TORN APART
by Karla Bogdanović
There are always strange things happening at the Olympus. And I’m here to tell you a
strange story about souls that always fight to be together.
As you probably know, in Greek mythology Olympus was home of the twelve Olympian gods
of the ancient Greek world. Those gods were perfect, without any flaw. The leader of gods
was Zeus. He created humans and all of the gods played with them like a child plays with a
doll. They were making important decisions in their lives, they were deciding about their
destinies.
Gods always laughed at how imperfect humans are and how easily they are manipulated
with. It would all be the same and humans wouldn’t have any worries if gods, especially
Zeus, weren’t jealous of humans. Many of you would say that they had no reason to be
jealous, that humans have so many flaws and imperfections that no one should be jealous at
and especially not gods. But the thing is that when Zeus was creating humans, he created
them to be more like him. He made them independent, even though some gods could
manipulate them easily; he made them beautiful, smart and full of positivity. Zeus was proud
of his work at first, so he created a lot of them. They were almost like his twins, but only
happier and full of that spark called life. After a while, Zeus started being jealous. He realized
that humans are all he has ever wanted to be. Even though he was perfect, he always
wanted what he couldn’t have and that was the spark. He never knew how to get it and after
a while he realized he cannot really have it. That’s why he let other gods decide about their
destinies, so humans can suffer. That affected humans and they kind of lost their dreams,
they started to worship gods that own their destinies. They started giving them gifts and
praying to them to be kind and gentle when they are deciding about their destiny. After a
while humans got used to that and everything was easy again. The other gods got what they
wanted, someone to worship them but only Zeus wasn’t happy. He didn’t like the fact that
humans outsmarted him and their lives are easy again. He spent years and years thinking
about how to make them weak and little by little how to kill that spark inside of them. Even
for a god that is perfect that was a hard thing to do, because he didn’t want to kill them, just
the spark. The only person he trusted and wanted to share all of these things that bothered
him with was his wife Hera. She was goddess of women and marriage. She was jealous of
mortals that crossed her, so she wanted to help Zeus. One night Zeus was looking at Hera
and he was just thinking about her beauty. That’s when he had an idea, the idea that would
change human existence. He thought how lucky he is to have Hera by his side and how he
loved her. So he decided to separate every human into two pieces and put those pieces
away from each other. He let them wonder around looking for their other half. Mortals were
scared, they didn’t know what happened to them, one part of them was missing and they
felt it.
As years went by, mortals were still looking for something to complete them. Some thought
that their passion for art, music, act, etc. was what fulfilled them. Even though that helped,
their other half wasn’t easy to replace. Soon gods decided to give them a hint and they told
them to search for their other half in other people. That’s why mortals started dating and
getting married but to wrong people. Zeus said that when a mortal meets his other half and
they realize that they belong to each other he will put others close to each other so it would
be easy to find their half.
Alexis was a smart young girl. She was incredibly beautiful and bright. Even though she has
lost her other half, she felt happy. Everyone envied her a little because of that, even goddess
of beauty and love, Aphrodite. Alexis loved music and she loved the freedom she had. She
only worried about her school and grades, because she wanted them to be perfect, all A’s. It
was just a regular Wednesday when she went to school. She came to her first class, history.
Teacher introduced the class their new student, Brooklyn. He was a problematic student
with bad grades. History teacher told Alexis to give him a tour of school when the class ends.
Even though she had to rush to the library after, she didn’t want to say no to teacher. Bell
rang and Brooklyn introduced himself to Alexis. She gave him a tour and, as a polite thing to
say, she told him he can call her if he needs any help. Brooklyn didn’t say a word the whole
time. She went to library after to work on her paper and that whole time she thought how
impolite that was. He didn’t even try to make a conversation. She didn’t want to worry about
such stupid little things but it still bugged her. Tomorrow she got a text from unknown
number saying he can’t find classroom. Alexis figured out it was Brooklyn and she called him
to tell him to meet her at the school door. He said he will take her for ice cream after school
as his way of thanking her. He picked her up after school on his motorcycle but she was too
afraid to drive on it. He told her that she needs to let a little adventure in her life. She didn’t
want him to think of her as someone who is afraid of everything so she decided to sit on it.
As they were eating ice cream she was asking him a lot of questions. She wanted to get to
know him better. She found out that he lives with his cousins because he is actually from
London, but he refused to tell her what his reason for leaving home is. He also doesn’t like
school and he told her that he sometimes feels like he doesn’t belong because everybody
has something to make them feel even just a little more complete and he has nothing. He
only has that feeling of danger or adventure that makes him feel a little more alive. Alexis
didn’t like danger; she loved feeling safe and knowing things for sure. Brooklyn kind of liked
that because that was opposite of what he is, it intrigued him. It started getting late so he
took her home and wished her goodnight.
