Anton Ginzburg 2/14/2023 Pd 7

 Grendel was a monster feared by all who knew of him. He lived alone in the forest, far

from human settlements, where he could be free to be himself. He was accustomed to living

alone and had grown accustomed to the silence that accompanied his solitary life. That was

until he saw her. The woman who would change everything.

She was walking through the forest one day, picking wildflowers and humming a tune.

Grendel watched her from a distance, fascinated by her beauty. Her long brown hair flowed

down her back, and her bright green eyes sparkled in the sunlight. She was unlike anyone he

had ever seen before, and he couldn't help but feel drawn to her.

Grendel observed her for days, watching her every move. He began to realize that she

was different from the others he had encountered in the past. She did not fear him or scream in

terror when she saw him. Instead, she saw him as beautiful, as if he were just like any other

living being.

One day, Grendel decided to approach her. He knew it was a risk, but he couldn't resist

the urge to be near her. As he drew closer, she looked up and saw him. For a moment, there

was silence. Then, she smiled.

"Hello," she said. "What brings you here?"

Grendel was taken aback by her kindness. He had never encountered a human who had

spoken to him like this before. He hesitated before replying, "I saw you walking, and I couldn't

resist coming to say hello."

She smiled again. "I'm glad you did. My name is Anna. What's yours?"

"Grendel," he said.

Anna and Grendel talked for hours that day. They spoke about everything from the

weather to their hopes and dreams. Grendel couldn't believe how comfortable he felt around

her. She made him feel as if he was just another person in the world, not a monster.

Days turned into weeks, and Grendel and Anna continued to meet in secret. They would

talk, laugh, and share their lives with each other. Grendel had never felt so alive, so happy. He

knew that Anna was the one person who truly understood him, and he cherished their time

together.

But their happiness was short-lived. One day, Anna was caught speaking with Grendel

by the king's soldiers. They accused her of being a witch and sentenced her to death. Grendel

watched in horror as Anna was dragged away, screaming for him to help her.

He knew he had to do something. He couldn't let the woman he loved be executed for

simply talking to him. Grendel waited until nightfall and then set out to seek revenge.

He found the king's castle and broke down the door. The guards tried to stop him, but

Grendel was too powerful. He smashed his way through the castle, killing anyone who got in his

way. He searched for the people who had accused Anna of being a witch and found them

cowering in a room.

Grendel did not hesitate. He killed them all, one by one, until there was no one left. He

then returned to the forest, where he mourned the loss of Anna.

From that day on, Grendel knew that he would never be able to love again. He was filled

with rage and anger at the injustice that had been done to him and the woman he loved. He

roamed the forest, a solitary figure, until the end of his days.

Some say that Grendel's spirit still haunts the forest, searching for the one person who

could see him as beautiful. But others say that he is just a myth, a monster who was created by

the fears.