Lila watched the fish dart past her in the large tank. The dark coolness of the underground viewing area was her favorite part of the zoo. The seals would drift past and starfish lay silently at the bottom.

But today was different. Today there was a colorful yellow fish - a fish that looked like it was smiling at her! He watched her through the glass. This was the first time that a fish watched ...

Days roll on

The night come only

Through the mechanical shades

Dim and dark but I know

The Sun still shines

When the moon left us

And the days were permanent

We basked in the warmth

And the glow

But now we only wish for night

Those on the other side

Only know the darkness

Of permanent night

Never the sun passing over

One day we shall have moon light again...

You can tie your hopes to stars

The brilliant

Shine

Of a dream that is bigget than you

Its what we can love most

About the sky

In all its darkness

Pushed away by the star

But if they start to fall

If they dare to show how frail

Their humanness is

We can be sadly disappointed

In our belief in those stars...

She had worked hard to get to this point. Two PHds in molecular biology and chemical sciences. She understood how the body worked better than anyone. Her inventions around medications saved hundreds of thousands. And now, these polticians were telling her to stand down? They knew nothing. Why she had to help cull the population. Humans are a parasite on the planet. They had ro be cut back before a...

Trickle first

Gaining strength

Running faster

Down the hill, splash over

Spring pushes the water

Faster and faster

Splitting

Breaking

Chewing

Rocks into sand

The power of a single drop

Can carry you forward

Or turn you into a tumbled rock...

Another mile and I should be at the bend. That will put me within sight of Blanton and the falls. I have to paddle harder. The splash behind me has to be Nelson and his crew. Thank god this river is too shallow for a motor or he would really have me.

Splash.

That wasnt a paddle. I quickly glance back. Shit. They are shooting now. One of Nelsons goons tried to level his pistol toward me. The boa...

She stood before me - an expectant look meeting my eyes. Waiting.

I could tell she knew. It was a secret that wasnt much of a secret when someone knew your heart.

“Uh…” how was i going to say this? “Ms. Ryan?”

“You can stop Tony”

Yeah. She knew.

“How long have you been The Exploder? The whole time we have been dating?”

I pulled my mask down and met her eyes. She was the smartest woman i had ev...

Ding.

I rolled over and picked up my phone. Figures, just as I’m going to bed. Should have turned off my ringer.

“Huh.”

“What?” said my wife from her social media scrolling.

“Its from the doorbell app. Listen - ‘ALERT: a conditional alert has been issued for this area. This alert means that all alertees should be prepared for imediate action.’ What the hell does that mean?”

“Sounds like nonse...

Falling feels like flying

Until thr moment that you land

The moment your feet touch

And the air is taken away

You realize you were

Sailing

Diving

Flying

When i come back down

I know you are there waiting

Even if i was failing

Falling

Trying

Tumbling

But i was flying!

Until i touched down

Too often Im in the clouds

Im swooping and going places

Ive never been

Just to keep that

Dopamine hit c...

The sheer idea of moving to Vermont from my shitty little apartment in New Jersey wasnt exactly hard, but there is a fondness that grows on you in these places. The way the sink didnt drain. The way the hall always smelled. The way the landlord would knock if the rent was 20 minutes late. Those things become sacred rituals thaf remind you why you stay.

Part of the struggle with this leaving was d...