Kiss of Death

“She was the best of women. She was the worst of women. She was the symbol of sweetness. She was toxicity personified. She was the purest of creatures. She was evil incarnate. She was the greatest source of joy. She was the greatest source of agony. In short, she was the **** of the century,” thought Elias while waiting for Amy…

Elias was an extraordinary guy, an absolutely complete package. He drew the attention of the ladies almost invariably whenever he was around them. His enviable look, his talent, his superior intellect, his extraordinary athleticism and his charming personality had turned him into a pure narcissist. That perhaps was one of the cardinal reasons why he had never fallen in love with any of the girls who had attempted to lure him into their trap. It was well-nigh an impossible task to seduce him. His sister used to warn him that pure narcissists are hell bound once they fall in love. “Love is a disaster especially for a narcissist like you. Wanna know what love stands for? L means Land of sorrows and suffering, the letter O refers to the ocean of tears, V stands for valley of death and finally E refers to the end of life.” Elias used to make fun of her sister. “Are you kidding me? Where do you get this stuff from? It’s ridiculous yet funny and that I can guarantee. And don’t worry I’ll never fall in love. Land of sorrows….LOL.” “That would be good for you,” replied her sister.

 Time flew and Elias never confronted a girl who could ensnare him. But, then came Amy, the one and the only girl who was irresistible even for a pure narcissist like Elias. She was his new classmate but he wanted her to be his soulmate the moment he saw her for the very first time. Elias was awestruck by her charming personality. Her beauty was unsurpassed. It was a love at first sight for Elias. Of course, he could not keep his feelings in check for too long. He was totally vulnerable for the first time in his life and that was something new for him. He immediately expressed his feelings and to his sheer delight the feelings were reciprocated. Elias was on cloud nine. Like a traditional lover, he totally surrendered himself. Elias and Amy were in love and everything seemed right with the world. They had awonderful chemistry. They had developed similar interests. In fact, they could talk about any topic for hours without getting bored. Every single night they listened to “There is a light that never goes out” by The Smiths. Apparently, it was a match made in heaven. Everything was going perfectly until the night when Amy snapped and bombarded Elias with poisonous words. That was the night when Elias actually proposed her.

“Falling in love with you was the best thing that ever happened to me. It’s ecstasy.”

“The feeling is mutual, my love,” replied Amy.

“So, when are we getting married?”

“What? Are you out of your mind?

“What did I do? All true lovers, all soulmates must grow old together. Don’t you think so?”

“No way. You’re not the one for me. You’re not a pure husband material. I hate the very idea of marriage as well. And listen to me very carefully, never ever repeat these stupid words again. Marriage is absolutely out of the question. I have a career to make. I wanna be a bureaucrat. Marriage is an ultimate obstacle for me. I hope this is the first and the last time we’re having this conversation.”

It was a bolt from the blue as Elias gave her no reason whatsoever to react the way she did. From that night on, it was pretty clear for Elias that she was not the one but he couldn’t quit. He knew exactly what she was all about and yet he chose to love her passionately.

Amy kept abusing him, kept manipulating him but Elias could never complain. He was head over heels and she knew it. That was the beginning of the end for Elias. Although their relationship was going nowhere, Elias remained delusional. He was always lying to himself. “Maybe she is mistreating me because she had a difficult childhood. Maybe she is the way she is because she was a problem child and her father abandoned her when she was just a kid. Maybe she is toxic because she has been through hell. Maybe, a plethora of undeserved failures have turned her into this monstrous creature. She needs some time, she needs space. She deserves empathy and love.” That’s how Elias deluded himself. He did not want to give up because in his mind Amy was the perfect girl for him. Little did he know that Amy had other ideas. She could never marry a simp. Amy was an image conscious lady. She never let Elias tell anyone about the love affair.

“I am ecstatic and I want to discuss about this relationship with my sister and my friends.”

“Never, promise me, you’d always keep it a secret.

“But why?”

“Elias, my love, you’re so naive and innocent. Don’t you know that relationships are brittle? The best way to protect your relationship is to keep it a secret. You’re my best kept secret and I hope I’m your best kept secret as well.” Red flags after red flags and still Elias remained delusional.

