A Collection of Short Stories

By Tayahn Bell

This book is a collection of short stories centered on various subjects - wisdom, contentment, love, anger, death and life.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Sep 11, 2017
• ISBN: 9781543450477

Book preview

BLINDNESS OF HE

H E GRIPPED HIS chest as the pain crashed through his heart. In the midst of it all, other pedestrians continued walking without the slightest clue. The recent heartbreak of his ex girlfriend had done a number on his emotions the night before. When the news broke to him, it was as if a car that was driving smooth down a road and out of nowhere, abruptly crash head first into a tree. He couldn’t believe for one second that he could survive the pain that had started to creep inside his brain. Waves and waves of immense depression would flood his heart like a never ending surf fall. The thing that seemed to hurt the most was that the girl spoke as if she was speaking as if it were a regular statement. When the word break up was transmitted through the phone, he knelt down, hung up the phone, and wailed like a baby. Tears came out of his eyes like heavy rain drops. A soaked face full of agony and a weakened body became him. He didn’t bother to get up, his whole body just seemed to been shot after hearing the breakup. He was so hurt after the fact that he stayed in the same spot wailing on and off and shouting out. Dear God! He rubbed his chest as if trying to treat the pain. The deep hurt played over and over in his heart like a marathon. The breakup was like a wound that only grew worse as a memory would intrusively show up inside his head. The hurt lasted the whole night. As the alarm rang, he didn’t feel a thing for a moment. No pain, no emotional wound from last night. Trying to capitalize from the opportunity, he got dressed and started to walk out the door. Outside, the sun was bright and full of people walking the streets. All seemed so well after a mile of walking for him; until he seen his ex girlfriend holding hands with a guy and kissing. Seeing it all, hit him like an earthquake inside. From the outside there was a grip on his chest. He couldn’t bear to see more so he ran full speed in the opposite direction. The girl and her new boyfriend turned around and simply laughed and continued on. While running the memories start harder at him like sharp daggers. Tears would follow as his legs would feel weak and he would trip and fall into the street. Honk. Honk. Honk. A car could’ve hit him but instead honked the horn multiple times. He got up slow and proceeded to head towards the sidewalk. He looked in the opposite direction and seen the girl still. He thought to himself. How could she be so carefree the day after we broke up? Then it dawned on him, the girl he was so madly in love with showed signs that she was carefree and wouldn’t really commit to a relationship. He couldn’t see the obvious signs while they were together. Heavy desperation would blind him from seeing the obvious truth. All these months, he never had the slightest clue. Continuing walking, all the thoughts appear to be clear and the pain would still be present. Memories of the girl telling him that she was carefree and to not expect anything, and if he did his heart would break in a billion pieces. As well as, to not take her so serious because she isn’t serious herself. All those statements were somehow missed when he first heard them. All he believed was an irrational hope that he and the girl would get married in five years and they would have kids along with a white picket fence. The American Dream for Relationships. Every night he would dream of awesome emotional filled scenarios similar to great romance movie endings. He would get on his knees everyday and praise to the skies for having such a beautiful girlfriend whom he had the chance to marry. At least that’s what he has believed for months. One day he even cried to her thanking her. She was drawn back by his humbleness and simply patted him on the back and kissed his cheek. This was a lot for him since he never had a girlfriend before. All his life he was single, lonely, and daily praying for a girlfriend to walk in his life. Sometimes it seemed like it would never happen. Then, on one special day he got the courage to talk to a girl. The girl was carefree but little would he know. It started out as her not having enough money to pay for a movie ticket at the theaters. He jumped right in and paid for the ticket and then some. The girl was impressed and decided to thank him by watching the movie with him. A rush of excitement and endless opportunities rushed through his mind like a pack of bison. They watched the movie and afterwards feeling confident. He blurted out. You want to be my girlfriend? The girl thought to herself while staring at him. "This guy gets attached so quick, I guess I can be with him, maybe then later he will get the hint that I’m carefree and he’ll leave. The girl then nodded her head. After that experience, he dashed to his house and jumped for joy every few steps. Pumping his fist towards the air with so much conviction. He felt like he had been awarded the keys to the city. The feeling like a king as he went to his room. He walked in the middle of the room and thanked the skies for such a gift. Fast forwarding to after the heartbreak, it made sense now to him. The girl was carefree and never wanted a relationship. Especially, when he would tell her that he loved her and she would say quiet. How could he be so blind? The blindness led to the enormous pain he was receiving. He would then walk catch up to the girl and say thank you. The girl shrugged her shoulders and the guy next to her would chuckle. He then walked home and getting into the room, he had a mission to surf the waves of agony and get back on normal.

