Forty-three years and I still feel like I am a child that is working hard on figuring things out on my own because no one cares enough to care for me.
I forgot to pay my taxes, I don’t know how to submit an insurance claim, I don’t know how to refinance my car, and feel like all I have to turn to is my new best friend Claude.
Is it ever really too late?
I mean, to become the person I want to be?
The sun is starting to set on this life, but I am not done yet.… Read the rest
I didn’t want to fight. I wasn’t made for battle, I was made to sit on a throne and be quiet and pretty.
When my brother ran in, he was already mortally wounded and died in my arms.
His blood was the anger I needed to pick up his sword and fight back.
A rebel entered. Had I been empty handed, he may have left, but I was armed, and he engaged me.
His sword came down, and I saw the faces of my people in his blade.
I hacked and stabbed and finally killed him.
But all for nothing.… Read the rest
“Tell me, was I just another pawn in your elaborate game of chess?”
“You were, but unlike the other pawns you managed to become my queen.”
“I am not your queen! I have no crown; she got your crown!”
“But you get me. You get my nights my mornings, my kisses, my hugs and love. You get all of that, she gets none of it.”
“Games! It’s just games you play and nonsense you speak!”
“No, my love, no, you are the queen of my heart.”
“But not by name, so I will never sit by you on your throne.”… Read the rest
When the chimp attacked I left my body. I wasn’t there when he pounded at my face with his fists, when he jumped up and down on my stomach and groin, crushing me.
I barely remember being taken away with lights flashing, sirens blaring, but I remember waking up in agony, feeling like someone had ripped my body apart and sloppily put it back together.
“I’m sorry, the injuries to your face were too severe, we couldn’t save it,” the doctor said.
I know I’m a monster, but I’m trying to approach life with grace, while wearing someone else’s face.… Read the rest
We walk up the old wood path that is obscured by mist, which makes everything colored in a haze of green reflected from the lush trees.
“We should turn back,” Micah said.
“No, we’re too close, it’s right here.”
And it was. They’d reached the tree they searched for, and knocked three times on its bark.
A hidden door swung in and bright light emanated from within. Cheney proceeded directly inside while Micah tried and failed to stop her.
He was glad he did.
They’d found the ancient, secret library of the mystics, and now everything in it was theirs.… Read the rest
We stood in the street looking at the house for what felt like hours.
It got so late in the afternoon, I didn’t think we were going to make it inside before dark, and we had to be home before dark.
It would be fine; we wouldn’t have time to go inside.
But I was wrong, of course, and my friends got me to follow them through that open door that was hanging on one rusty hinge.
We never thought it could slam behind us.
We never could have imagined what would be on the other side of that door.… Read the rest
I’ve traveled incomparable distances through space and time to be you.
I’ve seen all the things that you’ve missed: the dinosaurs, the Neanderthal’s (who say hello), the Romans, the rise of Nazis, the fall of America.
(Oh wait, you’re not missing that, you’re living it.)
Within you are billions of years of time getting your back, making your spine tall and strong as a planet of its own, what everything else is tied to, to make you.
You will never see me, even if you think you do, that shimmer on your skin is your own glow, babydoll. Shine on.… Read the rest
She went up like Dorothy would have, had she not gone to Oz.
Up up up into the sky, into the place where angels live in the clouds, that’s what Dad taught her, that the people we love will always be there watching over us.
Well, who was watching over her when she rose up only to come crashing back to the earth and be buried under a pile of awful?
She didn’t see anyone in the clouds, and she didn’t think anyone was watching over anyone.
It felt empty up there, like the inside of her heart always did.… Read the rest
Getting ready for work, I have a smile on my face and a lightness in my step and in my heart that is unusual for this time of morning.
I have coffee, get dressed, get to the office early and have a great day.
I go home, have dinner, chill with the people I love, and get into my nice, warm bed.
There’s nothing amiss, there’s nothing to complain or worry about or fear.
I am able to slide between the sheets and fall asleep without being scared for anyone at all.
Cable news went off the air this week.… Read the rest
She called me and I didn’t answer. I didn’t answer the first time, or the third, or the tenth.
I didn’t want to hear from her, ever.
I hadn’t talked to my sister in years and was doing good work forgetting the sound of her voice.
She abandoned our family, thinking she didn’t need us. We weren’t good enough, or rich enough, or interesting enough for her.
I used to say she wouldn’t piss on me if I were on fire, and maybe that’s true, but finally I answer:
“WHAT?!”
“Please, I need you, I’m sorry.”
“Well, that’s too bad.”… Read the rest