They were the best of friends. They've known each other for the longest time. They're always there for each other all the time. They were happy being together, knowing that they're the best of friends and that it'll last for eternity. Or at least they thought that things will never change.

His thoughts about this fact were slightly different. She, to him, was more than his best friend. To him, she was the epitome of everything that is beautiful in this world. She was the force that kept him alive. She was everything he had dreamed of. She was everything to him. He would sacrifice everything for her happiness, even die for her. She was his salvation. He was in love with her.

His love for her was beyond physical entity. He loved her for everything she was. He loved it when she shows concern for him. He loved it when she sang with her angelic voice. He loved it when she holds his hand with hers. He had already fallen in love with her for the longest time. Now, he yearned for those feelings to be more mutual.

They were sitting on a bench in the park, beside each other. They where just there, enjoying the peace and quiet, and each other's company. They talked, they laughed, just enjoying the companionship.

He was nervous for what he was about to do. He had been planning this for some time now. He knew that this could get dangerous. It could end their friendship, but his patience had become dust. He needed to tell her how he felt for her, for the yearning was just too much to bear any longer. He needed her.

It was just like what he would always do. He took her hand, held it with care and compassion. She looked at him to see what the matter is. He turned to face her, with a serious expression.

"My friend", he said, "there is something I want to tell you. It's been bugging me lately."

"What is it, my friend?", she asked with curiosity.

He was nervous to the core. He had gone through the plan several times, but upon execution, all that planning seemed like in vain. But he wasn't going to give in to the pressure. He's a man, he thought, who's not supposed to hesitate.

He looked into her eyes, those tender caring eyes, with much emotion. He prayed in his mind that everything would be fine.

"It's kind of hard to tell you", he told her, "for it's kind of embarrassing for me."

She gave him an assuring smile and said, "Go ahead. It's okay. Whatever it is, I'll listen. I've always been here for you, and always will be."

He understood what she said, and push on with his plan.

"I want to kiss you."

Upon registering what he said, her mind went flip-flop. What is he thinking, she thought. What does he mean by that?

"I... I'm sorry if it's a total shock, but... but I just can't hold this in anymore. I want... no, need to tell you something that you should know."

Her face was a bit faulted. She was having a strange feeling inside her. She never expected this from him. Certainly not.

He was on hyperdrive. He had nothing else to go for. He was going to say what he had been holding in his heart for years. It was now or never.

"I... Like I said, I want to kiss you. Even if you object, I will still kiss you, no matter what. Even if I know you will probably just get angry with me, hit me afterwards then leave me, I will still want to kiss now. Because... I... I love you..."

Her mind was in chaos, and went even more chaotic on what he did next. Just like he said, he kissed her.

He put his right hand on her nape, and then pulled her in for the moment. The moment of truth.

The kiss was gentle, but full. His lips caressed hers with such love that it stunned her. It left her motionless during the moment of contact. His left arm fit perfectly along her waist, holding on for dear life.

It only lasted for a few seconds, but it felt like time halted its advance at that very moment. Their lips parted as he completely pulled his arms away from her, took a step back, and faced the floor. He was now waiting for a sting of pain. The pain of a full-blown slap to the face.

She stood there, dumbfounded, trying to process the recent developments. She looked at him. Slowly, tears ran down her face as she realized what just happened. It took a while, but when everything made a bit of sense in her mind, she did something even more unexpected than what he just did.

His head was jerked up a bit, then got something opposite of what he was expecting. She was kissing him. He was caught entirely by surprise, and it was intensified when he put his arms around her waist and started to kiss back.

It lasted for quite a while. It was more intense than the kiss he gave. It was full of passion, done like it'll never be done ever again. She poured ever ounce of emotion into it, and even for a little while, heaven showered upon both of them.

They pulled away, catching their breath. It took some time for them to realize fully what they have just done. When they did, he gave her a questioning look, one that was full of curiosity. She just looked at him with a loving gaze. Just looked into his eyes and then, she smiled. A genuine smile full of happiness.

"I love you too.", she whispered.

Then it hit him. Maybe she felt the same for him as well after all these years.

He asked, "Since when?"

"Since I first saw you.", she replied.

He processed the information and concluded that if it were true, she had already loved him before he actually fell in love with her. It was an unforseen, yet welcome circumstance.

He smiled back at her and just stared at her. She was beautiful beyond description, and now that they've confessed their love to each other, her beauty glowed even more. Things were fine then, and everything else is now as well. They now have each other, knowing that they are given a gift far beyond what friendship alone can give. Love can give more, beyond human comprehension.

They were just silent, staring at each other's eyes. Something caught his eye. She was still crying.

"Hey, don't cry now.", he told her with a soft voice. He wiped away her tears with his finger. This isn't right, he thought. She should be happy. "It's okay, I'm here now. I'm never leaving you, now and forever more."