Amy had been notorious for her multiple love affairs. Although she disputed the claim that she ever had any intense love affair. She was a beauty with brain and that made her an enviable prospect. Nobody in his right mind could say no to her. But, beneath this facade of her perfect personality was her demonic character that remained hidden. Only Elias was unfortunate enough to battle that monstrous creature. Every night he suffered and every morning he woke up with a renewed spirit. He thought that good days were just around the corner but ever blind to fate, he was totally oblivious of the fact that he was sinking deep into a fatal territory. His decision to stay had consequences far more dangerous than anything he could have ever imagined.

Amy had total control now. Elias was a mere puppet and Amy was the one pulling the strings. His social media accounts, his WhatsApp and even his soul was hijacked by Amy and there was nothing he could do about that. “I am not the same Elias. I feel like I’m a robot, maybe even worse. All my activities are being monitored by her. I am not a free man anymore. I wish I could let her go. I love her, I despise her. She is living her life to the fullest. She talks to every single guy she finds attractive but I am not permitted to do the same although my intentions are pure. I am her slave and she’d never wanna marry her slave.

 But most importantly she’d never let me go. I’m stuck and there’s no way out. “Land of sorrows……..” No, God, no, I want out.”

Now, Elias was being bullied, manipulated and abused by Amy quite incessantly. He had the option to quit but he did not have the courage to do so for several reasons. She always showed care after the chorus of abuse andsomehow Elias always felt pampered in her company. Amy had become both panacea and poison for him. She was his first kiss, his first love. In fact, she was the one who taught him what love was. But, since that fateful night, she had never been the same. Now, Amy was playing a perfect game. They say that the ultimate bully ups the ante when the victim stops showing signs of resistance. She knew that Elias was crippled by his psychological paralysis. She even used to call him “Sweet Hamlet”. Elias had an uncanny ability to remain silent no matter how much he was provoked. Amy would hurl abuses, calling him the reason for everything that went wrong with her life. Elias never uttered a single word in return and suffered in silence. But silence was an error too. His silence was filled with painful screams.

 “What have I ever done to deserve this? I am smitten, I can’t imagine my life without her.Why doesn’t she want to grow old with me if she truly is in love with me?” Elias was punished for his silence as well.

“You insult me when you resort to silence. I hurl countless abuses, I punish you but you never reciprocate because you’re a hypocrite and not a saint. I am honest and that’s why I say what I have in my mind. I apologize when I’m wrong. You don’t utter a single word because you’re afraid of hurting me but deep down it makes you sick to your stomach.” One night Elias was so hurt by Amy’s verbal onslaught that he decided to quit for good. But the moment he shared his thoughts with Amy, she started blackmailing him. “Ok, you wanna leave? Leave right now. But, remember I’m going to commit suicide and I’ll leave a suicide note as well. You’ll be jailed both physically and mentally. You’ll never get away with that. You know, I love you more than anything else in the world. You complete me.” “Then why don’t you marry me? shouted Elias. What kind of relationship is this? You don’t want to live with me, you don’t want to live without me. You enjoy freedom but you never let me do the same. You don’t want love, you want control, total control to manipulate another soul. This is bondage. I am deteriorating day by day. I was the loveliest of creatures before I fell in love with you and now look at me. No doubt, you’ve given me the best moments of my life. To be in your company, to talk to you for hours without interruption, to sit with you in a quiet corner, that’s what I crave. But, You’re not the same Amy. Now, you’re nothing more than a cruel master. I did not subscribe to this. I want out.”

Elias’ health was deteriorating at a rapid pace. His sister couldn’t help but notice that Elias was visibly perturbed and there was something seriously wrong with him. Upon her insistence, he finally broke his silence. He told her everything regarding his toxic relationship. “My God! What an absolute biatch! Elias, how could you bear all of that? How could you fall in love with a girl like her? My God! I warned you, my love. You’re gonna have to do something. Look at you, this relationship will be the end of you. Why don’t you leave her? You’re a complete package. Almost every girl in the town craves your company.”

“I can’t do that. She’s the one, she’s my soulmate. I love her, I love her,” Elias said in a dejected manner. “She doesn’t let you talk to anyone. She has your Facebook password. She forced you to delete your WhatsApp. While, she talks to every other guy in the town. What kind of hypocrisy is that? She is incredibly insecure and she wants control. There I just said it. You’re a king under her control. Why don’t you understand? Let me talk to her.”

