When she got there, the room was quiet except for the muffled sobs of her family, who were circling her bed as they had been when she left last night.

She’d already said goodbye three times, but still, she wished she’d been there for her the moment she left this earth, to be there to touch her brittle skin and whisper that she loves her.

Her family had left a seat for her, and she took her grandmother’s withered hand and kissed it for the last time.

“You were the best grandmother a kid could ever have. I love you.”… Read the rest

First she stopped listening to him, because that was the hardest for both of them. No more conversations, no more comfort through words.

Then, he stopped touching her. Or, when he touched her, she felt like he didn’t want to be doing it; it felt hollow and made her feel empty.

So, she worked harder at ignoring him.

She worked hard at caring for him less.

She would not let the more loving one be her.

There’s a day coming when she isn’t going to be able to tolerate it anymore, and she’s going to pack her bags and run.… Read the rest

“This is all I can give you,” he said, and it wasn’t enough for her.

She knew before he even said it that those words were lingering in the air between them.

The distance, the caution, the unwillingness to open up and really share a life.

Not to mention being the dirty little secret after years of not being a secret.

But as much as it hurts, it doesn’t touch the fear of being alone, and the dread of having no one to come home to, no one to hold her in their arms.

It never should have been him.… Read the rest

She stepped up into the carriage, her nemesis, pimply Paul, holding her hand to steady her as she ascended the two bouncy steps and onto the bench.

Immediately, she began smiling and waving to the crowds.

The horses pulled the carriage through Main Street, and the children went wild, admiring her hair, her sparkling dress.

Her fucking dress. The fabric was so hot, stiff and itchy. She was sweating her ass off and wanted to scream at every one of these people, “GO TO EPCOT!”

As she waved and smiled, she cursed herself for not going into exotic dancing instead.… Read the rest

The girls were sleeping in two rows in the living room, tucked close together in their sleeping bags, but Mara was awake and staring at the thing hiding in the corner.

It was blacker than black, darker than the darkness, and she couldn’t tell if it was moving closer to her.

“Amy, Amy,” she smacked the girl beside her.

“What?”

“There’s something in the corner.”

“What?”

“Something is here with us!”

“Just go back to sleep.”

It was then that Mara’s heart started pounding, thinking she was alone in dealing with the darkness, not knowing that she always would be.… Read the rest