March 1

word count: 215

hello! I'm Niko, I use they/them pronouns. I'm co-leading sci-fi this session! some of the things I like doing outside of writing is drawing, rock climbing, photography, reading, baking, and sewing. Some of my favorite books are Six of Crows, the pjo series, and Scythe. I love every book in the grishaverse and I'm very excited to see the second season of Shadow and Bone. I like exploring and hiking at places near me. Super excited for this session! scififtw!

daily:

I think I would be a very worn adventure book that is really big on character relationships and worldbuilding. It wouldn’t have a dust jacket and would be hardcover, the hardcover would be caved into (I don’t know how to describe this) there would be designs that you can feel if you put your finger over it. The cover would be a xanadu color and blue. It would start offf very slowly but there would be scenes that are very action-packed. It would begin with a lot of people who don’t know each other very well and really don’t like each other much but they are forced to trust each other to save themselves, as they work more and more together they get really close and they all have very different relationship dynamics.

March 2nd

319 words

firefly, pencil, lamp, hope, owl

I stared at the empty page, I heard crickets chirping as I sighed and closed my notebook. I turned my lamp off before burrowing my head into my pillow and covering myself in my sleeping bag. I slipped into sleep quickly, unlike usual when I’m forced to stay up for hours after getting in bed.

I dreamt of cliffs and forests, I flew above the trees looking at the hiking paths and camping grounds, I felt something move near me, a flatter of wings hit my ear and an owl came into view. It dived and I followed it as it came closer and closer to the ground.

I sat up, breathing quickly, I tried to slow my heartbeat and checked my watch, an hour after midnight. I pushed myself and crawled out of my tent, the sky was cloudless and stars were splattered against the night sky. I grabbed my bag and lantern to light my path, I don’t know what I’m looking for but what else is there to do? I checked my map, what path did the owl go down? Before I had to think any longer, my question was answered, a line of fireflies lit up a small path between some trees. And so, I followed them, the path was rough and bumpy, rocks stuck out of the ground, not ideal for hiking at the night.

What am I doing? Why didn’t I just stay in my tent? Because of some stupid dream? And yet, I kept walking. After hours, minutes, seconds the line of fireflies ended. The narrow dirt path had opened up into a field and now I wasn’t alone with the fireflies. The owl from my dream sat on top of a tall rock, it stood tall and stretched its wings, hundreds of fireflies flew up to it and circled it as if magic. I smiled, opened my notebook, and began writing.

March 3

410 words

The wolf from Little Red Riding Hood isn't actually evil


“Come on! It’s just a little rabbit.”

Edward stumbled as he was pushed into the clearing, he looked back to where Fenris was baring his teeth, his eyes red. Edward got on all fours and crept over to the tree where the rabbit was nibbling on grass.
“Uh-” Edward looked back again where Fenris was pointing at the rabbit excessively. Edward bared his teeth and jumped at the rabbit who he hoped would run away, and of course he didn’t. He opened his mouth. Move! Edward urged, to his relief the rabbit seemed to finally understand and ran away.

Edward sat alone again, he nibbled at his carrot, around him the wolves scarfed down the meat they caught earlier today. His brother passed him and looked at him in the way he always does, in disappointment. That night Edward went to sleep with a plan, tomorrow he would hunt for the first time. There was a village near where the wolves lived where hundreds of humans lived, the wolves liked to talk about how one day they would hunt them all.

On his way to the village Edward ran into a little girl, she had a red cape over her hair and a basket in her arms. “Oh, well hello there,” Edward said looking at the young girl. “W-Where are you going.” Edward wasn’t planning on killing her, she was too young.
“I’m going to my grandmother’s house!” The girl exclaimed, “She’s sick so I’m bringing her cake to make her strong!” Sick huh? Maybe Edward could wait until the grandmother died on her own and say that he killed her, “Where does your grandmother live?” He can stake out her house until she passes away. “Oh, she lives in a house under three large oak trees!” Edward smiled

Fenris was there before Edward had gotten there, “Fenris?” Edward asked, “What are you doing here?” Fenris gave a devilish grin, he had blood on his teeth, “There’s an old lady who lives here, what you think I wouldn’t go and kill her?” Edward froze, what was he going to do? “Y-you killed her?” Fenris answered with a smile

Edward threw on a wig and one of the grandmother’s nightgowns, he didn’t want the little girl to come back and see her grandmother dead, he would wait until she left and then would leave, they would think the grandma had died of her sickness.

Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go to plan.

March 5

315

Aphrodite sipped her coffee staring out of the cafe window. A couple walked by holding hands, she sighed happily. “More coffee ma’am?” The waitress asked as she walked past Aphrodite’s table, “Oh yes please! And a bit of advice, your hair would look so much better if it was in a braid.” Aphrodite said excitedly, the waitress looked baffled as she poured the coffee and walked back into the kitchen, “Oh and with a few blue ribbons braided in!” The waitress didn’t come back.

New York is a beautiful city, Aphrodite had always appreciated it, it wasn’t Paris but something about New York just seemed to make Aphrodite feel happy. Now the streets did lose it a few points. Her heels clacked loudly as she gracefully walked down the bumpy sidewalk. Aphrodite gasped, a flower shop! Oh how romantic! Aphrodite ran down the street stopping the cars that were about to drive down the street, a few honks and shouts at Aphrodite but she didn’t care, flowers were just so wonderful. She couldn’t wait until she could tell Demeter all about it. The shop was small and made of white marble, it had vines growing up the walls. The store was beautiful, it had all kinds of flowers. Oh how Aphrodite would like to just buy it all up.

“That will be 1,678.92.” The cashier said, her eyebrow raised. “Thank you!” Aphrodite cheered, her arms were full of bouquets and pots. She fished around in her purse for her bag of Drachma, she wrapped her fingers around the silk bag, “There!” She said as the bag full of coins clinked. The cashier looked in the bag in disdain, “Uh what is this?” She said holding up a Drachma. Aphrodite had forgotten about earths strange money. “It’s well, uh. Zeus!”
There was a poof and Aphrodite appeared back in Olympus, with all her flowers.

March 6

174 words

(page from shatter me)

Darkness

Blood

Dreams

The birds fly by

Dying

Gone

Come Back

The darkness chokes me, it engulfs me in its arms, reaching for my hopes my dreams. I can’t feel anythings only the drip of blood going down my leg. This is it. I am going to die, there is no point of denying it. Rage overpowers the darkness, it feeds at me, I can’t wait to die so I don’t have to feel this anymore. How could he? He must die if not by my hand than by someone elses.

I am a bird passing through the sky, I swoop high above the clouds. What is happening to me. Am I already dead? Am I in purgotory merely waiting for my mind to fully die? Something else replaces the rage, something new, something unknown. A white ball of heat appears in my chest, it warms me in a strange, unwelcoming way. Hope rises from the ashes, it overtakes the darkness and lights me up from inside. I must live. I must live so I may take my revenge, so that I can kill him.

