TEXT:  
  1
  TITLE
  A guide to nighttime 
  swimming and tending to 
  a broken heart
  INT0
  Maria Mison 
  AUTHOR
  Sword Prince Games
  
   
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  BODY
  Fi r st o f  a ll ( 1  ) a cknowled g e that yo u  have 
  love d. Un s h am e  your h e art  from  eve r be in g 
  u ns ha ck l ed , k now the v is cer a l  s oft na k ed  p a in 
  a s  a  bl is s ful  in it iat ion  t h at  you h ave  invol ve d 
  a l l  of  your s e l f  in  your  l ov in g.  
  Ste p  ( 2  ) u n -n ak ed  yo u r s elf.  Bare  yo u r s elf.  
  Inves t i n p eop l e who a p p reciate yo u a nd  ho l d  
  you t e n de r. S e e k  t h e s e  pe ople  t o re min d 
  your s e lf  of  your s t re n gt h , your capacit ie s, wh o 
  you are  wit h out  t h e  bramble s  an d t h e  
  b r a nches, who  a re you  when you  a re a  g entl e 
  f r iend ,  a nd  when you  a re wel l -res ted . Fi nd  a  
  p l a ce, a nd  s omeone to  cr y * to.  
  - 
  *	
  I f  yo u  c an n o t f i n d  so m e o n e  fo r th i s,  
  it’s  p er f ectl y  fi ne that thi s  s houl d b e yo ur s el f  
  f i r s t, in the b ed  whil e cr y ing  i n a  cor ner. Let 
  th i s  tex t b e k n ow n ,  th at a love o f  a f ri en d  wh o  
  d ee p l y  l i s tens  is  o n it’s  way  to you . You  a re 
  eas y  to  love,  yo u  are li k able.  Yo u  d o  n o t n ee d  
  to  c o n fo r m  h ere a c e rtai n  w ay  fo r yo u  to  b e 
  a cce pt e d wh ol e h e a r t e dl y. A fri end  is  o n it’s  way  
  to  yo u . 
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  Next, g entl y, ever  s o g entl y, l is ten to s ong s  
  th at re m i n d  yo u  o f  u n earth ed  f e eli n gs.  T h e  
  f i r s t time you ’ve ever  ha d  a  cr us h on 
  s om ebody, th e fir s t tim e you w an te d to be  
  tak en  s e ri o u s ly  as  a ch i ld ,  h ow  f i erc ely an d  
  lon e ly  you on ly  h ad your brot h e r.  
  D an c e th e w ay yo u  d an c e,  by w ri ti n g,  d raw i n g,  
  movi ng  o r sp elli ng  yo u r way i nto  the vi sa g e o f  
  mo ments yo u  tru ly f elt a li ve.   
  T h e fir s t tim e you felt un apologe tic ally  
  celeb rated  by so meo ne,  the d i p s a nd  f a lls o f  
  th e  f i r s t p er so n  wh o  c o m p letely  u n d e r sto o d  
  you, wh at  e n coun t e rin g your pas s ion  was  lik e. 
  W h at  be in g  forg ive n  wa s  l ik e. Ta k e  your  t ime. 
  T h e tim e of  a w re tch e d an d —>split open  
  h eart i s sac red ,  f eel yo u r self  li ke a ti d e ro lli n g 
  over the u nd ertow sto ne ea rthq u a ke f eatu res 
  th at h ave  s h ap e d  yo u .  —  f ro m  wh o m  d i d  yo u  
  f i r s t l ove?  W hen d id  you  f ir s t exp er ience you r  
  f i r s t hea r tb rea k ?  W hat di d you  think  you  
  n eed ed  th e m o st f ro m  so m eb o dy?  Wh at d i d  yo u  
  f i na l l y  g ive to you r s el f ? 
  A  TA P E S T RY 
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  Have thi s a s smo rg a sb o rd ,  sho tg u n,  o cea n 
  bu f f e t  o f  you r  me mor ie s.  W hims y. Hi s t o r y. We  
  co me to  know the sto ri es o f  o ther s a s we know 
  th e m ;  bu t h ow  o f ten  d o  we gi ve th e p ri vi lege  
  of  l is tening  to ou r s el ves ?   
  To our own  failin gs  an d fallin gs ? Ris e  an d 
  Sh i n es ?  T h ey ’re wo rth  f es ti vals an d  
  of f er tor ies, a nd s ince we a re nothi ng  bu t k ite 
  d r u nk  a i ml es s, wr a ck ed  s ens i tive when we’re 
  to r n  o p en ,  m ay b e o u r c li n gi n g eyes  wo u ld  
  y ield an d lis ten . Jus t for aw ful god listen  to 
  your s e lf  wh e n  you s ay  t h at  t h is  was  h ow you 
  were tau gh t L ove.   
  T h is  is  wh at you’re sc are d of  in  relation sh ips. 
