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"I have loved you with an everlasting love." — Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah) 31:3
Lexi Howard was in love.
Once upon a time, in the vibrant city of East Highland, Los Angeles, there lived a young and spirited girl named Lexi Howard. Lexi was a dreamer, always longing for something more in life. She had a heart full of hope and a soul that yearned for a love that would sweep her off her feet.
It was on New Year's Eve that Lexi's life took an unexpected turn. She found herself at a lively house party, surrounded by laughter and music. As the clock struck midnight, Lexi's brown eyes met those of a mysterious young man across the room. His name was Fezco, and he exuded an aura of confidence and charm that instantly captivated Lexi. Fezco approached Lexi with a warm smile, and they soon found themselves engrossed in conversation. Every passing moment, Lexi's crush on Fezco grew stronger, and it didn't take long for their connection to blossom into something more. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Lexi and Fezco became inseparable, their love story unfolding like a fairytale. They explored the city together, hand in hand, creating memories that would last a lifetime. Lexi's heart soared with joy as she realized that Fezco was more than a friend.
Fezco took Lexi on a first date at an ice cream parlor.
They had ice cream and talked. The ice cream date ended in a first kiss.
Fezco smiled as Lexi blushed.
They promised to keep in touch and Fezco drove away.
Their second date was beautiful.
It was on a clear, starlit night that Fezco suggested a stargazing date, promising Lexi an experience she would never forget. Hand in hand, they ventured to a scenic overlook nestled atop a hill. As they ascended, the city lights faded away, leaving them surrounded by the ethereal beauty of the night sky. The air was crisp, carrying with it a sense of magic and wonder.
Fezco spread out a cozy blanket beneath them, inviting Lexi to lie down. They gazed up at the vast expanse above, the stars twinkling like diamonds scattered across a velvet canvas. Lexi pointed out constellations, tracing invisible lines with her finger, sharing tales about the stars while Fezco listened.
In the tranquility of the moment, Lexi felt a sense of belonging she had never experienced before. Fezco's presence was like a comforting embrace, his voice soothing and filled with passion. The world around them seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of them and the celestial wonders above.
Time stood still as they shared their dreams and aspirations, their hopes and fears. Lexi found herself opening up to Fezco, feeling a connection that transcended the boundaries of ordinary romance. They whispered secrets into the night, their breath mingling with the cool breeze.
Fezco was hesitant about being Lexi's boyfriend, sure they had feelings for each other but his Grandmother Marie's words warned him about love....
"Your mom had a pure heart. But your daddy always took advantage of that. Let me tell you somethin' snowflake, there's a short supply of kindness in this world. People sniff it out...and they swoop right the fuck in. Don't ever fall in love. It's the one instinct...you can't trust."
"Fez? Are you ok?" Lexi asked as her brown eyes shone with concern.
Fezco's blue eyes glowed bright with sadness.
He couldn't tell her.....
"I'm fine." Fezco whispered. The redhead nestled Lexi in a warm embrace making her feel safe as he gently petted her brown hair.
"I love you, Fez." Lexi whispered as from his heartbeat thudding in her ear, she knew he loved her too.
As the night grew darker, Fezco pulled Lexi closer, his touch electrifying and tender. They shared a kiss under the watchful gaze of the stars, sealing their love in a moment of pure bliss. It was a kiss that spoke of promises and forever, a kiss that made Lexi believe in the magic of love.
It was summer.
Lexi Howard hadn't heard from Fezco.
Panic gripped her heart as dread crept in. She hoped and prayed that everything would be ok.
As she reached the door, she found it slightly ajar, an eerie silence enveloping the place. Lexi's heart pounded in her chest as she cautiously stepped inside, her worst fears coming to life.
Her screams echoed throughout the room.....
"NO!"
Lexi awoke in a cold sweat, her hands clammy and her vision filled with tears. She realized she was home and in her bedroom. Her phone chimed a notification.