March 8

449 words

As soon as I opened the door I felt my foot fly up and I found myself hung up in the air at least fifteen feet up.
“Haha! I got you!” A voice exclaimed and I saw a shadow walk out in front of me.
“What? Haris is that you?” I questioned my voice unatrually high
The shadow stopped and looked at me,
“Matthew? What are you doing here?” The hood fell of and revealed Haris’s bright red hair.
“Yes it’s me Haris, dam it. Get me out of these ropes.” I snapped.
“Sir, you told me to set up a trap in front of the factory’s main door.” I heard a scuffle below me I saw Haris lying on the floor after tripping over a loose rock.
“What in the world are you talking about? I told you to clear the factory and make sure no one gets in here. I never said a single word about setting a freaking trap!” I yelled, I couldn’t wait to get out of these ropes.
“Well, how was I supposed to know what you meant.” Haris mumbled as he began the tall climb up the ladder.
“You thought I was telling you to use our own materials to set a trap to a factory that is empty? Why on earth would I say that?” I grumbled, maybe I should fire Haris.
“Okay sir I’m going to one of the ropes and then you will swing down and I’ll help you get down.” A second after Haris’s message there was a snap and I felt myself falling through the air. I screamed before I stopped, hanging three feet from the ground.
“Sorry about that! I accidentally cut two ropes instead of one.” Haris yelled down the ladder,
“Haris!” I exclaimed, I really should fire him.
“Now sir, I know that I wasn’t supposed to make the trap but it’s a great trap isn’t it? Would that not earn me some credit?” Haris said eagerly.
“Yeah… it was a nice idea, but I’m afraid it’s not the most practical” I can’t wait to go home.
Haris cut the rest of the ropes and I crumpled to the floor.
“Haris, the next time I don’t say to set a trap perfectly check with me first before wasting my materials and my time. Now get me a coffee and a phone and then we’ll move out.” I said a straightened my tie.
“Uh yes sir, there’s just one problem.” Haris said his forehead shining from sweat.
“Yes?” I asked tiredly.
“I might have thought you said to throw all our stuff away instead of packing it away including with the phone and coffee machine.”
“Haris!”

March 4

313 words

Aspen made sure to stray far away from her fellow cadets. When it was time to explore the planet she went on her own. She traveled for hours, taking samples of rocks and finding crystals to use for fuel. When one of her cabinmates invites her to trivia night Aspen declines. She spent the afternoon cooped up in her room examining the samples she found in her adventures. One morning at breakfast when Aspen was eating by herself at a small, dirty, metal table one of her cabinmates came and sat at the same table, they didn’t say anything and just sat there eating their processed meal.

For days afterward, Aspen continued to ignore her cadets and the mysterious camper continued to sit with her at her table. Aspen volunteers to help repair the ship and from then on she spends most of her time with a screwdriver in her hand. She didn’t mind not talking to the other campers, she more enjoyed to spend time in her mind and wonder the great questions of the universe. One day when Aspen walked into the hot room ready to see how she can fix the ship fully she saw someone else sitting underneath the heater. It was the campers who sat at her table. They looked up as she walked in. “Oh, uh hi. What are you doing here?” Aspen asked. The camper raised an eyebrow, “Fixing the ship, you?” Aspen stressed why was this other person here? “Oh, same I guess. So do you need help with anything?” Aspen said as she walked over and bent down next to the camper.

Aspen began to spend the majority of her time working on the ship, as did the mysterious camper. Aspen still hadn’t learned their name. Aspen enjoyed being able to talk to someone about science and engineering, she began to enjoy their presence.

March 14

418

(i really hate this but i had to speedrun it)

I was checking my outfit in the mirror, after doing stage crew in the school play and musical most of my clothes were attacked with paint that wouldn’t wash away, somehow these jeans had gotten out unscathed. As I finally decided that I was paint free my dog walked up and sniffed my knee. “You look fine just so you know.” I spun I was alone in the room, all alone except for my dog. “What? Did you just- did you just speak?” The dog looked up lazily, “Well of course I did, what did you expect? For me to be mute?” I stumbled and sunk into the couch, since when could my dog speak? I shook my head, I’m going crazy I’m probably just dehydrated my dog can not sleep. “So uh, since when could you speak to me,” I asked, maybe I am just crazy, my dog jumped up and sat down next to me. “Oh I’ve been able to speak my whole life it’s just you who couldn’t hear me.” My dog raised his right paw and scratched his ear, “Now that you can hear me I suppose you can also talk to all the other animals.