  I d o n’t think  they ’ l l  l ove me b eca u s e of  this  or  
  th at.  I ’ m  s c ared  o f  tr y i n g,  I ’ m  f ru s trated  w i th  
  tr y i n g,  li k e a d ri p p i n g d ow n p o u r;  i f  i t’s  
  n o th i n g bu t;  kn ow  th at th i s tex t an d  g am e i s 
  interes ted  in you r  a ns wer s. In you r  notes  a nd  
  re s t s. 
  Sh o u ld  yo u  h ave s o m eo n e  li s te n i n g,  i t i s  
  inev ita bl e that they  wil l  u nr avel  to o. Lik e 
  s pools  th at un fetter in  a c on join ed dan c e— ah  
  ye s  I was  h urt  t h is  way  t oo, t h at  fe e ls  s ad but  
  by g o d  d o  I  ho no r yo u r so f tness.   
  Yo u  mi g ht no t f i nd  yo u r  yo u ng er  sel f  cu te,  bu t 
  a n ot h e r  mig h t . God wa s  ca re ful  wit h  you, 
  th e re’s  a b eau ty  to  yo u r alln ess  h ow  yo u ’ve 
  g rown s hift e d a nd a da pt e d, your  unique  
  d es ig n. 
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  And  sho u ld  yo u  b e i ma g i ni ng  thi s su b ma ri ne 
  co nto u r ma p p i ng  a nd  o nly b eli eve i t a s 
  f a nta s y, then this  text wis hes  for  you  to  be 
  p roven wrong. May  you  b e cu r s ed with thos e 
  wh o  w an t to  d ee p en  as mu ch  as  yo u .  Wi th  
  th o s e wh o  are c o m m i tted  to  k n ow i n g yo u ,  wh o  
  s tay  in  a c onver s ation  th at c ould be 
  treach e ro u s  an d  d i f f i c u lt w i th  an o th er p er s o n .   
  ((S om e t im e s  t h e  aut h or as k s — wh at  doe s  it  
  mea n to  say a nd  create a  sa f e ha rb o r?  Fo r how 
  ma ny evo lu ti o ns,  a nd  ma ny f a ced  b ei ng s have 
  we b e en  s w allowed  s p i t th ro u gh  an d  ren d ere d  
  h u rt)) c an  b ei n g go o d  fo r each  o th er b e really 
  f u n?  
  CA N T HI S  B E  G O O D F O R YO U ?  
  My d ea rly b eloved ,  i  d o n’t know how lo ng  
  you’ ll be  n igh t  t ime  s wimmin g, de e p be lly  
  d i v ing, caver n u nd er tow ma pp ing, you r  s ins  
  a n d t r a g e die s, l ove s  a n d t h e  pa r t s  of  you you 
  wi sh were loved  mo re,  the thi ng s yo u  sti ll cli ng  
  to  an d  attach  an d  h o ld  ten d e r.. 
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  T h e auth or h ad a re side n c y to an im e c r yin g 
  a bout  a  h e a r t a ch e  for  t wo we e k s  numb a roun d 
  h er ver y ow n  b i rth d ay,  wh i lst o th er s wo u ld  
  cra d le so methi ng  fo r mo nths,  a nd  ca r r y 
  s om eth in g for year s as  w alls, as  c an’t h elp but 
  b e re p l ayed  record  p l ayer s, g hos ts  that ha unt 
  your pre s e n t  love s  an d part n e r s, ros e  t in t e d 
  g las s e s  inun dated by th e fin ger prin ts of  a lon g 
  fo rg o tten ti me.   
  T h is  m igh t be an  ar rog an t th in g to s ay, but 
  h o n o r yo u r p u rg ato r y.   H o n o r th e c o m b  g am e 
  of  d id  this, bu t d id  I reg ret that, a nd  what wa s  
  I rea l l y ?  W hat a m I d ecid ing  to b e? O h my  
  love  be  exc e s s ive, le ave  n o s t on e  un t ur n e d, 
  wh en  els e wo u ld  yo u r h eart b e  d i s sec ted  o p e n  
  fo r  yo u  by l i f e i tsel f ?   
  W h e n  e l s e  woul d t h e  ve in s  t h r um in  your  e a r s  
  loude r? Wh e n  de at h  is  n e ar? Wh e n  you los e  
  s om ebody ? Wh en  you’ve m oved an d are  
  s trin g les s  ar rived rootless ? Wh en ? Wh en  is a 
  h eart so  lo u d  an d  c lear?   
  W h o ca re s  if  it ’s  cr y in g, for  l on g in g, for  
  inev ita b i l ity, fo r  a  co mp l exity  it ca n’t ha ndl e, 
  s in gin g of  pain ?? Wh o c ares ? Wh en  often  do 
  we li s te n ?   
  A so ng  o f  a  li vi ng  sti ll b eati ng  hea rt?  W hen?  
