On human nature

Story 1

Natalie was a wisp of sunshine personified. Her laughter, bright and tinkling, followed her like a happy little echo wherever she went. She approached the world with wide, curious eyes, eager to discover its secrets. A dew-kissed spiderweb transformed into a miniature diamond palace, a buzzing bee held the key to the flower’s sugary heart – every little thing held magic for Natalie.

She skipped more than she walked, her pigtails bouncing with each carefree step. Mud puddles were not obstacles, but delightful opportunities for a splash. Scraped knees were badges of honour, proving she’d been adventuring. Natalie didn’t worry about tomorrow; she lived fully in the vibrant, exciting now.

Her open heart was a welcome mat for anyone she met. A shy smile from a stranger, a lonely bird with a broken wing – Natalie offered kindness without hesitation. She saw the good in everything and everyone, radiating warmth that drew people to her every now and then. Her curiosity wasn’t just about knowing what, but understanding why, fostering an empathy that belied her young age. Natalie was a reminder that joy is a choice, and she chose it every single day.

Beata had always felt like a mismatched sock in a drawer of perfectly paired sets. The relentless normalcy of her parents, their predictable routines and unwavering expectations, suffocated her.

So, Beata invented a sickness. It started as a vague fatigue, a persistent headache she’d whisper about. Then, there came dizziness. She researched obscure ailments, mimicking symptoms she found online. The more attention she received, the more elaborate her charade became. Doctors poked and prodded, running countless tests that revealed nothing. Yet, Beata insisted, her voice laced with a fragile conviction. She revelled in the hushed concern, the permission to withdraw from obligations, the escape from the life she didn’t want.

Her parents, initially worried, grew increasingly frustrated. They saw through her act, but their attempts to reason with her were met with theatrics and silent tears. Beata had built a castle of illness, a sanctuary from the ordinary. Inside, she was the tragic heroine, forever misunderstood, forever unwilling to embrace a life deemed acceptable by everyone but herself.

Seamus stood before the flickering candlelight, the icon of Saint Brendan casting a warm glow that contrasted starkly with the chilling shadows of his past. His mother’s eyes, once filled with hope, now mirrored the relentless pain of disappointment. “You can’t keep running from this,” she had whispered, but the weight of her words faded like the Irish mist that enveloped their village.

With a heavy heart, he swore – through clenched teeth and trembling hands – that he would forsake the bottle that had stolen his dreams. Yet, in that moment of resolve, another voice beckoned him, one that promised a fleeting escape from the suffocating grip of reality. The allure of the nearby pub called like a siren to a weary sailor, each note harmonizing with the echoes of laughter and camaraderie.

In a heartbeat, Seamus felt the pull of nostalgia and regret intertwine, each step toward the pub whispering tales of his childhood ambitions. He could almost hear the roar of engines, feel the wind against his face as he was soaring through the skies, just like his father had. But instead, he surrendered to the familiar embrace of defeat, the taste of dreams lost drowning amidst a sea of whiskey.