adventures in neverland

a gorgeous stranger in a gorgeous strange place. that was him alright. and before him, you. he was holding his cigarette the way  you do: tucked safely between the thumb, the middle and index fingers. as if scared that a strong wind might blow it away from him; or some stranger from out of nowhere might snatch it from him. i guess you were like that on everything that  you thought you owned. you wanted them secured, fastened close to you. i used to wonder what made you behave that way. so insecure, so afraid that someone you love might leave you or be taken away from you. it took me years to understand it. to understand you. but i am digressing. let me get back to my story. &&&&& he was a stranger. a nameless guy with movie star looks. drinking alone in an empty bar (except for us, there were only two other customers, a man and a woman, probably lovers.) i don't know why i have...

“tita knew through her own flesh how fire transforms the elements, how a lump of corn flour is changed into a tortilla, how a soul that hasn't been warmed by the fire of love is lifeless, like a useless ball of corn flour.”    ―  l aura esquivel ,   l ike water for chocolate . i was inspired to learn how to cook when i first read laura esquivel's tragic like water for chocolate,  the ill-fated love story between tita and pedro. for those who are not familiar with the sad tale of love, obsession and revenge, then i will tell it briefly. tita is the youngest daughter of a stern matriarch who raised her three daughters all by herself. since tita is the youngest, the mother decided that she could not marry because she will take care of her when she is old and ill. the problem is tita is in love with pedro. since there is no way that tita will break free from her mother's wishes, pedro decided to marry tita's older sister, rosaura so he can be close to her. her...