The Canyon of Great Heartbreak

The breeze danced through my hair as I walked along the canyon, wondering what kind of heartbreak could have caused such an astronomical fissure to break the earth. My footsteps echoed through the empty space, and I stopped, craving the silence of the wind. The footsteps continued, and a figure emerged out of the mist that suddenly surrounded me.

   “I’m sorry, ma’am, the park is closed.” 

   “Yes, I know. I was just wondering if you knew the story of this canyon.” The willowy woman stopped beside me, looking at me questioningly.

   “No ma’am, the origin of the Grand Canyon is a mystery.” It was what we always said when someone inquired, and I certainly didn’t expect her to smile at this information.

   “Would you like to know?” She gazed out at the canyon, almost wistful.

   “Well, yes, of course.” 

   “Sit down then, child.” 

   I sat, and she took a deep breath.

   “A girl once walked this same path, the space before her a wide expanse of trees and flowers and river. She was young and wished to find someone to share her stories with. As she walked along, she came across another girl, who was weaving flowers into a crown. 

‘“Hello,” she said. 

“The girl looked up at her with bright eyes and introduced herself as Alissa.

‘“I am Genna,” she said, delighted to find a friend.

“The two became close, sharing everything with each other, almost the same person after the years. A while later, maybe five or six years, Genna met Ernest. Ernest was only two years her senior, but at twenty-two, he was ready to marry. He proposed after months of courting, but Genna was unsure. She consulted Alissa, and they both agreed it would be best if Genna waited to marry Ernest, as they were young and did not want to be separated yet. When Genna informed Ernest that she would not marry him, he flew into a rage. He demanded that Genna leave Alissa, saying that Alissa would find a husband, too. Genna refused yet again, and Ernest was infuriated, cursing Alissa and Genna’s devotion to her friend. When he left, Alissa and Genna assumed he would recover and find another woman. But on the anniversary of that day a year later, Genna discovered her best friend gone from her bed, and assuming she was outside, went walking on the path you stand on. She came across the field where they met, and to her dismay, found Alissa lying face-down on a cluster of lilies. When she discovered her best friend was dead, Genna’s heart broke into thousands of pieces. The earth felt her heartache so greatly that it split in front of where Alissa lay as if it too had lost her. And when Genna’s tears fell, so many were there that they created a river down the bottom of the canyon. 

There Alissa was buried, and before us, a fissure of great heartbreak, a symbol of how great the love of friendship truly is.”

I stared in wonder at the woman, still entranced in the story.

   “Is there more?” I asked, wanting to know what happened to Genna.

   “There always is,” The woman smiled. “So broken was Genna’s heart that she was unable to do anything. The old gods found her sitting at Alissa’s grave every night, and took pity on her. They took her up with them, nursed her back to happiness, and as a reward for her devotion to her friend, granted her immortality. She lives to this day.”

     “Wow,” It came out like a breath, the story enchanting my senses. “What’s your name ma’am?”

     “Genevive.” The woman responded.

     “I’m Alice, nice to meet you. I have to go, my shift is over, but I’d love to hear more of your stories some other time.” I smiled, walking away, still entranced.

-----------

   Tears welled up in Genevive’s eyes. She had tried so many times, but every reincarnation of Alissa believed the story to be either a wise tale or a cool story. None of them made the connection between their names. But this time was different. This time, she’d show Alice their connection. She would not fail again, she couldn't. Every night she went to sleep, her past boring a hole in her head. She would not go to sleep until Alice knew who they both were.

What does it mean to be heartbroken?

To be heartbroken is to be so sad that it feels like your heart has cracked inside your chest. You'd be heartbroken after death, but you can also be heartbroken when you get dumped by your girlfriend or boyfriend. When someone is heartbroken, they are deeply sorrowful or distressed. Some people describe it as a dull ache, others as piercing, while still others experience it as a crushing sensation. The pain can last for a few seconds and then subside, or it can be chronic, hanging over your days and depleting you like just like the pain, say, of a back injury or a migraine. Love is heartbreak. When your heart breaks every time you look at someone – not just that you feel desire, longing, and so on – that is love. So: Heartbreak doesn't happen after, maybe, as a “risk”. It happens before, while, during – as a necessary, critical element of love. Studies show that your brain registers the emotional pain of heartbreak in the same way as physical pain, which is why you might feel like your heartbreak is causing actual physical hurt. ... Then, when heartbreak happens, these hormone levels drop and are replaced with the stress hormone cortisol. Strength stems from resilience. On the other side of heartbreak, there's strength to be gained. Resilience is fostered; you can feel comforted knowing that you were able to overcome that hurdle — that you're absolutely capable of bouncing back from immense sadness.

Studies show that your brain registers the emotional pain of heartbreak in the same way as physical pain, which is why you might feel like your heartbreak is causing actual physical hurt. ... Then, when heartbreak happens, these hormone levels drop and are replaced with the stress hormone cortisol. Strength stems from resilience. On the other side of heartbreak, there's strength to be gained. Resilience is fostered; you can feel comforted knowing that you were able to overcome that hurdle — that you're absolutely capable of bouncing back from immense sadness. Heartbreak changes a person like stress and cutting and darkness and beating change carbon into a diamond. Embrace your sadness, feel it 100% and then let go. You will meet yourself again. Only better.

I hope this description has helped you understand the pain of heartbreak, and how it could affect Genna so, (if you've never had your heart broken). If you have, I hope this passage didn't bring you too much pain.