Love on the edge

A young guy who has to go through the same pattern of losing his loved ones due to a curse from an unknown past life.

Ethan Mercer sat on the edge of his bed and gazed at his little apartment's damaged ceiling. He had it all at twenty-five: charisma, a respectable career, and a long list of admirers. However, the memories of three ladies who entered his life and passed away nineteen days into their relationships tormented him like a ghost. 

It had started with Clara in high school. She was bright, with an infectious laugh that made his heart race. Nineteen days in, she was gone-killed in a tragic car accident. Next came Mia, an artist who opened his eyes to beauty. After nineteen days, she succumbed to a sudden illness. Finally, there was Sarah, the adventurous spirit who inspired him to take risks. On the nineteenth day, a freak accident snatched her away.

The loss had smashed him, causing an agony that seemed to have cut a hollow pit in his chest. Every day was a battle, a never - ending loop of awakening to a life devoid of meaning and filled with reminders of his losses. He was haunted by recollections that both comforted and tortured him as he found himself lost in familiar locations. He relived every event in his thoughts in the silence of the night - unspoken words that hung like ghosts, discussions that ended, laughing that had died away. 

In his sorrow, he searched for explanations, grasping at any hint of meaning to make sense of the chaos that had engulfed his life.

He turned to books as a haven, poring over books about fate and destiny and frantically looking for comfort in antiquated ideas that alluded to a higher plan. Friends gave him well-intentioned cliches, but the weight of his anguish made their words seem meaningless. He felt as though he was only a spectator in his own life, even though the world kept spinning. The gnawing concern of why this had happened to him dominated every conversation, making it feel shallow. A glimmer of hope - the conviction that maybe there was a secret truth waiting to be discovered beneath his suffering emerged as despair grew.

The Curse Revealed



One fateful night, a mystery woman approached him in a darkened club. She said, her eyes glimmering with an unearthly brightness, "You're cursed."

"You have to deal with the consequences because you wronged a woman in a previous life."

“Who? What do you mean?” Ethan asked, his heart racing.

“A woman you cheated on. She has bound your heart with sorrow. You must go back and change your actions to set things right,” she explained.

“Time travel?” Ethan asked, skepticism mingling with desperation.

“Exactly. You have to change what you did in that life. Only then can you save the women you’ve lost.”

The Journey Begins

With a deep breath, Ethan accepted her strange offer. The world around him began to swirl, colors blending into a dizzying vortex. The antique hourglass the woman had given him glowed in his hands, its sand shimmering like starlight as time twisted and turned. When the chaos settled, he found himself standing in an unfamiliar yet hauntingly familiar setting - a vibrant marketplace bustling with life.

The air was thick with the scent of spices and fresh bread, and merchants shouted their wares. Ethan felt an odd warmth wash over him, as if the very essence of this time wrapped around him. He looked down at his hands, noticing they were youthful and unscarred, a stark contrast to the weariness of his current life.

Then, his gaze fell upon a beautiful woman with long, flowing hair, her laughter like music. Her eyes sparkled with joy as she chatted with friends. “Lila,” he breathed, recognizing her as the woman he had betrayed. The hourglass pulsed gently in his grasp, reminding him of the fragile nature of time. Memories flooded back - moments of love, laughter, and the heart-wrenching decision that had shattered their bond. This was his chance to rewrite history, to confront his past mistakes and reclaim the love he had lost.

Rewriting the Past

As he approached her, he felt a mix of nostalgia and regret. This was the moment where everything had gone wrong. He could see himself from the past, charming yet deceitful, basking in the attention of multiple women.

“Lila!” he called out, rushing toward her. “Wait!”

She turned, confusion etched on her face. “Do I know you?”

“I’m… I’m someone who cares about you deeply,” he said, heart pounding. “Listen, I need you to know that I can change. I promise I won’t hurt you. I won’t cheat on you.”

“What are you talking about?” Lila asked, brows furrowed.

“I was a fool. In my past life, I made terrible choices, but I can make things right. I can be the man you deserve!” he implored.

A Test of Love

Days turned into weeks, and Ethan devoted himself to Lila, taking her on adventures, sharing secrets, and nurturing a bond he had never allowed himself to form before. But as the fateful nineteenth day approached, a sense of dread settled in.

