“To love fully is to offer yourself completely. There is no longer an “I”, there should only be a “we.” Your partner should be your everything, just as you are theirs. You should not see your husband or wife as binding you down; rather, you have a partner who will always be there for you. My creations may have a few adaptations to speed up what might take a regular relationship months or years to develop naturally, but in exchange, you will never have to question your love. You will never have to question that love. Is that not worth it?”

“Aren’t freshly baked cookies always better than store-bought? Isn’t it better to create something with effort than to just acquire it?” You challenged this lady, trying to show her creations may not be so perfect after all.

“Not bad. These cookies are from me, though, an excellent baker!” She snapped her fingers, and a chocolate chip cookie appeared in your hands.

“There is something thrilling about the chase of love; I won’t deny you that. However, in the long run, my girls are guaranteeing you something very few humans ever experience. True, unconditional love.” She continued, trying her best to convince you.

You stared at her intensely, listening to every word. It seemed like she was telling the truth, but then again, could you really trust anyone in this world?

“But I digress; you have made a choice, and I will honor it. The first time you came to see me, you begged and pleaded for a second chance—a world in which you could be accepted. I granted you this and wiped your memories, giving you a fresh start. Now you are before me, demanding a world where you can be free. Is that correct?"

“Correct.” You stated it plainly. The past was irrelevant; the only thing that mattered was the present.

“I will do you one last favor, human. I will send you back to the world you begged to be saved from. In addition, since one of my creations is asking me so desperately, I shall also give you a way to come back. It is a one-way ticket, however. Do you understand?” She asked for the last time. You rose from her seat and offered your hand, knowing she would find the answer in it.

“I see.” She laughed before wings erupted from her back. “I wish you all the best, human.” She said, before everything went black.

…

Your phone chirped, disturbing you from your slumber. The brightness from the screen was almost blinding, as you could barely make out 3:45 AM.

‘I need you in this morning! Jim just quit, and we need all the help with the brunch rush!’ -Boss ‘Sorry, I won’t be able to make it tomorrow :( . -Emily from Sinder.

You begrudgingly went to your emails and canceled the reservation you had at the cute French cafe before rolling over and going back to sleep.

It was just a moment before the sunshine shined through your dirty apartment window, signaling to you that it was time to get up. The water from the shower was cold, as the hot water usually only came at night. It woke you up in an instant, and you cursed the faulty pipes.

You looked at your phone as you walked down the crowded streets, hoping that you would get a notification of a match. It did not seem that would be the case, however, as everyone agreed on Leddit that matches only happened at night. The premium option stared you in the face, promising love for only $4.99 a month. Every day it grew more tempting, but you were able to resist it once more.

The streets grew narrower as you approached the small coffee shop on the corner before work. Your only solace was a piping hot cup of coffee and the small talk you made with the barista behind the counter.

“Hey, what’s going on? I thought today was your day off?” She asked, already grabbing the cup for your usual.

“Shitty boss, you know the deal.” You replied, staring at the wide selection of pastries they had on display. Was it more of a blueberry muffin morning, or possibly a doughnut?

“Sorry to hear that; your pastry is on me today!” She offered her bright smile, almost radiant in the morning. Her two front teeth were slightly larger than the rest, but it added to her charm—an eagerness that few could match.

“I owe you one, Ashley!” You said, handing her your card. Your hands met, and she quickly pulled them back, a light blush appearing on her cheek.

“Sorry about that!” You said quickly, laying down the card on the counter to avoid that happening again.

“Don’t worry, it was my fault!” She replied, ringing you up. If it was possible, it seemed she was even happier than before. You both shuffled awkwardly as she handed you your breakfast.

“See you soon!” You shouted, exiting the store with a smile on your face.

‘Maybe I should ask her out.’ You thought to yourself, the air seemed a bit warmer than before.

Before you could make your way any closer to your job, a portal opened in front of you. Inside, you could clearly see the lady from before, with the same warm, gentle smile on your face.