The bird’s singing was substituted by a high-pitched song by Celine Dion. Three birds flew from the roof, harmonizing with the song, they had a pretty voice but it was high and pitchy. I walked down the stairs my head spinning, how? Can everyone else hear them too? I rabbit hopped next to my foot, “Hello ma’am do you happen to know the time.” I paused before checking my watch, “It’s uh, um, 3:14.” I replied before the rabbit jumped high up and squealed, “Oh no, I’m late! Oh I’m so terribly late!” The rabbit ran off and jumped into a hole. I kept walking, I passed squirrels playing UNO and bugs holding a wedding with a white tissue as a wedding dress. “So, uh Aspen, how in fact did I get the ability to speak to you?” I asked my dog as we continued walking down the street, Daisy jeered at a butterfly before responding, “Well you turned thirteen of course, when you were born your grandmother gave you the gift of speaking to animals. Before your grandmother died she gave me to you as your guardian and to teach you your skill.” I kept walking, what was I supposed to do? How do I live the rest of my life being able to understand animals?

Weekly 2

748 words

1st Activity Reflection

I went for a walk around my neighborhood. You know how people often say that taking a walk can help you and you usually ignore it because it’s one of those often-said phrases but once you actually take the walk you realize how nice it is. The state that I live in is known for having very unpredictable weather, for example, a few weeks ago it was more than sixty degrees Fahrenheit and then two days later it was snowing. When I went for my walk it was extremely windy but it was nice all the less. I did a large circle in my neighborhood and it was just nice to walk without having to really focus on anything.

2st Activity Reflection

I decided to once again reread Six of Crows. Right now Six of Crows is my favorite book, the characters, their relationships, and the whole plot adds up into a marvelous read. I’ve read all of the books in the Grishaverse multiple times and Six of Crows and Crooked Kingdom remains my favorite out of them. Reading the second chapter which is told from Inej’s perspective is amazing, Leigh Bardugo’s way of describing the setting is amazing and I love the way it sets up the story of showing the exchange between Kaz and Geels. I read the book curled up in my bed drinking some hot herb tea, I stayed in the same place for two hours without realizing it and got completely immersed in the story.

Story

Verina slipped out of the Ravkan Embassy and slid herself up the downspout to the first balcony. She hopped from the railing of the balcony to the next one and kept moving until she moved farther and farther from the Ravkan Embassy. She slid back down to the street as she entered West Stave, after her first trip to the West Stave Verina promised herself she would never let herself look inside one of the brothels.
She heard a swoosh and felt herself pushed against a wall, it was a drunk man who had just come out of the bars, he whispered something in her ear and she repulsed, as the man looked back to his friends Verina took the opportunity and shoved the man off as she called her power. She rubbed her thumb against her flint ring and felt her power come, her hand was engulfed by fire and she hit the man with it. As a large burn formed on his face, Verina turned and ran before anyone else could stop her.
She was still shaken by the time she reached the apartment she was staying at, instead of going in she decided to keep walking. Ketterdam was a foul city filled with monsters and the air was the smell of death but something about the wind and the faint sea smell blowing in made Verina happy or perhaps the city was just making her go crazy.

Verina took a walk in a square around her apartment as she turned the corner an abandoned building fell into view, the door was halfway open, and in the end, her curiosity got the better of her and she walked into the building. It was dark and smelled like mildew and the sharp tang smell of gunpowder. It looked abandoned and all that was in it was some broken scraps of glass and trash. Verina walked over to the middle of the room and looked around, then she froze, there was a lantern that was emitting a warm orange light, the wind blew and the fire was blown out. How was a lantern in an abandoned building still lit, unless someone was here just a few minutes ago?

Inej watched the girl as she walked over to the lantern and examined it, Inej moved quickly and gracefully along the ceiling beams until she was right above the girl. Inej froze as the girl’s head snapped up and she looked around the room, Inej got the feeling that the girl was somehow realizing she was no longer alone in the building. But how? No one saw or sensed the Wraith. Inej heard a soft snap and flames appeared from the girl's hand, an Inferni.
“Why don’t you come out and we can talk?” The girl said as she walked around the room, looking around, her eyes passing over Inej. Inej slipped back into the shadows and left the room, she had a lot to tell Kaz about the new Grisha in Ketterdam.

