August 1: white pawn to e4

I remembered it like the clear day it was. The sun shone brighter than any other summer day, dissipating any clouds that crossed the horizon. Even at night, it scintillated, stealing the moon’s spotlight once again. Under her heat, we were at the park with an immense chessboard separating us, but it seemed so small as I got lost in his warm oceanic eyes. We had ice cream dripping down our chins, brown on his and white on mine. It felt like time stopped with us. 

“Times up, Evelyn.”

“Oh. I guess I lost then,” I smiled as his eyes glittered. 

As we walked back home, the sun disappeared and the moon casted her shadow on us. 

                                                     Summer’s Dreams. 

August 3: black pawn to e5

Two days felt like two years, but finally, I saw him. Under the tree in his backyard, behind my house, we sat, staring into each other’s starry eyes. I could feel myself growing more lost in space by the second. But I didn’t resist it. I didn’t hate it. In fact, I cherished every little moment we created, just the two of us.

“Evelyn, are you there?”

I blinked, and I fell back down to Earth. 

We were still stargazing.

                                                     Summer’s Nightlights.

August 6: white knight to f3

He, in a black suit, and I, in a white dress, roamed the city, letting time slip out of our hands. They were entwined and our hearts still yet to be fulfilled with the dream of us. Under the street lights, he led me to a small bakery that wasn’t yet closed. The atmosphere inside felt so welcoming, almost as if it wouldn’t push us apart, nor would it interrupt us. We ordered a little slice of cheesecake together--he knew what I liked, and I knew what he wanted.

“How is it?”

“It’s wonderful.” 

What I didn’t tell him, however, was it tasted even sweeter with him.

                                                           Summer’s Charms.       

August 7: black knight to c6

His eyes followed my steps. 

“Checkmate,” I whispered. 

He chuckled saying, “You always win, I don’t know why I bother to play against you, Miss Valedictorian.”

Scarlet red lightly painted my face as I smiled. 

“Now, I won the bet, you have to tell me who you like.”

“Well…” he hesitated, then gave a small smile. 

“The person I like is the one who just put me in checkmate.”

                                                        Summer’s Secrets. 

August 8: white bishop to c4

I gazed at the blue and white waves crashing down on him. He beamed and laughed like  a child. Suddenly, he ran towards me, smirking, and before I knew it, he grabbed me and threw me into the ocean. Laughing, I struggled to stand up. Then he came up to me again, picked and flung me onto his back, and walked back to shore. He would always bring me back to shore, I was sure of it. 

                                                     Summer’s Playground.

August 9: black pawn to a6

Today was his birthday and his parents invited me to have dinner at his house. He told his parents I was the girl of his dreams. Perhaps that’s why their eyes glistened as I came in, immediately telling me to “imagine this house as my own”. My cheeks mirrored the glowing red sunset outside. At that moment, I knew he was going to be my world. 

Happy birthday. 

                                                          Summer’s Slumber.

August 12: white knight to g1

The stars were coruscating, glowing brighter than any other night. It served as the light, as I helped him pack for Florida. 

“I don’t want to go. I want to stay with you,” he whined, throwing his clothes that I folded for him on the floor.

“I’ll miss you too, but you have to go visit your grandma. I bet she misses you,” I said, kissing him on his cheek. 

“Wanna go out and watch the stars?” His eyes had the sun’s flare in them. 

I nodded eagerly and he led me to his backyard and we shared a pillow while hugging each other to refute summer’s frost. My world felt complete with just him and me. 

Was this what they meant about the Honeymoon phase? It felt much sweeter, after all. 

                                                    Summer’s Honeymoon. 

September 9: white rook to f1

Twenty-eight days passed and finally, my evergreen met his ocean. Something about his ocean felt colder than before, but I wasn’t sure what it was. 

“Evelyn Young, please report to the principal's office immediately. Evelyn Young,” the loudspeaker interrupted us, forcing me to leave him there alone on the island. 

“Yes, Mr. Nelson, you wanted to see me?”

“Sit down, Evelyn. I wanted to congratulate you for being this year’s valedictorian.”