 “No, no, please. She’s gonna commit suicide. She’s borderline and she’s all alone.”

“Oh, come on! Nobody does that. You don’t know what girls are capable of. Even Satan learns his tricks from us ladies. We know how to control guys like you. Look Elias, you’re gonna have to quit this relationship otherwise you’ll end up getting ruined. You’ve already had your share of undeserved sufferings. It’s about time you pulled the trigger.”

“You’ll never understand. I’m in love with her. She was my first kiss. She gave me the best moments of my life. She is my one true love. Although she’s treating me like a dog, I can’t leave. I’m stuck for eternity.” Elias had tears in his eyes when he uttered these emotional words. His sister hugged him. He cried like a little kid. He was indeed helpless. He had nowhere to go. Meanwhile, Amy was now preparing for her exams. She knew that she had a real chance this time round. But, part of her was now feeling guilty as well. In her heart she knew that she had ruined the career of an incredibly gifted guy. Maybe part of her was in love with Elias. She was in love with his innocence, his loyalty, his eloquence, his talent.

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She just didn’t want to marry a simp and Elias had been acting like a pure simp. Kissing his juicy lips was the best feeling for her, feeling that she could never resist.

 “You know what I love about you?”

“What? asked Elias in a delightful manner.”

“Your innocence and the purity of your soul.”

“And…..?

“And your eyes. And…your smile.

“And…..?

“And your juicy lips. I could kiss you for hours and hours. I just can’t resist it.”

Amy was a mature and a pragmatic lady. She always preferred her career over love.Furthermore, because of the childhood trauma, she wanted to marry an alpha male who could protect her. Elias was a soft guy. Therefore, she never entertained the idea of marrying him. She was solely focused on her career. But for Elias, Amy was his love, his career, his reason to live. Elias did everything in his power to help Amy achieve her ultimate goal. He was her motivation in the darkest of times. Nobody wanted her to be successful more than Elias. He loved her passionately and religiously and that was gonna be the cause of his ultimate downfall. Elias was living in bad faith. He was hoping against hope. He was now pretty convinced that Amy was never gonna marry him but he kept on waiting. He wanted to give her one last chance. He was so emotionally invested that he couldn’t imagine his relationship withering away in the blink of an eye. So, he decided to wait. He waited and waited and finally Amy became a bureaucrat. Elias was over the moon. “It’s about time. Now, I’m gonna propose her again and this time round she’s gonna say, Yes.”

Little did he know that Amy was never going to change her mind. “Aren’t you done tormenting me with this disgusting question? You know, I hate the very idea of marriage. My mother was divorced and that was a traumatic experience for me. I was supposed to celebrate today and you’ve ruined my mood.”

“But, I’ve waited and waited for this day. I thought after achieving your dream, you were going to marry me. Please, say, Yes.

“Oh, come on! Don’t force me. I am never going to marry anyone. Never ever.”

“Then, I’m gonna have to quit. That’s it.”

“I need more time to think.”

“I have made up my mind. You either say yes or you lose me.”

“I can’t say Yes.”

“Goodbye then and remember you have broken my heart again and again and again.”

Amy remained silent and just like that Elias was gone with the wind. For months, they didn’t contact each other. Elias was hurled headlong deep into the abyss of depression. He was now shadow of a guy he once was. He just wanted to erase his memories. Nostalgia was ripping his soul apart. Although it was incredibly tough, yet he wanted to move on. He would’ve been successful were it not for the ultimate betrayal. Elias was shell shocked when he came to know that Amy had finally got married. “That’s not possible. It can’t be. Marriage, the very word made her sick to her stomach. Her father left her….No, I refuse to believe this.” That night he checked her Facebook and Instagram profile and he was stunned to see her wedding pics. Amy looked incredibly happy. Elias wanted to forget rather forgive her but it was an impossible task. He had an amputated soul. He didn’t have any desire to live anymore. “I am permanently scarred. They say that the scars are meant to fade away but what if the scars are invisible and spiritual in nature. There is no remedy, no salvation for me. These last three years have been an utter disaster. She literally used me like a tissue paper and now I am left to rot for eternity. She can’t get away with that. I won’t let her.”