She took the hand that was wiping her tears, and held it tight, yet lovingly. She gave him a thoughtful smile and an assuring gaze. She was more than happy, and was beyond bliss.

"I'm just so happy.", she told him, "I never thought that this will ever happen. Knowing now that you love me as well... well... it's something beyond heaven for me. Thank you... I love you."

His smile went even wider, glad that she felt this way for him as well. His prayers were not only answered, but came along with multiplied blessings.

They smiled at each other, holding each other in their arms. A force drew them closer to each other, and before anything else was done, they kissed again. But this time, both of them were into the kiss. A kiss full of love and joy.

Under a clear, blue sky, heaven was there. It never had to be above the clouds, too high to be reached. It can come to anyone. It came to them, and they were enjoying its glory, taking each moment and cherishing it for eternity.

They were once the best of friends, and they still are. They've known each other for the longest time. They're always there for each other all the time. They are now happier than ever before, being together, knowing that they're not only the best of friends, but lovers beyond worldly description, and that it'll last for eternity. And now, they are sure that things will never change.

They now have each other's love.

It seems that personal opinion is a right in a democracy unless it offends someone. Is this how it should be or just a restriction of freedom?

For example, a majority likes this certain thing, but there are some people who don't for some reason. If they stay quiet, then the majority remain undisturbed. If they do say something about it, then the majority is offended and they are told to shut up. They are told that they are wrong and should be rejected indefinitely.

Now, imagine that you are arrested and thrown in jail without good reason. You protest your incarceration, which is then treated with punishment. The guards then punish your prisonmates as well, since all prisoners are treated as a whole as a way to minimize insubordination. You are seen as a prisoner just like everyone else and only identifiable by a number. You know that you have done nothing wrong and would do everything possible to get out of there. Unfortunately, the other prisoners see you as a troublemaker due to your verbosity. Now, will you crumble under pressure or insist upon your innocence?

What if you were a guard? Your colleagues start abusing the prisoners with both physical and mental torture. You know that it is wrong, but can you protest against your fellow guards? What if it is your superiors who condone it?

It's like being a child who knows that drug addiction is bad, but can't really say it out loud since both your parents are addicted. You'd want to stop them, but they beat you down for it. You want to do the right thing, but you can't stop them.

Against a tyrannical government, do you have the power to resist? You may have a group of rebels fighting for the same cause, but your numbers are inferior to that of the military. You know that your cause is just, but it is either obey or be crushed.

How about a culture that defends its ways with zeal through killing those not of their ilk? Some may attempt persuading them otherwise, but these people are driven by their religion. The world states its concern only to be answered with anger. They continue to wage their holy war, even though the rest of the world suffers.

Scaling things back down, let's say that you stated a personal opinion, which is shot down because it offended someone. Some think it's right, while some think it's wrong. Living in a democratic country is supposed to entail the freedom to express it, but the offended party insists that you shut up.

With these scenarios set, where does opinion stand now?

Defending what you stand for and where you belong in is natural for someone who is passionate about a certain thing. That passion intensifies whenever there are a group of individuals who get along when it comes to this interest.

You see them all around with their own flash and flair, as well as their own way of seeing and doing things. This is all nice, but some people detest it. It is not to say that they are what most will call "kill joy" among other things, but there are a few things about this. First, they can never disassociate themselves from the fact that they are human with the penchant for huddling up. Also, they can never stay shelled up forever. That is totally understandable.

What can destroy a community may consist of another community that is against it, public authority, or even a few bad apples who spread their tainted influence upon the rest of the flock. Extending it beyond its apparent capacity can also contribute to its end. With this in mind, why should a person belong to one in the first place? The answer is within yourself, you furious loner.

It is not about being against the concept because we can never exist without it as humans. The question, however, that must be raised is "What is this thing you call community?". Is it really what it is in every sense of the word or is it just a support group for you?

What really kills a community are those who are too patriotic only by word and not by deed. With only words filled with ferocity and anger, but without the actions to match, they only serve to sow the seeds of disappointment by alienating those who do not feel as "passionate" as those who do. As needless anger continues to linger within the helm, it lets chaos to gradually grow until everything reaches the critical point and everything blows up, leaving those who were within that community to be in confusion and dissent amongst themselves.

It is such that obstructions to one's love for a craft may be offensive and distracting, and so shall it be that people do see those things as the bane of that community's purpose of existence. Passion for a community against those who seek to destroy it, whether intentional or not, is to be shown with indignation up front without any shame and fear of insult. If this is just kept in, then it is merely a support group.

Think twice before you join upon impulse.

We always walk along without any particular focus. We zone out and detach from the present reality as it is comfortable for us. Reality is stress anyway, so it can never be an attractive proposition for anyone. However, what if you actually go for the concept? Would it change your perception about this wicked world of ours?

In this world of stone, we go through each and every single day with stone faces and dead hearts. What if we take a second to  change how we see this reality, maybe we can finally learn how to mold it into a better reality.