March 15

234 words

And I had just finished cleaning the cafeteria. Mango fights were common but the last week had been the worst. Yesterday Bi-Fi had waged a mango war on Thriller, all the cabins had split into two sides and in the end, the cafeteria was painted in yellow with the mango pieces. Random campers had been chosen to stay and help clean and scrub the tables unfortunately I was one of some chosen.
“Hey, Niko!” I spun and saw a girl with short brown hair and a bright pink shirt, “Oh hi Lily!” I said as I remembered her from the first night, Lily waved me over to where she was sitting, there were three other people sitting at the table with her, I saw Val who I knew from another camp but didn’t know the other people’s name’s I recognized one as a co-leader of Poetry. I walked over and smiled, “Hey! I’m Niko,” I sat next to the one who was a Poetry co-leader, as I did she said, “I’m Jas, nice to meet you.” I waved, the other one introduced herself as Iri. “So, how are you guys doing?” I asked, wiping the mango smoothie off my jeans. As they talked Val excused herself and left, a few minutes later a mango landed in my lap, Val and ten other Bi-Fi campers jumped out and started attacking us with mangoes once again.

March 19

321 words

People always complain about me. Try and get help to get rid of me. Talk about how annoying I am. But no one seems to care about me. No one seems to want to help me. Anxiety is common and everyone hates it, they say how it makes them hate themselves. But no one says how it makes me hate myself infinitely. Grounding techniques don’t work for me, breathing deeply doesn’t work either.
I’m that little voice in your head, the one that tells you how everyone is looking at you, I’m the one who makes your palms sweat, the one who reminds you of every embarrassing moment you’ve ever had. It’s not like I asked for this job like I kneeled at the throne of your brain and begged to get this job. I’d much rather be stuck at a desk with a pile of papers for eternity.

When people teach you about anxiety they don’t seem to teach you how all those whispers you hear from me are whispered in my own ear before I must repeat them to you. You hear many thoughts in a day and I hear the same number just multiplied by eight billion. I hear all those thoughts, about your weight, about that group of people who are apparently staring right at you. I lurk in the dark, waiting to pounce, waiting to destroy your self-esteem. I wish I could leave but I have to stay and continue to ruin all your days. At least you can work on it, maybe one day you’ll be able to almost completely rid yourself of me. I’m stuck here for the rest of my life, which for me is eternity. I walk through minds to minds and tell them how they feel. Wish I could leave and make sure you never saw me again but I’m stuck here. So? Maybe try and not hat me as much.

Sorry Niko <3 (accidentally posted here thinking it was the mega thread ^^')

86 words of reflection

(blood and war and stuff)

I didn’t realize the bullet had actually pierced my skin until I heard the yells of the people behind me. The second I realized realization hit, the pain came crashing into me. I stumbled, my hand going to the wound immediately, it came back red and wet. There was a burning sensation as if someone has set fire to my stomach, it was as if someone had grabbed my guts and twisted them until they became too stiff to turn anymore. I stumbled around wildly reaching for something, anything, my vision blurred and I could only make out blurry shapes standing in the field. I heard cries and as I fell to my knees I could see the shapes getting closer.

Shana watched from the back door frame drying a mug she just washed. Hugo ran in circles around the backyard babbling and holding up his new wooden toy plane.
“Wheeee!” Hugo cried as he fell into me with his plane, making me drop the just-washed clothing. “Hugo!” I scolded him and picked myself up to carry him back inside.
I placed him in the sink and began to wash the dirt off him with warm water. Shana came up behind me and tapped my shoulder with a letter, “Father wrote again, he said they haven’t gotten any new information about when they’ll be sent home. He also said…” She paused before continuing, “He said he needs another installment, that the military has raised the price even higher for food.” I heaved before picking Hugo up and drying him with a towel. “I’ll go into town today and go to the bank, you’ll have to look after Hugo,” I sighed and went to grab my coat.