Alexis was lying in her bed and just thinking about the things he said and his perspective of
life that we need to add a little danger to everything. There was a part of her that wanted to
try it but still the other part was telling her to stay safe and play safe. She realized that she
can’t let some random guy with cute accent come into her life and make her change her
view of things. She decided to stay focused on school and grades.
As she was entering the school, next day, she noticed a group of people standing in circle
and rooting. She approached them and realized that Brooklyn and Leo got into a fight. They
both had to go to principal office for a talk. Principal told Leo to apologize because he was
making fun of Brooklyn and he told Brooklyn to focus on his grades or he will fail. Brooklyn
got out of the school furious. Alexis saw how he left and she started following him. She told
him that she could help him with some subjects if he wants her to. Brooklyn refused her
help; he told her that he doesn’t need her pity. Alexis just turned around feeling mad and
left. Later that day she got a text, saying to come outside of her house. She came to the
window and saw Brooklyn on his motorcycle. She was still mad but she felt rush of happiness
going through her body. She took her jacket and came out. Brooklyn apologized to her,
saying how he didn’t mean those words and that he said that just because he was mad.
Alexis accepted his apology and she didn’t even care that much about what happened. He
asked her if she could help him some subjects like she offered him. They both went to library
and they’ve spent the whole day working on papers and homework. While they were
walking home Brooklyn asked her about herself, what she likes and what she craves. She
said she craves a perfect life full of joy and happiness, that she craves long conversations
about things that no one ever talks about. He promised her that if she ever needed one of
those talks he will be there. Alexis came into her house and after a long time she felt like she
actually has a friend, that she can speak to someone about everything but it was too early to
talk to him about her secrets.
Next morning when she got up all she could think about was the English test. She was
worried how she will do it and especially how Brooklyn will do it. He needed to pass this test.
She got into classroom and started doing the test. She was the first one to finish so teacher
corrected it right away. She got an A. After that class Leo and his group of friends waited for
her at the hallway and started mocking her, saying what a geek she is. Brooklyn ran into
them and when he heard it he wanted to fight Leo again but Alexis told him that if she didn’t
worry he didn’t have to either. She told Leo that small minds discus other people and make
fun of them. Brooklyn stood there and admired her strength and her mind. As he walked
home he taught about her. He was thinking about her and how much she affected his life. He
became a better person, and realized that sometimes you need to play it safe. But his love
for her wasn’t what all expected. It was that true love you give to a special friend. When you
have someone you can rely on, someone who will help you, make you feel worth it and
someone who will see the best in you and make you see it too.
That night Alexis called him and asked if he wanted to just hang out and talk. He came to her
yard and as they sat on the grass, they talked about their future. Alexis said how she wants
to be a successful lawyer and that every other lawyer fears when they are going against her.
Brooklyn said that his wish is to make it into bigger football club. He told her that that’s the
main reason he left London, he got a scholarship and the only thing he has to do now is do
well at school. And that’s hard for him because he is the new kid. Alexis was listening
carefully to every Brooklyn’s word and he told her how she doesn’t know how lucky she is to
have such a perfect life. Alexis just laughed and said:’ I’m not lucky…you don’t know how
much I prayed. I get criticized and I always had to deal with it on my own, but today when
they were making fun of me, you stood on my side. I prayed for a friend like you and if you
call that luck, I guess I have it then.’ Brooklyn looked at her like he was looking at a mirror
but only a version he wanted to be. But he didn’t want to show his sensitive side at this
moment so he just started saying silly things to put a smile on her face. As they giggled, they
had no idea what good they’ve done…
Aphrodite couldn’t believe what she is seeing; two parts back together, with the spark in
their eyes and nothing but true love in their hearts. Just by watching them she felt some
strange happiness but at same time jealousy. These two parts weren’t what gods expected.
They expected an epic love and marriage but instead they got a true friendship. She knew
she had to tell Zeus about this mortals but she feared for them. Zeus couldn’t believe it; their
love was at the beginning. He saw a lot of ups and downs in their future, he saw the true
meaning of friendship there and that’s not giving up no matter how hard things get. People
take friendships for granted when in reality we need to work on them as much as we work
on relationships. Zeus is a god of his word so he decided to let them be, not to mess with
their future. He got all the other parts closer to each other but humans still need to struggle
to find the other half.
Alexis and Brooklyn made it in their lives. She became a lawyer and he became coach of a
football team. They never got separated even though they found a wife and a husband. In
their opinion, universe fights for souls to be together. There are humans whose destiny is to
meet each other where ever they go, one day they meet. Just be careful, you can find a soul
mate in a friendship too.
THE END