  W h e n  e l s e ? W h e n  e l s e  do you bow a n d h on or  
  th e  p i ec e o f  s k y th ru m m i n g i n  yo u r ch es t?  
  W h e n  e l s e  woul d you k n ow t h e  rooms  a n d t h e  
  clo u d s,  the sto nes,  the co r ner s,  when else?  
  Babe  t h is  is  a g am e  re s e rve d for t h e  brok e n  
  h earted .   
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  By  t h os e  wh o’ve  lon ge d for s om e body  an d w as  
  th w arte d ,  wh o  w as  u n loved  th e w ay th ey 
  s h ould’ve s till s n ivelin g w ith  s in s  un forgived. 
  Fo r th o s e  wh o  wo u ld  rath er th i n gs  b e  s p elled  
  ou t a  d i f f erent way  a nd a re l ef t s hattered  
  s h atte red s h attered s o dee ply  in to th e dirt.  
  Yo u  know where b ro ken hea r ts g o ?  O f ten,  to  
  th e  m o s t b eau ti f u l p lac es,  wh e re th e  w i n d  i s  an  
  envelo p e,  an d  wh ere p eo p le’s eye s  are  k i n d .  I  
  a s s ure  you if  you’ve  eve r  l ive d a n  in ch  of  t h is  
  wo rld ,  o u r h earts wo u ld  alw ays  b e i n  a w ay,  
  ter ri f i ed .   
  T h at beautiful c reature. A n d we’re so s im ple 
  h earted  i n  a w ay th at we love f ear li ve f ear 
  love  fe ar love. We  love  fe ar love  fe ar love. We  
  love, fe ar love, fe ar, love. T h e re ’s  alw ay s  an  
  ocea n wi thin ou r s el ves, a s  mu ch d e p ths  a s  
  h ei gh ts,  d arks,  to  loveli gh ts.   
  So  th i s  i s  i t,  fo r yo u r gu i d e to  n i gh t ti m e 
  s w im m in g, to your good m or n in g c r y in g, sa w i 
  d i a r ies, a nd  ever y  time you do n’t k now how to 
  g ive  a  s h it  a ny more, wh e re  you ca n’t  s t a n d t h is  
  a ny more.  
  T h is  is  your guide to bluf fs  an d an g les, for 
  s titch in g, an d rem as terin g, th e h igh  low  n otes  
  of  you r  own s ou l ,  for  hea r ing  the l iv ing  i n 
  your life  for you t o on e  day  love  e ach  reve rb 
  a n d e ch o from t h e  you didn’t  wa n t  t h at  t ime. 
  To be  ok ay  wit h  t h in gs. To be  ok ay  wit h  t h e  
  s addles, an d wh at’s  w as h ed up in  th e s an d.
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  T h is  h as  be en  m aria your guide, ’til n ext tim e.  
  D ed i c ated  to  th e h eartb reak er s,  th an k  yo u  fo r 
  teach i n g m e th e ro o m s  o f  my ow n  h eart.  
  Also  b i g  love fo r Wedn es da y  S o phi a ,   
  mo re hea rts to  Jef f rey W hi te,  Bra d ley G a rd ner,  
  K a zu mi C hin ,Ra chel l e Du be, Jay Dr a g on, 
  Be ar, S e brin a Calk in s, M ich e lle  M  K in g, & t o 
  Ana  And res,  C a rla  Jea n Phi lli ne fo r a ll o u r 
  n i gh tti m e sw i m m i n g.   
  D ream t o f  o n  M arch  2 0 2 1 ,  wi th o u r f eet 
  lan din g on  a g lorious  s un s e t  s h ore, a s le e py  
  co a sta l town hu g g i ng  a nd  re-g atheri ng  i n a  
  p a nd emi c s hore. Sa n Ju a n, La  U nion 
  t:  @m ari am i s o n  
  itch:  ma r i a bumby.itch.io 
  www. p atreo n. co m/ ma ri a mi so n 
  Ph o to s :  u ns pl a s h.co m, my  own  
  Licens e:  Attr ibu tion-Sha reAl ik e  
  4. 0 Inter natio na l  ( C C  B Y-SA 4 .0)  
  Fo n t:  Bas k e rv ille  
  If  you ’d  l ik e to s u pp or t me a nd my  a r t, 
  s ubs c ribe to my  patreon  an d get a good ch un k 
  of  my  l ib r a r y  of  g a mes  on jus t the 5u s d  tier + 
  T h is  g am e is  a c las sic  m aria ly ric  g am e th at 
  ed ge s  o n  th e b i o g rap h i c al bu t als o  s elf -
  g e n e ros it y  of  g uidin g  a n d re - t r a cin g  your s e l f  
  in hop es  of  hop efu l l y  hel ping  other s. T ha nk  
  you for re adin g it .  
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SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Self-Exploration, Emotional, & Relationship/A Guide to Nighttime Swimming.pdf