Elias thought about it long and hard. He didn’t want to do anything silly but the feeling of revenge was too powerful to resist. That night he decided to contact Amy via a fake ID. “Finally, you’ve got married. Although it’s surprising but I’m really happy for you. You deserve it.”

“Who is there? Amy replied instantly. Her curiosity was aroused as usual.

“Maybe You’re talking to your soulmate.”

“I hate riddles. Reveal your identity posthaste or I’m blocking you.”

 “To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die. Does that ring a bell?”

“Oh my God! Elias, is that you? How I’ve missed you. Wow! This is unbelievable.”

“I thought you were never gonna marry.”

“Your premature departure was too much for me to bear. I couldn’t cope with that loss. You were my one true love. I had to find a substitute in order to survive. I swear I wanted to kill you. I wanted to commit suicide. Marriage was the only remedy left for my broken heart. I remained loyal till the end. Elias, I still love you.”

“Amy, I gave you three years of my life and you couldn’t make up your mind and the moment I left you, you decided to get married. I’ll never understand you. Anyways, there are no hard feelings whatsoever. I’m here to congratulate you. Your happiness means everything to me.”

“Oh, Elias, my one true love. You’ll always be with me. Our souls are inseparable. I am you and you are me. True lovers, soulmates never truly depart.We’re dead ringers. I love you.”

“I love you too, Amy. I have a request and I truly hope you won’t say no to me.”

“Go ahead.”

“I want to meet you. One last time and please don’t say no. It will break my heart.”

“Aww, Elias, tell me where do you want to meet me?

“The same place where we first kissed each other. First and the last kiss at the same place, wouldn’t that be poetic?

“I’ll be there.”

“Saturday evening then?”

“Done.”

 Saturday evening, Amy got to the place where she had kissed Elias the first time they met. Elias was already waiting there for her.

“Thank you for fulfilling my last wish. You still look like an angel.”

“Elias, I wish I could turn back time. I wish I could kiss you again and again. I want time to stand still while I kiss you. I’m gonna miss you. I’m gonna miss your innocence, your unswerving support, your wisdom and of course your juicy lips. You should get married as soon as possible. You’re still young and girls still drool over you.”

“How times change,” Elias gave a wry smile. “For three long years, you didn’t let me talk to anyone and now all of a sudden you want me to get married. The irony is unmistakable, my darling. Do you remember the night when we first talked to each other?”

“Of course, my love. We had an amazing telephonic conversation.Six hours without any interruption whatsoever. We were made for each other.”

“Amy, I wish I had never fallen in love. I was treated like a slave. What if they made a movie about our particular relationship? What would be its title? Three years a slave? LOL.. I’m just kidding. Remember, we once swore an oath?”

“Oath?”

“If either of us was unfaithful, the offending partner would have to die.”

 Amy’s heart skipped a beat. Now, she was afraid of Elias. But, she tried her best to remain calm.

“Hahahah, o yeah, I do remember that pact. But, surely we weren’t unfaithful. Circumstances compelled us to say goodbye to each other.”

“It’s about time we kissed each other. This is our last kiss and I want it to be memorable.”

They kissed each other passionately.While they were kissing each other, Amy felt something strange. She had swallowed something unknowingly.

“What was it, Elias?

 “Kiss of death, my love.”

Elias had carefully inserted a poisonous pill into Amy’s mouth during their last lip lock.

“Now, you’re going to suffer a long and painful death. I gave you the best years of my youth. I invested time and energy into this relationship. I listened to the chorus of reproach everysingle night. I loved you passionately. I waited for you tirelessly. I remained loyal and what did I get in return? An ultimate betrayal? No, Amy, I couldn’t let you get away with that.

 You deserved this punishment.”

“I loved you, Elias. How could you do this to me?”

“I loved you and you loved me. How could I let you go to another man. You were right, Amy. Our souls are inseparable. We couldn’t grow old together but at least we’re gonna die together. Elias had brought a shotgun with him. While singing the lyrics, “To die by your side is such a heavenly way to die,” he shot himself. Both Amy and Elias died on the same spot. The words of Elias’ sister were prophetic. Love indeed proved lethal for Elias.

L= Land of sorrows and suffering

O= Ocean of tears

V= Valley of death

E= End of life