I looked down at my stomach which I regretted instantly, my whole chest was covered in blood and there was a dark hole where the bullet had struck. My hearing was worse but I still could make out yells, I could make out Mapil standing over me, she called over a medic and squatted down next to me.
“Oh god,” She breathed as she examined my chest. More figures appeared in front of me. My eyes blurred even more as I felt someone put pressure on to my wound. I yelped, the pain was unimaginable, I couldn’t deal with it anymore. I felt myself leave I slipped away into unconsciousness once again.

“Has Father written back yet?” I asked as I shrugged on my coat. It had holes and was cheap, the cotton was itchy and it felt like wearing a coat made of sandpaper, but it was all we had.
Shana shook her head, “I’m sure he got it, if he wrote anything back it will probably come when you’re gone.” The war had gotten even worse and everyone in town had worked together to gather up all the old blankets and clothes they could find.
I was supposed to bring it to the camp and visit Father to make sure he was alright. I hugged Shana tightly and patted Hugo on the back “I love you.” I whispered to both of them and walked down the house's front door stairs. The sun had not yet risen and the town was asleep, everyone warm and safe in their home.

I had woken up with no one standing over me anymore, I turned my head and gasped, the pain in my stomach shooting up. Mapil’s body lay next to me her eyes blank and staring up without focus. What had happened? I remembered medics and other soldiers near me but no one stood anymore. I tried to push myself up just slightly, crying ed out in pain, my eyes blurring. again.
The camp was filled with sick and tired men who lay in bed groaning and complaining. I walked between the beds to find bed number 78. “75, 76, 77… 78” I counted silently, I looked down at the bed underneath the number 78, dark, cold eyes stared back at me, they were not my father’s eyes. “What do you want?” He asked, his voice gruff and raspy. I swallowed, trying to find my words. “I-I’m trying to find someone, sorry for bothering you.” I said and walked away as thoughts swirled in my mind. At the head of the room, there was a man standing, holding a clipboard. He was tall and had a thick, dark goatee. He looked up at me as I approached. I paused, “I’m looking for my father, Joan Henkrison.” He flipped through the pages before responding, “He was sent home eight months ago,” He said his voice filled with disdain. Eight months ago? I nodded to him and turned around. Eight months ago. That was when the first letter came. That first letter that begged them to send him money. They didn’t hesitate, he was their father, they went to the bank immediately and asked for a loan. Where was he?

I barely felt the pain in my side as I pushed myself up, it was as if it had burned all my nerves off and though I was sure my body was in unimaginable pain I didn’t feel it. My eyes flared, like fire, it was my father's fault that I was here, my father's fault that only a few months after I came home Hugo had died after being diagnosed with chicken pox. He was young and we had no money to take him to the doctor. One dreadful night after hours of playing with him and trying to make him stop crying, he closed his eyes for the last time. It was only me and Shana left, the war had gotten so bad that even the cost of buying one single, small loaf of bread was the same as buying a whole turkey before the war. Most people lived in poverty but at least they had a father or husband fighting in the war and bringing them money.

Shana hugged me tightly, nearly breaking my ribs. Over the last few months, her face had become pale and ghoulish, her eyes had lost that sparkle that they once had and her hair had lost its warm, soft feel. I thought I was about to start crying again but I pushed the tears back, I had cried too many times since Hugo died. I had enlisted myself in the military, I wasn’t the strongest or biggest but I was smart and I knew how to hold a gun. The pay wasn’t amazing but it was enough for me to get enough money to let Shana be able to get at least one good-sized meal a day and I would get food and shelter from the military.

The first few weeks were hard, we ran through trials and obstacles, I nearly lost my arm but at least in the end, I got a paycheck that I could send to Shana. A few weeks later the soldiers posted at the border of Tansy were wiped out and we were sent to replace them. Tansy was a dry and poor country, when we got there we had to get used to less food and had to ration the small amount of water we got.

I swallowed the cries that I wanted to yell out, fire roared through me, I could barely keep my head up. But I had to survive, I had to make it out again and see Shana again. I wanted to see my father one last time, find him and tell him all the about pain he caused. And Shana, I couldn’t leave her alone, she was only fourteen and had already lost her mother, father, and Hugo, I couldn’t let her lose me too.

