Beyond the horizon, past the far distance, as the morning sun rose and spilled its crimson, brilliant warm light across the green lands, a young woman soundly sleeps inside a white-painted office room, her jet black hair running down her sides like a stream of running water, and her right arm placed on a grey computer desk, her head peacefully laid on top of her right arm. Stirring awake, the young woman's long upturned lashes fluttered upwards, seeming as if they were beautiful black wings, in which at the same time, revealed her obsidian orbs that slowly fluttered open, squinting as soon as the sun's light from outside the office window reflected through her dark eyes.
"Ugh"
Lifting my head up from the uncomfortable position that I was in, I felt my arm go numb as soon as the weight from my head was lifted.
"What time is it now…"
Rubbing my sleep away with the back of my right hand, I looked at the clock at my computer screen, reacting, "5:00 AM? ...I'm still kind of drowsy… But I guess it's a good thing since I woke up just in time"
Yawning as she stood up from the cheap padded stool that she continuously sat on for the past 10 hours, Yuri immediately yelped in surprise at the sudden wave of excruciating pain from her back.
"Ah... That hurts…"
Suddenly teary-eyed, Yuri slowly straightened her petite small frame, making a soft "pop!" sound as she sighed and wiped the tears of pain from her eyes.
"Success!"
Stretching her arms wide in the air, Yuri did some small stretches, extending her limbs as she heaved a sigh of relief.
"Stretching is the best remedy for back aches!"
After finishing her warm ups, Yuri finally plugged out the small silver flash-drive from one of her computer's USB ports, and dragged her warmed up body out of her office door, her face noticeably haggard and eyes sunken due to lack of sleep.
"Good morning Miss Yuri!"
A lean but graceful looking young man cheerfully chimed as he approached Yuri in a moderate pace, his destination being that to be the opposite way where Yuri was supposed to head to, thus the reason why he seemed to look like he was approaching Yuri.
Glancing at his direction, Yuri shortly examined the young man. His name was Dennis Turner. He was at the same age of Yuri, and he had a heart melting smile, a pretty face that would be a great start to see in the morning, and a pair of mesmerizing honey colored eyes that almost looked as if they were twinkling when hit with the sun's light.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Good morning too Dennis", Yuri replied with a small wave.
Right now, the current company that Yuri works for, Sweet Haven Company, ranked 2 in the top 10 most prominent writing companies in the City of Tyche.
For over the past centuries, Sweet Haven Company had been the dream of many to work under for.
A haven for the talented, a perfect place to reach the stars and stay 'forever'.
That is what they've promised us and also what they've took from us.
Ignorance is bliss, what you don't know, you won't be afraid of.
Maybe that was why my father never told us of anything…
Never mind that, for now, I must remain low, and unnoticed, lest I want them to figure out my true ambition in entering Sweet Haven Company…
"What's up Dennis?"
A middle-aged man with dark brown eyes, framed with graceful brows and a well-defined chin and nose have suddenly appeared behind Yuri and swiftly walked pass her to catch a high five with Dennis.
This man... What's his name again?
Unlike Dennis who looked exceptionally young and baby-like, this middle-aged man has a fuzzy beard growing, obscuring his well-defined chin and also making it seem like he's a close relative to Santa Claus than an employee here at Sweet Haven, but even so, his body built was really fitting for his profession since he was a Moon ranked high-grade Martial Artist.
"Hey there Jean!"
After returning the high five, Dennis smiled at "Jean" and told him to have a great day.
Looking back at them as she slowed her own pace, Yuri glanced back at the two with a blank look.
Judging by the looks of it, everyone seems to love Dennis, and also seems to be drawn to his charismatic character, kind personality and warm greetings, just like how a moth was drawn to a flame.
The reason for this?
It's simple.
Have you heard of the story "The young moth and the flame?"
If not, then let me tell you something interesting…
Once upon a time, there was a flame that was so bright, and beautiful, and for the young moth, the flame was the most lovely in the whole world. Because of this, the young moth was gradually drawn to the flame's mesmerizing allure but the old moth stopped him and warned, "Do not be blinded by your desires, see the flame with an open-mind, be aware of the flame's danger before it's too late." But the young moth was stubborn. The young moth in response did not heed the old moth's advice and approached the bright crimson flame until his wings were burnt off and he got stuck on the candle's wax. In the end, the young moth burned to death just because he yearned more of his own desires. But do I blame the young moth? No. Do I blame the flame? No. It was neither one's fault.
It was the same case between the relationship of Dennis and I. I was the disfigured young moth, and Dennis was the ever-splendid flame.
I was too stubborn to believe that the flame would understand the difficulties of a disfigured young moth.
But I guess I was just wrong.
Isn't it fascinating? A young moth not chasing a flame for its own desires but because it felt detached and alone...
Are you now intrigued to know whether if the young moth would survive in the end or would the young moth be burned by the all-consuming flame?
If you are, then, I don't think I have the answer for that yet...