The little boy was curled up under his covers in fear. He could hear his father’s shouting and cursing as he beat his mother. Tears began to flow down his cheeks. He wished it would stop, wished it would end, but he was too weak to protect his mother.

Suddenly, he felt a slight tug on his left sock. He wriggled around and turned on the light to find a very confused green creature holding hood soc...

I had never felt comfortable around Anna. Something about her just seemed—off. Now that she and my father had returned from their honeymoon, they were officially married. They pushed me to accept her as my new mother, but I still refused to call her anything but Anna. I found it odd that even though they were married, Anna still slept separately—in her own room—which was always locked. When I sugg...

The little strawberry maiden—

She was so sweet and was so fair.

With a smile, she walked across

The village, selling her juicy wares

Until the day the robots came.

They had no heart, you see.

They trampled all the maidens’ patches

And left the village in misery....

What happened to the forest after man came? It is clear that the predators have dwindled away, but where have they gone? Well, magic has a way of protecting the world’s most valuable creatures. Literally, there is a portal in the hollow of the oldest tree in the deepest part of the forest. This portal leads to another world—my world—and this is my story.

Everything changed for me on my twelfth bi...

“Hey, Dave,” Esther greeted me as I walked through the door, “we received more donations over the weekend. Do you mind looking through them?”

“Sure, not a problem.” I walked to the back of the Second Chance Thrift Shop and was stunned by the mountain of clothing that stood before me. “Well,” I said to no one, “I’d better get started.”

I sorted the clothes into two categories: discards (which go ...

The princess fell to her knees. The snow was cold, but she could not feel it anymore. Her eyelashes were encrusted with snowflakes, not that it would have helped her to see through the blinding blizzard. Shivering, she hugged himself in a vain attempt to warm her freezing body. As she began to lose consciousness, she barely noticed as a pair of arms lifted her up and carried her away.

The prince...

Little one, so small and frail,

‘Tis wonderful to meet you.

Red-faced, you cry and wail

To those gathered to greet you.

In my arms, I hold you tight,

And you begin to calm.

I vow to always keep you safe,

Loved, fed, and warm....

Link’s leather boots squished in the dewy grass of the early morning. The field was dotted with trees, ruined pillars, and the robotic carcasses of Guardians which scarred the land of Hyrule from top to bottom.

He stopped in front of a particular Guardian then pulled out his Shiekah Slate. Comparing his picture of the last memory with the landscape, Link knew he was in the right place.

As he f...

Beads of sweat began to form on the woman’s brow as she carried her water pot to Jacob’s Well. Though the midday sun was scorching, she feared even more the heated scorn that she would face from the other women. Going now meant she was not likely to meet anyone on her journey since the other women of the city came to draw water at the cooler part of the day.

As she approached, she noticed a Jewi...

Joys of childhood are found

In simple pleasures and games—

Tea parties with princess crowns,

“Tag! You’re it!” “Ready or not!”

The Medal of Honor was giv’n

In attitude, not words,

To the victor who could not be found

“Olly, olly, oxen free!”— a just reward....