My heart started to beat wildly, my dreams were almost fulfilled. I needed to find him and tell him. 

                                                              Fall’s Surprise. 

September 13: black pawn to b5

 The wind howled in the distance with no sight of the sun or the moon. No clouds filled the sky and no warmth was to radiate, it was only darkness. 

“Class, please welcome our new student, Jen.”

Everyone waved and said hello, but I sat there unmoving. Her presence alone made me feel uncomfortable, a bad omen.

“Young man, how about I have you give her a tour around the school after class? Yes? Alright, then it’s settled.” The teacher turned to him, thanking him for his help with Jen. 

That night, I could see the stars fading.

                                                  Fall’s Greetings.

September 17: white bishop to b3

It was football season and our school’s red flag was waving in the sky, our infamous tiger welcoming the opposing team. He never told me to come, but I decided as a “good” girlfriend I should come to support him. 

“Evelyn, what are you doing!” he said, almost shouting. His expression, his mouth: whether turned up or down I could not read. 

“What do you mean? Obviously, I came to support you,” I answered. I smiled but my eyebrows wavered. 

We ended up losing and as we walked back home I felt like I was sinking. 

                                                       Fall’s Descension.

October 4: black knight to d4

Two turned into three. Jen was always with us and soon it seemed as if she clouded him. It seemed like his tour led her to attach to him like a parasite. He started to hang out with her after football, as she quickly became the new cheerleader captain. Her arms always seemed to be around him and his eyes were always on her, or was I only imagining things? Maybe it was my fault for not being around enough and maybe I put my grades above him too much. Four feet in, only my head is above water. 

                                                           Fall’s Regrets. 

November 28: white knight to d4

The stars that were once so bright, like the colors of his eyes, began to fade into the colors of my anger: red. It feels like my world was tearing apart, one by one each thread was being cut. 

“Why are you always with her? I never get to see you anymore.” The calm and gentle composure I told myself to keep broke and my voice grew louder and louder. I felt tears wanting to trickle down but I bit my bottom lip to stop them. 

“Calm down, Evelyn. I didn’t know you were always this jealous.” His face contorted

into a smile-a sneer.  

My mouth quivered and my cheeks stung as if I had been hit. I felt like I was drowning but this time he left me alone as he walked back to the shore. 

                                                          Fall’s Fallen Leaves.

December 1: black pawn to d4

I always learned, and remembered, fire as a gift but now it seemed like a curse. We used it to warm ourselves, protect ourselves, and help feed ourselves but we also used fire to burn; we burned the innocent. This winter brought more snow than any other. The cold howling wind brought hail and it pierced through our skins if we weren’t careful. 

When I saw it, I couldn’t believe it but, soon realization dawned. Perhaps, I expected it because I didn’t cry. I was already drowning in his facade but I still wondered how she was better than me. My world turned upside down as he pierced and burned my heart to ashes with his cold frost. 

                                                        Winter’s Downfall.

December 2: white queen to f3

Everyone knows the sun shines brighter than the moon but, the moon is brighter to the earth than the sun. Shouldn’t this justify its greatness? Why did it always have to be in the sun’s shadow, always after the sun but never before?

“We’re done.” I texted him. I never wanted to see him again. 

                                                        Winter’s Secret. 

December 3: black bishop to b7

They started dating after, and apparently, they were “a match made in heaven”: a football captain and a cheerleader captain. I laughed, it seemed too surreal, just like the movies. Then I instantly stopped myself. What was I doing? Should I have felt happy over these sequence of events? Sad? Dejected? Frustrated?

I didn’t know. I didn’t feel any of these.

                                                        Winter’s Numbness.

December 4: white queen to f7  

They say revenge is a petty thing but, I think revenge is winning–revenge is the last word. After we broke up, did you realize you lost every game? Maybe I was your good luck charm or maybe I gave every opposing team an algorithm on how to beat yours like how I always gave you one on how to beat them. Say goodbye to your position and your scholarships, August. Checkmate. 

                                                         Winter’s Game.

                                                                                                    From and Signed,

                                                                                                                   Evelyn Young.