In the midst of October. The autumn breeze made the brownish leaves scatter to the ground. I wandered around the park, trying to clear my head from my fallout with my lover. Seeing the lake nearby, the calm water reflected my tear-streaked face. The swans, however, glided gracefully across the water, seemingly unbothered by the world around them, immersed in their own loving and happy world. How I long for this. I sat on a bench, watching them, yearning for the simplicity of their bond. I watched as they swam across the lake, seemingly having fun and simply enjoying each other’s company. Something that I might never feel again. My mind drifted back to the times when we were together. Was I not enough for her? I swear I tried my best for her to love me, but it seems like no matter what I do, it will never be enough. I could do nothing but wish her the best, while my heart slowly shattered…

On an October night, the water was reflecting the twilight, with swans wandering around the water. "My heart is sore." I whispered to myself. This scene, with the lake with the swans, reminded me of my lover who passed long ago. 20 years ago, my lover and I would come to this exact lake on every special occasion. This lake was basically our own, filled with the love and memories of our relationship. Unfortunately, a terrible sickness took her over. We tried fighting through it, convincing ourselves that our love was stronger than anything, even sickness itself. However, it wasn't enough and soon she had passed. Every special occasion, every year, I would go to this lake attached to my heart, bringing back the memories that had passed and the love I had experienced. As days passed, I grew older, and finally, I had met her again.

Twilight in October , as the sun rises , she drifts from the crowded city to the quiet countryside where swans are scattered with the love of their life .

She sees the swans and a glimpse of nostalgia of her love, who is now long gone in a place where she can’t reach, flashes in her inward eye.

The autumn leaves fall just like how her heart feels heavy and falls apart and are as dry as her sore heart. As the sun rises, the water glistens, just like the swans shine with their partners. She is reminded of how her lover appears in front of her: like an Angel.

01 Sabrina Chiu, 02 Sandra Chiu, 10 Manreet Kaur, 15 Saniya Sharma

A long long time ago, there was a woman Jamalia Tyronia. Along with her friends, she mount[ed] on their horses to watch a movie in the town square. It was a cool and chilly day in autumn, the second Sunday in October. Her and her friends had watched the movie Twilight. She notices a mysterious looking man next to her, handsome but enigmatic. Her thoughts were scatter[ed], slowly drift[ing] from the movie plot towards the man with the sharp jawline. She watched how he chuckled at the movie scenes and could not help but be captivated by the aura surrounding him, slowly falling in love with him. After the movie, she saw him hastily rushing out of the theatre, smoothly blending into the crowd. Overcome with curiosity, she decided to follow him out to where he was crouched next to a small lake with white swans swimming. She gazed at him admiringly, enraptured by the scene unfolding in front of her. Suddenly, she saw one of the swans had swam especially close to him, and he leaned in close, slowly morphing into a swan himself. Her eyes widened in shock and horror, and she ran away in fear that the swan will morph into a human and start chasing after her. Ever since then, she would visit the same place to see if the same swans were there. Whenever she saw the swans floating on the water, she would clutch her chest and mutter, "My heart is sore! My love for him still has not grown old."

You were beautiful. White as snow, resembling the purity of your soul.

October, was it? The first time that we met, with the autumn leaves shadowing the start of us. You were beautiful, I remember, even more beautiful than those swans by the lake. 

Unravelling the mystery of your beauty was all that I did as you took me away when I saw you on stage, just as those swans. You are still dancing, dancing along the “Swan Lake”, every time we come here. Your steps are as light as the feathers, portraying their graceful figure every time you leap. 

“Ah ~ Ah ~” the exclaims from the swans, is that you? Are you there? My mind is a blur. You, aimlessly flying above the water, filled with what could not be expressed through words. 

Right, right, it could never be… couldn’t it?

Even the swans cannot portray your majesty, their dance is just an attempt of a recreation of your performance.

My heart is sore from all the times I have fallen at the sight of you; My ears melt each time your steps echo around my ears. My brain has stopped, stopped at this moment. Will it be possible for this moment to last, until death do us part?

You flew away. Still as graceful as before. 

Or, is it actually you there? 

No, I shouldn’t even imagine you being here anymore. It’s not like I expected a dance for me every time I come here anyways. Ever since the accident brought my swan away from me. 

Last time we were here together was years ago, wasn’t it? We watched as the swans' feathers fell into the water and drift away, you were joking about using their feathers on stage. Will you ever receive a feather one day? The swans, what do they symbolise? The freedom of your soul? I guess it’s time to let go.

Your eyes, for the last time, printed happiness onto mine. Watching them fade, as if my own body is disappearing as well. One day, we will meet again, back to the October that I drowned in your gaze, holding your hand just like those days. Where even death doesn't do us part. 

In the autumn of October, the leaves have turned to bright red and yellow, a breeze blowing from above the clouds. He walked slowly thinking about his hopeless romance. He found a path and it lead him to a pound. Then he walked towards to a lake and spotted a group of swans. He found himself staring at the swans and made him think about his love life with this majestic girl named Riley but unfortunately he has failed to convince her on a date with him which has made his heart sore and incredibly bitter. The swans diligently brimmed on the pound and it looked so mysterious. As time passed, he put all his effort into making Riley to fall in love with him but nothing…ever….WORKED!! “Oh..my Riley, why don’t you ever pay attention to me?My heart belonged to you but you had never even glanced at me once! Oh Riley…you have successfully made my heart broken !!” He yield in a miserable tone. But it was too late and those were his last words…and no one has ever heard from him ever again.