DISCLAIMER HERE

Once upon a time, upon a place, upon a love there was a boy. No, a man. But really a boy. This young man was a foolish one, not particularly skilled or remarkable in any way. But although he was rather unskilled, he was extraordinarily kind and naïve. And he was in love. His love was tall and handsome, with eyes that burned like stars. Despite the common belief that being in love leaves to heartbreak and unhappiness, the young man was giddily happy. Ridiculously, even. For his love was returned and the loneliness and sorrow that seemed so ever pressing before, now was just a fleeting memory.

But fate is cruel to lovers and even more to fools.

One day, a bright sunny one not even close to the expected fog and rain cloud forecast that usually precedes a tragedy, the young man's love left their house.

I'll be back by morning, he said, so calmly, so normally, that the young man had no reason to even doubt the possibility that he might be early or late.

See you then. Take care, the young man responded, with a smile bright like sunshine.

Noon quickly turned to twilight, and twilight soon to midnight, and finally to noon again. And his love had not returned.

But the young man had faith in his love. A foolish kind of faith that no matter what happened his love would keep his promise and return to him by morning. Maybe not this morning, but next, perhaps that was what his love had meant. And so he waited.

Minutes turned to hours, hours into days, and days to weeks, when finally the young man decided to leave the house himself and search.

He traveled all around the small town where they lived, asking friends, neighbors, and eventually complete strangers if they had seen his love. But they all answered the same, No, we have not seen him. Until finally, on the very outskirts of the town, one child had answered different. He was walking that way, she said, and pointed towards the forest.

At that, the young man had paled considerably, for the forest was a dangerous place, and although warnings against journeying into its shadowed depths permeated the entire community, every year at least one foolhardy, reckless person decided to test their courage and luck. And so every year, at least one person vanished, and was never heard from again.

He looked sad, the girl added after some thought, and in that split second, the young man resolved to brave the woods himself.

Dang this was short. Next time I'll try to make it longer.

EDIT: So uh yeah, if you were expecting like a new chap, sorry. Just a small edit. Heh heh.