Reflection:

this was something. i really hate editing, I definitely think i don't delete enough things because i'm too scared to. i wrote this a while ago and i really liked it, i'm not sure what i think now. i also made some grammar edits and little small edits that i didn't show because i didn't have the time bold or strikethrough everything. i think i can work on deleting more unnecessary stuff, i think i add to many nonimportant details when writing that really don't matter.

March 22

301 words

third book of six of crows : DD yes i know there's Rule of Wolves and King of Scars but i just want another book with all five (sob not six) crows

Kaz checked his watch, they should have been here by now but he never depended on Jesper to be on time. The door swung open and three estranged people stumbled into the room, “Inej?” Kaz asked looking away as Nina, Wylan, and Jesper righted themselves.
“She said she had to check something, she’ll come soon,” Wylan said “Now, what do you need us for Kaz?” Wylan and Jesper took a seat at the table, Nina fumbled around in her purse and brought out a tin filled with what Kaz assumed was some sort of dessert. “I too would like to know this Dirtyhands, I hadn’t expected to be back in Ketterdam so soon.” Kaz tossed a small straw bag to Wylan, “Not just yet Nina, I want you to examine the contents of that bag Wylan, what is it?” Wylan furrowed his brow as he examined the bag, he brought a flower and studied it. “I’m not exactly sure, it looks like something I saw in Shu Han, in their gardens, if I can take this back to the house I might be able to figure it out.” Kaz shook his head, no time for that. He pointed to the kitchen, “I have a few samples of that, you can try a few things out.” Kaz said, Wylan sighed and headed to the kitchen. Jesper spun his guns, “Come on Kaz, Wylan and I are really missing out on time when we could be doing other things, why don’t you tell us what’s happening?” “Because he wants us to get back in debt with him before we have to risk our lives even more.” A voice from behind Jesper came, he spun, his hands swinging wildly. Inej walked into view her hood up. “You’re late.” Kaz rasped, the heist could begin.

He’s gone
Gone
Gone
Gone

The seaspray smell blew along with the wind bringing memories of home along with it. I walked along the beach, the sand slipping between my toes, i looked into the sunset closing my eyes and taking a deep breath.

“It’ll be our little secret, okay?’ His eyes, his perfect skin, the little cut on his lip. His soft hands as he covered my ears from the yells.

I heard calls coming from up the road, “I’ll be there in a minute,” I yelled, I didn’t want to do what I said, I wanted to be able to walk into the sea and disappear, to be claimed by the waves forever. I walked farther and farther from the road until my ankles were engulfed by the water, I fell to my knees, soaking my dress.

How his eyes twinkled every time an idea entered his mind, “Don’t worry, you could never disappoint me.” Our plans of running away, all those pennies I slipped away and saved for years until I could leave with him, leave everything behind.

A sound erupted from my mouth, something too broken to be a scream. The world shattered. I felt the earth fall apart, tears streaked down my cheeks falling through the cracks of the destroyed planet. “You saved me,” I whispered as I fell farther and farther into the water.

“It’s okay, you’ll be fine.” Breathe. Calm down, you’re alive. Breathe Breathe Breathe. The yells were too loud they picked at me, prodded me, swallowed me up with dark arms, and hugged me tight until they didn’t want to anymore. I felt warm hands wrap around mine, I squirmed and moved. Leave me. Stop. “You’re safe, I got you.” I heard his familiar soft voice and breathed in. I want to be alone. He’s there with me, holding me safe.

We sit on the beach, the sun already down, the waves hitting against the rock. I heard his breath, slow and calm. The beach was kind. The waves swallowed the yells and hid them, with no parents to find me and yell at me. Just me and him. Together. I breathed in deeply, I loved the sea air, no scent of Marlboro or sweat, just the salt in the air.

He’s gone
Gone
Gone
Gone