A girl, a car and a long drive home.

I don't know where to begin. It's the story of me and a girl, or at least the end of us. Not the end of our existence or the end of us as individuals, but the end of us in the sense that two, divided into two parts, leaves behind two seperate peices. I don't know how long ago this happened, the day, or the hour... it ended sometime around midnight, or thats when it began to end.

It was just another day as usual. She came by the house. We sat around chatting for a short while, sipping grape juice and letting the hours pass. Conversation was normal, flowing from topic to topic with laughter and quiet contemplation. Then we left, as was customary, and headed to a new destination.

Beehive is cold this time of year. The first signs of winter can be found in small piles in the shadows of the road or beneath large trees. The sun begins to set as we climb higher. I shift into the low ratio gears as the road climbs steeper and becomes more treacherous. This area of the burnt forest casts a foreboding shadow over the road. Darkness creeps in behind the suns fading rays. We reach the end of our drive and I pull off the road, backing the car to the edge. The lights dim and I slowly raise the trunk door, the rear seats already folded down. We climb into the back and gaze out into the abyss.

It is quite here... The only sound in the silence is that of two beating hearts and quiet breaths.

I lay on my back, leaned slightly towards her. She sits in a ball, as is customary when something weighs heavy on her mind. Her arms crossed tightly across her knees, she stares away. She finally turns her head and looks at me. A slight smile spreads a cross her lips. But she doesn't lay down. We sit in silence for what seems like a short eternity, though probably only an hour.

Something is different.

I can't put my finger on it, but something is wrong. I lay my arm across her waist, pulling her in. She succumbs and lays down, hesitantly. Her lips press gently to mine: one kiss, soft and fleeting. She climbs into the passenger seat, signalling she is ready to go home. I wait a while and then climb in beside her.

I drive. Left foot resting behind my right, right foot pressing the pedals; left hand on the wheel, right hand holding hers. We coast down the mountain. Wind rushes by. No words spoken. Nothing to say. We both know what happens next. She lays her head against her window. Her soft hair falling off her shoulders, covering her face. Scent of pipe smoke. Her eyes close.

Her hand slips from mine.

The drive ends, I walk her to her car. We exchange goodnights. One hug. No kiss. I close her door. She drives.

The end came, not unexpectedly, but exactly where we saw it coming from.
And there was nothing... nothing at all, that we could do to stop it.

The Rules.

There is eleven of them.

What are they for? Manipulation? Fundamental parts of the minutia of life? They just exist, and not matter what you do with them, they hold true. Examples? The ultimate goal of testing these was to find if they held true, so we looked for people where that would be the case. We found them.

The Rules:
1. People are stupid: they will believe a lie because they want it to be true, or because they are afraid it is true.

2. The greatest harm can result from the best intentions.

3. Passion rules reason.

4. Pay attention to what people do, not just what they say, deeds often betray lies.

5. Let only logic rule you completely.

6. Life is the present and future, not the past.

7. Deserve to win.

8. Willfully ignoring the truth is treason to yourself.

9. Contradictions do not exist in reality.

10. No one else can make your decisions for you. You alone choose how to live your life.

11. Caring and love always precede hate.

Some are made to be broken, and others there is no choice but to follow. Either way, take care in your decisions, think things through and follow your mind.

And never forget that your life is yours alone.
Rise up and live it.

-Jon