My eyes flutter open

And I try to gasp for air

But I am gagged

Tied

To an old wooden chair

A hooded figure

Dressed in black

Stands in the corner

Ready

To attack

The figure does not speak

Even

As I try to find

My way

Out

I feel so weak

So tired

Dark

And swift

As night

Where the unknown lurks

Charging at me

With all its might

Fear

Is the name

Of the one

That stands before me

...

DAY 93

Three months on this planet and I want to get the hell out of here. Why did I ever think this was a good idea. One might say that it is one’s dream to visit a foreign planet. No sir. Not at all. I would not wish that upon anyone.

The Artemis spacecraft had entered into orbit a couple of hours ago. I was looking forward to this very day, and now the last place I wanted to be was here, on ...

Johnny Mathews surely new it couldn’t be that hard to steal the old hag’s purse. She limped slowly along the street, holding groceries in both hands.

The boy ran to the woman and snatched her purse. She dropped her groceries in surprise, and grabbed Johnny by the arm.

“Boy, what do you think you’re doing?” Johnny stared at the woman in shock. “You ain’t gonna answer me?” ...

I thought the world was merely bliss

Rainbows and roses

Growing up I realized

The world was not so simple

Anxiety knocked at my door

And opened my eyes to many things

Growing up I realized

Some things won’t go my way

And some things will

Growing up I realized

There must be a balance between the two

Between the bliss of childhood innocence

And the awareness of the world around me...

Never was I so bored in this

Never-ending pandemic

Never will I go outside

Nor will I see a friend

Never was I so tired of wearing a mask

Never was I so tired of social distancing

Never was I so tired of staying inside

No, I cannot stand this anymore

Nevertheless, let’s hope this sickness comes to an end...

I find myself running so fast that the world around me is a blur. Time seems to slow down as my pace increases. I can feel it coming. I hear rustling in the trees. It’s too dark to see anything so I continue to run. All my sweat and tears make the outside feel colder than it already is. I search for the nearest shelter, any source of light that I can find. Suddenly a lean figure appears before me,...