It was from Fez.
Date: July 30, 2023
Time: 5 A.M.
Fez: Luv u, Lexi
Something was wrong.
Lexi felt a stubborn sense of dread on July 31st.
All she could think about was Fez.
As she scrolled through her phone that afternoon, she suddenly got a phone call from Rue.
"Lex, its Rue."
"What is it?"
There was a rush of white noise and loud screaming and yelling.
Lexi couldn't breathe as it felt like knives piercing her lungs. A sudden and intense sensation filled her. Her heart rate rapidly accelerated, pounding in her chest as if it's trying to escape. Breathing became shallow and rapid, making it difficult to catch their breath. It felt as though a heavy weight is pressured down on her chest. Simultaneously, a wave of dizziness and lightheadedness washed over her, causing the room to spin and blur. Her tunnel vision blurred fuzzy, narrowing focus and intensifying.
Fear? Panic?
A sensation of tingling numbness left Lexi's body in pain. Thoughts raced through her mind at an alarming speed, causing confusion. Physically, she trembled uncontrollably, her muscles tensing up in response to the heightened anxiety. Profuse sweating breaks out, leaving her body clammy and damp. Nausea and a churning sensation in the stomach as she disappeared into the bathroom retching and vomiting.
Darkness.
"Lexi?!" LEXI?!" The bedroom door knob rattled as Suze Howard knocked frantically. She heard loud noises coming from her daughter's bedroom. It sounded like crashing shattering glass. Suze desperately knocked at locked door as she burst it open to see a shocking sight.
The walls were punched in, glass shattered and scattered around the room. Objects thrown across the room, crashed against walls and shattered with a loud, disheartening noise. Lexi had forcefully punched and kicked the bedroom furniture, causing it to splinter and break. The bed, once a place of comfort, was overturned and torn apart, its mattress ripped open and stuffing scattered. Clothing, books, and personal belongings strewn about haphazardly, scattered across the floor or torn apart in fits of rage. Shelves are ripped from walls, leaving gaping holes and debris in their wake. Mirrors shattered, their broken fragments reflecting the shattered state of emotions.
Lexi was motionless on the floor in a pool of blood, curled into a ball. Her face was bathed in tears.
It was all a fast blur of bright lights and white noise.
Lexi didn't feel anything when her mom cried and held her.
Lexi didn't see the blood that ran down her face and hands. Blood that ran down her body as there was frantic screaming, yelling, and crying all around her.
Lexi didn't hear anything when the ambulance arrived and carried her to the hospital among her mom's screaming and yelling.
All she knew was darkness. All she knew was Fezco was gone.
Lexi couldn't fathom a world without Fezco, without his infectious laughter and the way he made her feel alive. The pain in her heart was unbearable, and her bedroom became a sanctuary for her grief. Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, but the void left by Fez's departure remained. Lexi tried her best to pick up the pieces of her shattered heart, but the pain lingered, a constant reminder of the love she had lost. She found solace in the memories they had shared, cherishing each moment they had spent together.
As time went on, Lexi learned to live with the ache in her heart, but Fez's mysterious death would forever remain a haunting enigma. The unanswered questions and the absence of closure were a constant reminder of the cruel twist of fate that had taken him away.
Lexi loved Fezco.
He would forever be etched in her heart. She would forever remember their love, their laughter, and the moments they shared. And as she looked back on their time together, she knew that Fez had left an indelible mark on her soul, shaping her into the person she would become. Fezco's mysterious death shook Lexi to her core, leaving behind unanswered questions and a void that could never be filled. The memory of their enchanting stargazing date would forever remain etched in Lexi's heart, a bittersweet reminder of a love that was lost too soon.
As Lexi looked up at the night sky, she couldn't help but feel a sense of solace. The stars twinkled above, whispering secrets only lovers would understand. And amidst the vastness of the universe, Lexi knew that Fezco's spirit would forever be intertwined with the celestial wonders they once admired together.