince charming, fall in love, and live happily ever after. A hopeless romantic she was, with a heart longing for a man to make it whole. When she finally thought she got it right and discovered the man of her dreams, the man she fell so hard for corrupted her heart. The craving to maintain her relationship drove her to become psychotic, deranged, and brokenhearted. Clutching tissues to wipe tears from her tattered heart, she wept, praying to God to soothe her pain…

From the moment she caught a glimpse of this man; she couldn’t help but be drawn to his daunting beauty. Riley Makiah was his name. Every time he strolled past, her body tingled with excitement and sent her heart racing. The way each strand of brunette hair laid perfectly on his head, the way his eyes twinkled when the light hit them just right, the way his voice hummed like an angel speaking the beautiful words of God, all lured her into his unsafe love trap. Mesmerized by his magnificent external beauty, she became merely oblivious to his merciless methods of mangling her heart.

She felt deprived of love her whole life, believing no man would ever take a liking to her. Even when men gave her the attention she longed for, it seemed unsatisfactory. Finding herself drawn to another man, never could she relinquish her heart as long as the lingering desire for Riley remained. Each night before she fell asleep, she would lie awake in her bed and pray he would one day return the love she treasured for him.

Supposing her prayers had not been answered, she prepared herself to let go of her dream. After a year of waiting for Riley, she lost hope. One day another man walked into her life who liked her as much as she liked him. In no way was he perfect, but he allowed her to get a little taste of love. Though it seemed to go well, she never stopped thinking about Riley and what they could be.

One foggy October night, her phone rang. On the other end of the call was her friend who knew Riley quite well and needed to deliver an important message; it was an invitation from Riley to go to dinner the following evening.

Her world stopped. Time stood still. Of all people, why would he choose her? Was she dreaming? Had her prayers finally been answered? The anxious girl envisioned every potential possibility of the night to come. She imagined a romantic evening with Riley, his brown eyes looking into hers, for him to fall in love with her the moment their eyes meet, to get married one day and have a family. All the possibilities flooding her mind spun her into insanity.

Without a hint of hesitation, she accepted.

She could not resist the temptation of his enchanting affection. An experienced hunter was on the prowl, and he found the perfect vulnerable prey. Defenseless against his spell, she fell into his trap. Little did she know she would end up losing herself, desperate for the love of one who did not care for losing her.

The following night she spent hours preparing for her dinner with Riley. As she painted each nail with precision, as she applied her makeup with meticulous care, as she did her hair without a strand out of place, she thought all the while about Riley, hoping he would find beauty in her. After she carefully choosing the flawless outfit, the perfect shoes, the matching jewelry, and purse to tie the look together, he rolled up to her house ready to take her out.

The night out on the town with her dream man was more than she had could have ever imagined. Each bite she fed him of the warm chicken he had bought for her brought joy to her soul. Each time he laughed or smiled or looked at her brought out an indescribable sensation. Each moment of that night, through her eyes, went in slow motion. She never wanted the night to end. When he took her home, the way he taunted her with his gaze into her eyes left her wanting more than an embrace. Nonetheless, she strode inside with internal happiness radiating from her body.

From the way the night played out, she decided she wanted more than a dinner with him, she wanted a real relationship. Love struck by Riley, she could see no future with anyone else. The other man was forgotten. As she slept that night with her mind wandering, she dreamed and fantasized about Riley loving her as if every star in the sky spelled out his name. Her illusions of love filled her with an artificial pleasure.

The passion for Riley only intensified from there. What had started as a harmless crush had amplified to a dangerous obsession. With Riley she spent most of her time, and never was so happy as when cuddling and caressing him.1 The more time the two spent together, the more she became attached. As they cudded in the comfort of her basement, she lay swaddled in his arms. When she thought the moment couldn’t get any better, he rotated her body to face his, cradled her tightly, and leaned his head in to meet her lips. Time stood still. They were the only two on earth. His hands crept up and down her body, weaving her into his enchantment. Until tonight, she had not known what it might feel to truly be one with another. His irresistible charm exuded through his fingertips.

As he released her from his captivating embrace, she couldn’t help but smile. The only thoughts that crossed her mind were about Riley and how to entrance him as he entranced her. Fumes of love congested the air.

Crazed by the lust he acted out that night, his deceiving actions kept his intentions hidden. Riley did not love her. He didn’t even like her. Through his eyes, she was just the next girl on his list, and before she knew it he’d be on to the next one.

Her passion for Riley Makiah peaked, but he had already had his fun. Riley told her not to mention what happened between them to anyone, and though it seemed to her at first somewhat curious, she did as he said. She obeyed without a trace of suspicion. The secrecy of their relationship was of no object to her, so infatuated she was with him.

Then the ignoring began. He not only neglected, but ill-used her.2 Her body for his purposes took the role of an object of pleasure; rather than considering her as a human of worth as she wished he would; he took her heart and played with it like a toy. Though he consistently declined her offers to spend time together, she remained optimistic. Tentative arrangements got her hopes up, only to be torn back down again. Riley’s constant rejection left her disappointed, alone, and broken hearted. Time and time again, he disregarded her feelings until the time came to tell her the truth.

Unable to face reality, she overlooked his words as if they remained unspoken. She pretended he never said anything at all. Persistent thoughts that he would change his mind, decide he wanted a relationship, and adjust his outlook for her kept her attached.

For months, she still considered him more than a friend, however he saw things quite differently. Again he revealed his honesty to her; even with his bluntness she chose not to accept the truth. Not until the third time Riley exposed his feelings did the impact penetrate the walls of her heart. The whispers at last sunk in.

Her gut plummeted into the depths of her soul. His weakening words left her crippled with unhappiness. Tears flooded her eyes, choked her throat, and cratered her soul. The chambers of her heart were in pieces. Her whole heart was failing.3 The infatuation that she developed for Riley entangled her into a deep depression. Clutching tissues to wipe tears from her tattered heart, she wept, praying to God to soothe her pain.

Mimicry quotes from “The Black Cat” by Edgar Allen Poe:
1. “With these I spent most of my time, and never was so happy as when feeding and caressing them” (85).
2. “I not only neglected, but ill-used them” (86).
3. “The curtains of my bed were in flames. The whole house was blazing” (87).