JEFF AND THE BREAKUP

L OUD THUMPS AND full of severe heartbreak entered into the mind of Jeff when he awakened. He sat up straight and looked around while feeling like a lost and lonely puppy. Clearly, Jeff wasn’t prepared to deal with the loss of loosing someone. The breakup came when his girlfriend kept dropping hints to him. Maybe you’re not prepared to deal with this. Other times she would utter. I need a man that can help me take care of my four children. Jeff would listen to all of what his then ex-girlfriend was saying and intense fears would follow. After hearing the words each night, Jeff would develop panic attacks and often speak to himself in the middle of nights. She is probably set to leave me the next day. If she left me she would be totally fine. God, why would I agree to try and deal with four kids? Lord knows I’m lonely and just want affection. The ramblings would continue until Jeff would fall asleep and awake to his phone ringing. The rings were from his girlfriend at the time saying a cordial hello and what he was going to do for the day? He would then makeup things and try to sound busy as the girlfriend knew Jeff was lost and always didn’t seem to know what to really do in life. The hints would continue as they would spend time with one another. The kids were too busy playing and laughing, while Jeff felt like his worst fears would one day come true. So on one day when he drove back home he suddenly grabbed his phone and sent a text message. Your right Kerry, I am not ready for this, I’m sure you will find a man soon that can be a great role-model towards the children. Three minutes after the text was delivered, Kerry replied. Okay you have a good life and I’m sure there is a girl out there for you. Jeff read the text and his heart dropped. He couldn’t believe that he was the one that would end the relationship. Now it appeared that he was back to square one and living the misery-filled lifestyle. A hour later the painful memories shot through his mind. Memories of Kerry kissing him and telling him that he’s a good guy and wiping his tears. And other memories when the children made him a heart made out of paper for a gift after they got out of school. Jeff held the heart very near and dear to him and posted it on his wall. Now since the breakup, Jeff simply stared at the heart gift from the kids and slowly walked near the wall to take it down. He felt the tears that was forming. Each shed of tear hit the floor as did his heart felt. This whole day reminded him of his past days when he was single. During his long single span during his life, he would cry out of nowhere and look at himself with pity while standing in the mirror. So much sadness crept up and wrapped him around. It was as if all the sadness and depression were now apart of his skin. He wore this type of feeling on him for years and years until he finally met Kerry. Jeff had the courage to say hello one day at the shopping center and later the hello turned into a date. Jeff wasn’t oblivious to her having children, but the anxiety came full throttle when they went on the second date. Still, Jeff would try and deal with the fact that Kerry had four children and show her that he wants to be apart of her life. Kerry would appreciate it until she noticed Jeff would have his days of weakness. Sometimes at the local stores he would quietly beg her for a kiss. The first few times was okay so she gave him a few pecks and rubbed his cheeks. After a month, it grew annoying to Kerry and she would shout. For God sake man stop acting so desperate, you don’t need a kiss at the store every time you feel empty! It was true, Jeff felt lonely and so empty inside so he thought that receiving affection would cure the holes that were drilled into his heart from the past. Other displays of instability would happen when Kerry would invite Jeff to family gatherings. Jeff never seemed to fit it and was often quiet while sweating bullets. Members of Kerry’s family would often stare and wonder why she would bring a guy like this into her life. Every time someone would try and say hello to Jeff he would look shocked and do an awkward wave with a faint smile. The parties were always stressful for Jeff and this would soon create doubts into the mind of Kerry about the future of their relationship. This repetitive saga occurred for nine months then Jeff sent the message. It’s been two days since the breakup and it literally felt like he was falling to pieces and his heart further feeling the extreme effects of breakup. Jeff threw his hands up and shouted. I can’t handle this shit!! To any God or to any person who is listening? I can’t deal with the human pains and the ultimate reality of losing a girlfriend! Jeff was so infuriated and upset. He placed his head down, grabbed his pillow, and sobbed for hours until it was time to grab a bite to eat. Now at three pm, Jeff was attempting to eat from a local burger joint. He ordered a double-bacon cheeseburger deluxe combo meal. Jeff felt like he was starving so he dove right into the meal once the waitress gave it to him. He ate fast and vigorously while lodging the hard fries down his throat