On the night of their celebration, they strolled through the vibrant streets. Ethan was still recovering from his past mistakes, and the anxiety gnawed at him like a relentless predator.

“I’ve never felt this way before,” Lila said, her eyes sparkling with joy. But the air around them shifted suddenly, and Ethan sensed a darkness closing in.

Just as they reached a bridge overlooking the river, Ethan spotted a figure watching them from the shadows. The tension escalated as the man stepped forward, revealing a familiar face - his own past self, the womanizer who had cheated Lila.

“Looks like you’re playing house,” his past self sneered, eyes glinting with malice. “But you can’t escape who you are.”

Facing the Darkness

Ethan’s heart raced. “You don’t control me anymore! I’ve changed!” he shouted, stepping protectively in front of Lila.

“Change? You think you can rewrite history? I’m here to remind you what happens when you fail!” his past self taunted, advancing toward them.

The air crackled with tension as Ethan felt a surge of anger. “Lila, get back!” he yelled, adrenaline flooding his veins.

The confrontation escalated; shadows flickered in the dim light as Ethan’s past self lunged, attempting to break their bond. “You don’t deserve her!” he spat.

Ethan grappled with the dark version of himself, the struggle an echo of his past sins. “I will fight for what’s right!” he declared, fueled by love and determination.

Just as it seemed like all hope was lost, Ethan remembered the woman from the bar’s words: “To change the past, you must confront it.” With a sudden burst of energy, he pushed his past self back, forcing him to confront the truth.

“You’re nothing but a coward hiding behind charm and deceit!” Ethan shouted, the words piercing the air. “I’ve learned to love, and I won’t let you take that away!”

With those words, the shadows surrounding his past self began to fade, revealing the pain and regret beneath. The man staggered back, confusion washing over his face. “No… this can’t be happening!”

The Breaking Point

Ethan turned back to Lila, who was watching him with wide, fearful eyes. “Ethan, what’s happening?” she asked, her voice trembling.

“I’m fighting for you,” he said, desperation clawing at his throat. “I won’t let my past destroy our future!”

But as the confrontation reached its peak, Ethan felt a sudden rush of fear. “What if I can’t change things? What if I lose you too?” The weight of his past loomed over him like a storm cloud, threatening to engulf everything he had fought for.

“Ethan, please,” Lila said, stepping closer, her hand reaching for him. “You have to believe in us. You’ve changed, and I can see it.”

Her words pierced through his fear, but doubt still flickered in his heart. “But what if it’s too late? What if my mistakes are too powerful?”

Tears filled Lila’s eyes, and she stepped forward, determination in her gaze. “You have to trust that love can conquer even the darkest past. I believe in you.”

The shadows of his past self shrank, but Ethan felt an overwhelming surge of emotion as he realized the truth - he had the power to change his fate. With Lila’s unwavering belief in him, he could rewrite the ending to their story.

“I’m not that person anymore,” Ethan said, his voice breaking as he reached for Lila. “I’ll prove it to you. I won’t let my past define me!”

In that moment, the darkness shattered, and Ethan felt a surge of warmth enveloping them. Lila’s presence anchored him, filling him with strength. “I choose you,” he whispered, his heart swelling with love.

With that declaration, the echoes of regret faded into the light, and Ethan felt the chains of his past dissolve. He embraced Lila, the weight lifting as he finally broke free from the curse that had haunted him for so long.

The Final Awakening

The next morning, Ethan found himself back in his apartment, sunlight streaming through the window. He felt a profound sense of peace wash over him. He glanced at his phone to find messages from Clara and Mia, their smiles brightening his screen.

“Can’t wait to see you today! Love you!” read Clara’s message, and Ethan felt a weight lift from his heart.

He rushed to meet Clara, heart full of hope. As they embraced, he felt the warmth of genuine love envelop him. “Hey, I’ve been thinking about how lucky I am to have you in my life,” he said, his voice steady.

“I feel the same way,” Clara replied, her eyes sparkling with affection.

Ethan knew love could be daunting, but now, it was a choice he was ready to embrace. He had confronted his past, fought through darkness, and emerged victorious.

With a renewed spirit, he leaned in to kiss Clara, fully ready to embrace a future filled with love, laughter, and the promise of new beginnings - no longer haunted by echoes of sorrow, but filled with the light of redemption.

Author's Note

Hope to receive constructive feedbacks