Nobody understands why I stay with her, but everyone knows I don’t care what they think. The good days are worth a million bad ones. She and I are complicated, but I can take it. I would rather go through all the pain and keep trying instead of leaving, wondering what we could have been. Of course, I will do anything to keep her happy. Hopefully on this vacation we’re going to will open her eyes. There must but some place, old building, item, or words out there that will make her let go of the bad parts of her. I know she can be selfish, impulsive and even hurtful, but that’s why I am going to give her unconditional love to fix her. She completes me, but there is a catch; I am in love with her, the devil.

At seven in the morning I woke up with her beside me still sleeping. She was wearing one of my old grey sweatshirts that was then too small for me, but it was still loose on her. Her hair looked almost as crazy as her personality, but nothing can top that. The sheets were halfway off her legs before I tucked it back in for her. “You’re a lot more peaceful when you’re asleep,” I said to her as I decided to pack her bags for her. Our dogs, Charlie and Leo were just as passed out as Rose. Eventually she woke up and was ready to go. We dropped off the dogs to ours friend’s house and were headed to the airport. We were off to our trip in El Salvador.

We went to the most intriguing tour we could find, labelled “The Pool of Eternal Life.” It was a two mile walk into the most beautiful mountain view I had ever seen. I told Rose I thought it was beautiful, but she showed no interest. She wanted to see the pool. We entered a cave, full of glowing crystals that lit the whole vicinity, and there it was. A mesmerizing, clear, illuminated pool of water. We had to stay a few feet away from the water, for it was being guarded and no one was allowed to touch it. I saw the way her eyes shined at the sight, I wished to be looked at in the same way, but it was time to head back down the mountain. I told her to get some rest as I head to the local market to cook her dinner. An old lady approached me, and the first thing she said was, “You’re the man in love with the devil! You must leave her or she will strip you of everything that defines you. She will make you do unspeakable things. You are a good man. Do not let her deceive you.” As I’ve never heard words quite like this before, I looked at her in great concern, so I asked how she knew this. “You are not the first man she has taken under her control by her charm. She has captured the hearts of men to keep her alive for as long as she has existed. Her father assigns her to make the purest of men to fall in love with her, for if she fails, she goes back to Hell, ” she said with her eyes widening. Not knowing what to believe, I stormed off and continued looking for what food to get. I got back to the hotel room as the sun began to set.

“I want you to fetch me some of that water for me tonight,” she said to me as I was cooking her steak. I was going to say no, thinking about what the woman told me earlier on in the day. However, the moment she grinned at me I forgot her words. That night I headed to the mountain with the moon as my light. The walk up to the mountain seemed a whole lot longer, as millions of thoughts were running through my mind. What if I get caught? What would I tell her? What if I don’t get caught? Will this be what finally wins her heart? My pondering is interrupted as the vultures above began screeching.

I eventually got there and there it was, but guarded. A pack of wild dogs off the side of the mountain were sleeping, but the perfect distraction. I found a rock and threw it at the feet of the biggest hound; immediately he woke up barking, causing the others to do the same. I rushed up the mountain and hid behind the closest bush and the guard came rushing down. My heart was beating out of my chest, it felt like it was on fire. I snuck in the cave, filled my silver canteen with water, as my hands were trembling in fear. A chill ran through my spine as a hand was placed on my shoulder and spun me around, right as I closed the cap of my canteen. The guard knocked the wind out of me. Laying on the floor unable to move I murmured to myself, “Is it all worth it?” What am I doing to myself? I must be insane! Wh-” Then the thought of her smile struck me again. It is worth it, it has to be… right? I leaped forward at him striking him with everything I had in me and ran. Just as I thought I had escaped, the man’s big hands grabbed my arm. “She isn’t worth it, man. She is the devil! Wake the hell up!” he screamed at me. “But we love each other,” I replied. He began laughing like I was crazy. His laughter turned into a stern tone, “That is not love, she is not love, and everything in between is anything but love. You will see.” He let go of me. I didn’t know what to say, and even though he was me longer holding me I felt as if a million more hands were holding me down, trapping me in place. I look one big breath and slowly started walking down the mountain. Now, this walk feels like the longest walk ever. I hope the man and that lady in the market as just big talk. However, it feels different now. Everything BUT love? I’ve never thought of anything like that before. Well, she will see my gift to her and she will be mesmerized by it, she will love me for it. Right? I don’t know anymore.
Surely enough though, I reached the bottom of the mountain and eventually got back to our room. She had already passed out on the bed and I decided to wait till the morning to show her. I needed sleep, but I later on realized that I simply couldn’t. So many things are running through my mind and I feel like I am falling apart and I don’t know what I am doing and this girl right beside me is making me go mad and I just- Slow down. Calm down. Breathe. This will all be in in the past by the morning. My eyes became heavy.

The next thing I knew the sun was out and she was on top of me, and there was her smile again. The smile that worked charms, but I no longer felt that charm. I no longer was hypnotized by it and she could tell. “I got you something,” I said to her with my tired voice. I pulled out the canteen from under the bed and handed it to her slowly, in fear of what she’d say and how she’d react. She opened it and drank it quickly. “I thought this would taste a lot better than this,” she said as she threw the canteen behind and over her shoulder. I snapped and yelled, “What in the world is wrong with you? You have no idea what I did for you to have that!” No, she didn’t know, but she didn’t care either. She got back in bed and closed her eyes. I took another deep breath, like the one on the mountain. I exhaled and whispered in her ear closing my eyes, “I never loved you, you are a snake. And you fooled me but the games are over. Leave.” When I opened my eyes she was gone; I am free at last.