Before you wake you must sleep...

But sleep not too long here, for darkness would taint even the purest of hearts if it were left unwary long enough.

You seem troubled, are you feeling well? Or is it my story that bothers you so? No matter, it will get better. Perhaps.
Of course, if things are to improve, they must first become much worse. Why do I say so?

Well, you see, it is all his fault. That fateful meeting, two months after the first. I'd thought I'd buried all trace of any kind of feeling for him so deep that it would never be able to find it's way to the surface of my heart ever again.

I had planned to go for a stroll that day, down to a rather large tree by a lake nearby our house where I could sit and read in peace. This plan, however, was cut short by a certain event. A man at my front door. The man. The moment I saw him, those feelings which I had thought to be buried forever immediately resurfaced. I froze, my head was spinning with too much chaos to register any need for movement.  He walked toward me, said my name softly, asked me questions. Brushed a hand though my hair. I panicked. I ran. Back to the solitude, to the safety of my room. My heart was pounding - that's amusing, 'my heart', really now - and I was shaking. My head reeling with questions, why was he here? What just happened? He had remembered me? Slowly, I began to calm down. Now composed, I decided to dwell on the matter no further and began making preparations for dinner where yet another surprise lay in wait.

Oh dear, I apologise, there seems to be another customer. Not to worry, this shouldn't take long.

Emmerah

The lips of an innocent in pain...

They taste delectable, wouldn't you agree?

You don't know what I mean? Very well, I shall continue my tale and, hopefully, you will hear and understand.

A few days after the party I came to a decision. I would bury any feelings I had for him and move on. At first it worked out fine, I went about my daily life peacefully, innocently, naively.
For a while it went on as such, the memory of him only surfacing a few times - Occasionally I wondered what he was thinking, what he was doing, who he was with... But these thoughts were quickly realised and tucked back into the corner of my mind where, I hoped, they would remain forgotten.
It was a little over two months after the party when I finally met him again. It was a moment I would remember with bitterness in the years to come.
Shall I tell you about it? Would you like to know why?

I believe I shall. Ahh, but for now you seem weary. Come, rest your head upon my lap and let me lull you to sleep with one of my favourite melodies.

Emmerah

Now where was I...

Ahh, yes. The dance.

How enchanted I was as he twirled me about the dance floor, his eyes, his smile, the warmth of his hand over my own and the support of his other on my waist, everything about him thrilled me. What I felt for him during that dance, I believe is as close to what you would call love as my sixteen year old self could feel. 

I remember so well, the blurry lights as we spun in circles. That light headed feeling as he led me off the dance floor, too soon, back to my seat.
He kissed my hand a last time before he moved on, and I watched him for the rest of the night, as he twirled other girls around, laughed with them, just as he'd done with me. In a flash I realised that I was no more than a simple wallflower to him; while it was true that I was quite pretty, I was only one pale bud in comparison to the others who surely made a radiant bouquet. If he so chose it, he could pick any flower from among it, myself included. Why then, would he ever choose me? Especially when there were surely many, much more beautiful flowers he could choose. This thought lingered in my mind for the rest of the night, and then much longer as I sat awake in my room, thinking about him till the early hours of the morning when finally I drifted into a sort of half sleep...

Forgive me, it seems my dearest Meari is in need of assistance. Please, make yourself at home while I go upstairs and see how I may help the matter.

Emmerah

And so it begins...

On a rainy night, rather like this one really - although I must say, it always seems to be raining around me, is that not strange? - no matter. We were celebrating my 16th year in the usual way of a grande party, the warm glow of candles and the overpowering smell of perfume masked the dreary weather outside and lit a fire in my heart. It was so enchanting back then, all those people there for me - reflecting back on it i now realise that the majority of them were there merely so they could play with politics and advance higher on the social ladder -  and I was happy, strange as that may seem to those of you who know me for what I am.
Ah! But I'm getting ahead of myself.

It was midway through the night, and I'd barely sat down to rest my feet when a young gentleman took my hand and asked me to dance.

Hm? What's that you say? A noise? Ah, I see. A customer. No matter, I shall return to continue my tale momentarily...

Emmerah

Welcome...

To my house of cards and broken hearts.
I would tell you a story, if I may, of Devils and the Purest of hearts. If you wish to hear it, then I will talk and you can stay. Be warned however, this tale is long, for I have traveled far. If you have not the time to listen, to this strange story of another persons life, then the door, I say, is to the right, and you may leave at your convenience.

Emmerah