It was too much. It was all far too much. She could not hear over the sound of the drums, the screaming, the echoing rowdy fans, and the piercing headache. The gym was packed as the ladies spiked the ball over the net. Janine lost sight of the ball on the screen in front of…
She needed sugar. It was something feral within, something deep inside her that raved and clawed beneath her skin, craving something sweet as if it were life blood. She tore through the pantry in search of anything that would suffice. She found boxes of brownie mix, cake mix, frosting, and a full sugar bag. The…
The motivation was missing. Chores to do, assignments to complete, plans to make, and no energy to do any of it. There was only a void of darkness where there should have been inspiration, motivation, energy, or something else to get her moving. Instead, there was nothing. There was no way to get anything done…
It was that time again. The leaves were starting to turn brown, the winds were beginning to bring in cooler air, and the clothing being worn was shifting to longer sleeves. The teens pulled out the decoration buckets out of the attic and spread them around the living room floor. Mother hung the recently purchased…
There had always been something different about her. She had been a quiet child until her younger siblings came alone. Where with other babies her age would have forgotten items once they were out of sight, she always remembered and wanted them back where she could see them and know for sure they were still…
Just because it was pretty did not mean it was pleasant. Her dark hair was thick and heavy on the back of her neck. Whenever she washed it, if she did not brush it her hair would curl in elegant waves. Every time her hair was noticed she would receive compliments for how beautiful her…
She was dressed in a grey T-shirt and plaid pajama pants. She walked out of the back door and approached the wooden fence surrounding the backyard. She effortlessly climbed the fence and balanced herself where a corner was formed in the fence, near the lower end of the roof to the garage. She sat there…
The sky was dark, the clouds were grey, and the car roughly pulled into the driveway. The house was wooden and rotting, every window hinges squeaking. The car engine shut off and all five passengers filed out of the vehicle. One was the father, one was the mother, followed by two daughters and a son….
The fire crackled lightly in the fireplace. Curled up close by, wrapped in a fluffy blanket over her woolly sweater, sat Dahlia in the wooden rocking chair. Purring contently, as Dahlia ran her fingers over his fur, was a grey tabby cat laying over Dahlia’s blanket covered lap. Dahlia pet the cat’s head once more…
His life was a joke. It had to be. All around him, the world projected who he was in mocking. August was brunette, dressed in orange and brown, surrounded by orange and brown falling leaves. When he lived in the southern states, he would be sweating at this point in the year wearing long sleeves;…
The ground was caving in. It was, in a sense. The ground may not have physically caved in or crumbled beneath his feet, but it may as well have. His legs were not supporting him, and he was knee deep in mud, slowly sinking further. Jake cursed. This was one hell of a day. First,…
He had dark raven hair, pale porcelain skin, and bright red lips without the lipstick his friends often gave him as a joke. He enjoyed sleep more than most people he knew, any animal he encountered immediately loved him, and had he an affinity for apples. The male version of Snow White. That was Jeremiah,…
There it was again. The call. The never-ending call. Della turned back toward the screen. The television was dark, not even turned on, yet the call remained. “Just one more,” she heard herself mutter. “I have time for one more episode.” She looked back over her shoulder. The dining room table was covered in stacks…
The clouds remain dark overhead. A young boy dressed in a yellow raincoat stomps through the mud in red boots. A mangy mutt chases after him, circling and barking at the boy. The boy giggles and runs after the dog, stomping in every muddy puddle as he does. The dog barks more and runs, leading…
That wonderful smell was in the air again. The trees were filled with beautiful pink budding flowers of cherry blossoms. The air smelled fresher, and cleaner. The land looked prettier, in fresh, bright greens and pinks. Deer, rabbits, birds, and other creatures were frolicking among the plants. Everything seemed better. Nothing hurt anymore. It had…
The darkness was not something to fear. It was comforting and inviting. Something to bask in. Something that never really left. A safety blanket when the world was too bright and overwhelming. A quiet that soothed the burn of too much noise the rest of the world radiated. There was a reason why the sun…
The path is dark. Patches of light scatter over the narrow path from the gaps in the leaves above. The light provided only makes the shadows look larger. What is that? Is it a tree branch or a man? What about that one? Is it a monster or just conveniently placed shadows? Only one way…
That smell. That rancid smell. Why was it always that disgusting smell first thing in the morning? How could he stand it? Julia buried her face into her pillow and groaned, clenching the bed sheets. The smell was too overpowering. She could only hold her breath for so long. She lifted her face, careful to…