It's been a long time since I haven't played the guitar. I paced back and forth thinking. And I looked at my guitar. Well, technically it's not mine. My sister's boyfriend let me borrow it. I am still waiting for the time I could own my dream guitar. It has to be perfect. And by the time I hold it with my hands, it will be capable of producing mind moving melodies. But heck, it's just a long distant dream. 

I picked up the guitar. Held it delicately with my fragile hands. I familiarized myself with the standard tunes of each string. I let the sounds consume me. I closed my eyes and began to play. The music went through my ears, my mind, my veins, my heart. I played an unfamiliar tune I've never heard before. But it sounds so nostalgic. So homey. Like I've played this a couple of times. Though I can't seem to remember where. And when. 

I continued to play. Can't seem to hear the noises outside. Can't seem to imagine the place I am right now. It's as if I'm transported to another place devoid of reality. But that didn't stop me from playing. I just strummed and plucked and strummed like there's no beginning and no end. 

Then I stopped with one single out-of-tune strum. Then everything stopped. The noise outside was gone. There was only stillness. I could only hear my breath. I didn't realize I was panting. And my heart was beating so fast. Then I opened my eyes. 

I could only stare in disbelief and shock at what I saw afterwards. My jaw dropped. 

Once upon a time there was a girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the fourth boyfriend the most and adorned him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the third boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her second boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girl’s first boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him!

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, ‘I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I’ll be all alone.’

Thus, she asked the fourth boyfriend, ‘I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?’

‘No way!’, replied the fourth boyfriend, and he walked away without another word.

His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart.

The sad girl then asked the third boyfriend, ‘I loved you all my life. Now that I’m dying, will you follow me and keep me company?’

‘No!’, replied the third boyfriend. ‘Life is too good! When you die, I’m going to marry someone else!’

Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the second boyfriend, ‘I have always turned to you for help and you’ve always been there for me.  When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?’

‘I’m sorry, I can’t help you out this time!’, replied the second boyfriend. ‘At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.’

His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.
Then a voice called out: ‘I’ll go with you. I’ll follow you no matter where you go.’

The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect.

Greatly grieved, the girl said, ‘I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!’
In truth, you have four boyfriends/girlfriends in your life:

Your fourth boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your third boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.

Your second boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your first boyfriend is your spirit. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world.

However, your spirit is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.
                                                                                                                                                               - Mangesh -

I was walking on a foreign land. Everything feels so nice. Everything is a new experience. And it feels good just strolling in these not-so-empty streets. I tried to retain every feeling that I felt while passing by vendors and just people in general. I could feel the cool breeze in my face as I glanced at every corner with awe in my eyes. Then I remembered why I came here in the first place. It was to reminisce the memories of the past. This was one of the places he’d recommend. If only I could thank him. But it was too late. He was already gone. The feeling is becoming distant as well. It was good while it lasted.

I was still fascinated and awed by the things I saw and heard. Everything seems like a dream. This distracted me for a little while and I got so engrossed with the experience I felt while I was there. I then came to a very beautiful park that captivated my senses. The sky was shining in all its glory as the sun was setting. And as I was about to find a good place to sit in the park, I saw a somewhat familiar figure along my way. He seems so familiar. Like he’s someone really close to me. I was put to a halt. Staring at him. Trying to figure out a face out of him. He was talking to a pretty little girl and then he glanced at me. He must have noticed my gaze. I looked away. I must have looked silly. I tried not to look but I could feel his eyes on me again. Like he feels the same. But maybe I’m just imagining things. I have to shrug this off. I walked towards the bench that would get me a good view at the sunset and I passed by him. He glanced at me again with a confused look on his face. I tried to ignore it and just went to where I’m supposed to go.
 
While looking at the sunset, my mind seems to be wandering someplace else. I was still very bothered. Was he the person I thought he would be? I wanted to get a closer glimpse of him, but it’d be too obvious. So I just sat there. Bothered and confused. With my heart beating so fast for no valid reasons at all. I was simply perplexed and the world around me was beginning to fade. The feeling I once had when I first arrived the place was gone. It was replaced with anxiety and worry. I was just blankly staring at the beautiful view. Not exactly enjoying it. 

Then I felt someone sat on the next bench. I figured it was him. The girl he was with somehow left. He was all alone in the other bench beside mine. I tried to keep my cool but it was too hard to keep. I have to go. I stood up from where I am and was about to walk ahead. But then, he also stood up and looked like he was about to meet up with me. We were gazing at each other. Like we want to say something but just can’t find the right words. The first word that came to my mouth was his name interrogatively. Or so I think was his name. He was second-guessing on answering the question but he gave an affirmative answer after a few seconds. My heart was beating abruptly and I feel like I couldn’t breathe. His eyes were still questioning. Gazing at me which felt like a million years. He asked, “And you are?”