The morning sunlight peeked through the curtains, gently rousing me from my slumber. As I stretched and yawned, my senses were immediately assaulted by the persistent buzzing sound coming from Jess's phone. Curiosity piqued, I turned to her, concern etching my face. "What's going on, Jess? You seem a little concerned," I asked, my brow furrowing with genuine worry. She sighed, her eyes reflecting a mixture of excitement a...

Taking her seat at the table, she kissed the deck for luck before handing them back to me. Nervously, I dealt the cards as she calmly gathered her cards into an orderly stack in front of her. Poker-faced, she slipped her first card face-up onto the table. Holding my breath, I placed my card next to hers. From the corner of my eye, I noticed her cheat by lifting the corner of her next card before slamming it onto the table...

I sat in the back seat of the car, my heart heavy with a mixture of awe and regret, as I gazed out at the endless expanse of farmland. The sun's golden rays bathed the countryside, creating a serene backdrop for our journey. Little did I know that this peaceful drive would soon turn into a life-altering moment. Suddenly, a streak of movement caught my eye, jolting me out of my reverie. My breath caught in my throat as I l...

Drenched by a rainbow of watermelon stains in twilight's marmalade gazing toward night on nature's patio with whisking cloud songs of shower's musical rain for scrapbooks and parasols

I watch the sparrow, but can no longer hear its song. It seems everyone has something to say, and the noise now lives inside of me. Overwhelmed, I shake my head from side to side, but to no avail. I cannot break free. How I long to hear the sweet birdsong, but there's no more music for me. Nose pressed against the window, I search for color in the concrete jungle. The monotone landscape jails my creativity, so I flee this...

I was akin to darkness Secluded from the norms Disconnected from conventions Until you lit a match It sparked up the world around me Casting shadowed figures That foretold of endless possibilities A chance for invigorating adventures However, I did not foresee, That you would toss the match at me Igniting the clothing I wore Burning away layers like never before The cloth quickly turned to ash on my skin You sat back watc...

Chapter 1 Nestled in a dimly lit corner of the bar, I found myself alone, seeking solace in the soft glow of warm, amber lights. The flickering illumination danced across the weathered wooden counter, creating intricate shadows that seemed to tell their own stories. The air was alive with the animated chatter and laughter of the other patrons, their voices blending together into a vibrant symphony that enveloped the space...

I am honest to most, yet my trust is not easily won. My vulnerability is something that rarely sees the light. Every battle, win or lose, I am a lone soldier. You do not deserve the weight of my burdens. I am not very strong, but I can hold myself up. I am surrounded by love, yet I cannot open up. Tears were a sign of weakness. I wanted to be strong. It takes a lot to truly hurt me. For I brush most things off. I’d rather...

This morning, I received a letter from those lovely people down at the income tax office. They wrote to inform me, that my income tax return form was outstanding! Funny, I don’t even remember filling out a tax return form, let alone filling it out neatly!

Bear and Girl were out walking in the forest one afternoon. The sky was blue, there were white puffy clouds, and it was beautiful. They were chatting about everything, and nothing, and laughing about it. Suddenly, a wolverine walked out from behind a bush, stopped, and growled at them. Bear shoved Girl behind him, and said, “Steady, friend. No one is here to hurt you.” The wolverine barred its teeth and started walking to...

The giant blades of the turbines cut through the air almost silently despite their looming, ominous presence. Katarina stared out the window at them as she drove along Highway 402. This stretch of the road seemed to be littered with futuristic-looking windmills. Kat could swear they had doubled in number since the last time she’d driven on this road. Then again, it had been nearly four years since she’d last traveled acro...

Ædith walked slowly, her heart was beating powerfully as the adrenalin flowed through her veins. This was the moment she had dreamed of as she stared straight ahead through the thin mesh of her veil. She looked neither right nor left, ignoring the admiring glances of the gentlefolk who were lining the path leading to the Cathedral. Ahead, standing before the closed oak doors, the priest stood silent, his hands clasped bef...

The two young girls played vivaciously in the cool water by the glade. As they splashed and frolicked, their laughter echoed around the mountain valley. The surrounding trees, comprising primarily of larch, beech, and spruce - and, of course, oak – gently whispered their approval. They were safe here. Locals knew not to disturb them. The sisters were special – as was the valley. The power and magic that resided in the tre...

The stalk of your sensuous shadow, haunting, the carnal essence of my soul's absolution. Absolving my lusting eyes as I repent the sins of my poetic gangrene penned by the Tarot. In the dark shade of this Gothic cult the griffin whispers through loveless mascara, sotto voce, under breath.

“Eddie’s dead,” said the female voice on the other end of the line. My caller did not identify herself, but I recognized Emma Lawrence’s voice. She was engaged to my old friend Eddie Blake. “What happened, Emma?” I asked, dreading the answer. “He went paddling on the lake, Alan,” she said quietly. That alone was enough to make my face turn pale, but I let Emma go on. “I told him not to. I refused to go myself. But he stil...