United States of America

Manhattan, New York City

3rd of May 2001

Happiness can come in different ways, but when one is mischievous and thought to be a big baby with wings and a bow, finding their own love can be a bit challenging, or even worse, a cursed Greek God, who so happens to be the epitome of love and desire, yet, can never seem to keep his own love story successful.

As Eros hid behind a brick wall, waiting for his next, soon to be couple, his eyes lingered around, the busy hours of the morning grew strenuous for him, oh, he loved his job, that much is true, but watching people fall in love made him feel a hollowness in his heart, for he had loved and lost all those many years ago.

A woman, slim and average height, soulless dark black hair, her summery yellow flower themed knee length dress, cascading down her petite frame, spilling coffee everywhere, she made a clumsy match for the man she was supposed to fall in love with, the man Eros was going to lead her to, it was supposed to be an easy mission, but the pull he felt towards the swamped Manhattan streets began to pull too strong.

He felt her presence, he knew she was nearby, his gaze sweeping through the busy streets, but amongst so many faces, all he could sense were other matches, waiting to be made, he could feel the woman he wanted getting closer, but his inability to act on it made him grow restless, his legs firmly planted on the ground, he stood paralysed.

A car honk reverberated through the air, knocking him back to reality, he realised he was about to miss his target, pulling out his green bow and silver arrow, that had hung taut behind him on his back, he drew the bow forward and waited for a clear shot of the man and woman, she had spilt her coffee on him right on time and Eros released the bow, hitting them both at once.

Another successful love story he put into action, he didn't have to worry about anyone seeing that as no mortal could see him, no matter who, for that he was grateful but he did feel disheartened he would never experience love like any mortal man, for every woman that has ever crossed his path only gained attraction because of his power, his one gaze could control any woman he wanted and for that he'd never know real love.

He could only wonder if he was ever meant for love, as if the heavens heard his plea, he took notice of striking red hair, hung loosely, cascading down towards her hipbone, a red shirt tucked crisply into a black pencil skirt that showed her long slender legs, her black stiletto heel accentuating her tanned legs, she slowly turned around and Eros held in his breath as best as he could, she was enchanting to watch, she moved as if the world bowed at her feet, her long strides oozed with confidence as her black heels clicked against the pavement, books pressed against her chest tightly as if she were afraid she may drop them or get stolen.

She was in a rush that much is true, obviously late for her day's agendas, even though it were impossible for her to notice him, he couldn't help but revere at her beauty, he decided on following her to know her life, to know her, he needed to know if she was different, he needed to know if she was real or something his lonely heart had concocted out of pain and guilt.

The Goddess Artemis had cursed him over a thousand years ago, so that he would serve Aphrodite, his mother, in helping other people find love but he would be cursed to never experience it himself, all because of his one indiscretion of falling for someone he was never supposed to love, his father was Ares, an unruly guardian of soldiers and farmers, he is the quintessence of pure viciousness and vehemence, he enforced such brutality within untamed creations of man, yet being the worst power of them all, is him being the God of war, because of his immortal parents, Eros had stopped aging at twenty-five, and has been like this for as long as he can remember.

Throughout an entire millennium Eros had lost, it began to take its toll on him at times, but he would never give up, he just wanted this to end, the curse, the lost love, he needed to find her again, at any cost, he knew what would happen if he broke the curse, but he knew it would be better to lose everything rather than lose himself.

He took her appearance in, and a sense of familiarity set in, it wasn't her looks but the feeling he got when he looked at her, she seemed to sense him, his gaze upon her, and she began to scan around to see who would be so bold as to follow her, he didn't move from his spot as he didn't have to worry about her seeing him, the many perks of being an immortal god, the power to make himself invisible to a mere human's eyes, she wasn't insignificant for he felt the pull towards her but she wasn't like him either.

She looked around, wondering who could she possibly sense, her body was ablaze with a sense of need, her eyes lingered on a spot before landing on Eros, she felt an unwanted desire to walk towards him, as if he were hers, an indescribable feeling of familiarity, the power she felt radiating from him, even though she felt as if he was hers, she still couldn't shake the feeling that it would be impossible to be claiming a complete and utter stranger such as him, so why had she felt this way about him, especially a man who she suspected had been following her for quite some time now, surely you can't develop Stockholm Syndrome from a mere ten second glance, basically from a stalker or a person who hasn't even made his existence known yet.

Eros's silver eyes widened at the realisation that she had been gazing straight at him, with their eyes breaking the connection it held, he merely turned around checking to see if anyone was behind him, someone else that she could be possibly looking at, rather than him, yet he was met with nothing, he was alone, she began walking towards him, the connection they felt bringing them closer with each step, she stopped infront of him and gave him a quizzical look before she crossed her arms over her chest, with her books still pressed tightly against her, "Excuse me, I'm so sorry but I can't help but ask, do I know you?", those few words that escaped her lips felt like harps playing music in his ears, he took in her eye colour more, a beautiful shade of green, yet it didn't stop the astonishment he gave off as he realised she could see him, yet all he did was look into her eyes before answering.

"No, you don't and you never will", he didn't want this feeling of vulnerability, he knew what would happen, he was stuck in a curse and hope was the last thing he wanted to feel, despite the urge to have a love of his own, he wanted to run away and never have to go through this again, but it was too late, they had met, the cycle doomed to repeat itself, he needed to leave, without her knowing anything.

All he could do was dread the now impending future, so with that he absconded, leaving the red haired beauty behind him baffled and intrigued, for she would find him, an ache in the pits of her stomach hungered to search for him, if destiny would allow it, she would see him again, but for now, she walked away, but not before turning back around as she watched the strange man's retreating figure into the busy streets, with a deep sigh, she walked back into college grounds ready to take on the rest of her day.