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Every dawn, as the first whispers of sunlight kissed the horizon, a being named Rosalia would take flight to deliver the world itβs light.
Her wings sliced through the cool morning air, sending a shiver down her spine which rattled her bones. Rosalia tightened her grip around the glowing crystal ball, filled with the light of the glowing stars. Her everyday task was simple but vitalβ deliver light to the world.
As she continued on soaring through the sky, the crystalβs glowing intensified, the light from it refracting into vivid streaks, signaling they where close to the first tower.
Soaring a little higher, she spotted the gaint spiraling tower, its spire stretching far into the sky and piercing the clouds. With one graceful swoop, she landed on its rocky top, placing the crystal securely on top of the tower. The moment it touched the stone, brilliant light of all colors erupted, spreading across the land below.
Rosalia smiled, knowing her work was done. She flew on, traveling from tower to tower, filling the world with light until the last glow faded into the night. Until tomorrow.
She moves like the storm clouds gathering, Her words sharp as glass, A restless kind of energy That never seems to pass.
She speaks in sharp, impatient tones, A smile thatβs quick to fade, Her laughter like a wick that snapsβ A sound I canβt invade.
They all adore her every word, Her charm, so quick and bright, But to me itβs just a flicker, A spark that burns too bright.
She thinks herself a force of light, But I find it too much glare, Her voice, a crackle in the dark, While I breathe quieter air.
There once was a huge, brown brindle dog named Bear, passed down through the ages like a secret woven into the threads of family history. Bearβs fur was streaked with the wisdom of centuries, each strip telling a story, each eye a window to a time long gone. The dog was immortal, a strange gift and curse from the first ownerβ an ancestor who had loved Bear deeply and had sealed the bond with a whispered wish.
Generations of owners came and went. Each time a new face appeared, Bearβs heart remained heavy, its memories stitched together with grief. Bear would sit by the many graves of his past owners, eyes glistening with the silent sorrow of years lived in a never ending cycle. First it had been a young girl, then a strong man, the cerious woman, and the boy with the kindred spirit. Every owner eventually grew old, as they all must, and every time Bearβs eyes grew tired, following the procession from life to death, knowing he would never share their fate.
One day, as Bear watched the funeral of his latest ownerβ a man who had only been a child when he found the dog at his door, now old and buried too soonβ the weary heart of the immortal pet finally spoke. _Will I ever be free of this endless chain? _It wondered. _Will I die before I watch the next person die? Or will I simply sit, always watching, always waiting for the sorrow to return? _ __ __ Bear curled up into a ball, resting beneath the shade of a willow tree by the graveyard. And at that moment, he wondered if he could ever find peace again.
Raven stood at the edge of a bouncy castle, her hands on her hips, watching the other kids bounce and leap with laugher. Last year, as a kindergartener, sheβd been terrified of these giant, wobbly castles. Sheβd watched Estie, her younger sister, dive in without a second thought, as Raven stayed on the sidelines, feeling too small and too scared to join in. But nowβ now, she was in first grade. She was a mature.
βIβm not a scaredy cat anymore.β Raven told herself as she straightened her shoulders. She had grown. She was no longer a shy little kindergartener who couldnβt handle a bouncy house. She was practically an adult now. So, when Estie tugged her hand and asked, βCome play fairy princesses with me at the bouncy house?β Raven felt a wave of confidence wash over.
βSure, Estie, I guess Iβm not too old for that,β Raven said with a serious nod, following her baby sister into the bouncy castle.
The moment they stepped inside, Estie grabbed the shiny pink crown sheβd won at the fair and placed in on her head, grinning widely. Raven smiled, feeling proud as a peacock for being so grown-up.
Raven bounced lightly at first, feeling the soft, rubbery surface beneath her feet. The air inside felt fun and full of energy, just like the little kids who bounced around in the castle with her. Raven jump higher, she was no longer scared.
Estie, on the other hand, blinded in her excitement, started jump even higher and higher than Raven. And with one big leap, her pink crown flew off her head, twirling in the air. It landed with a soft thunk right off the bouncy castle wall.
Raven heard a faint hiss. She frowned.
βUh-oh.β Raven said as the castle got less and less bouncy. Surely, it started deflating rapidly.
βI did no mean toβ I sorry.β Estie cried, as she grabbed her princess crown off the bouncy castle floor, examining the small hole it had somehow created.
Ravenβs grown-up confidence started to waver as she realized how tricky this situation was getting. βI think we need to leave or we will be stuck in the castle.β Raven said as she grabbed her sisters arm.
Together, they scrambled towards the edge of the castle, bouncing awkwardly as it continued to deflate. By the time they reached the exit, it was nearly flat.
As they stepped out, Raven looked over at her baby sister who was looking down at her feet sheepishly.
βI sorry. I didnβt mean to mess up your grown-up adult fairy princess playtime,β Estie said as she held out her crown to Raven. βYou can be princess now.β Estie said as Raven placed the sprakling crown on her head.
βThanks, Mabye next time we can play fairy princess without the crown.β Raven said as she ruffled her sisterβs hair.
And as they walked away from the dated castleβ which the county fair employees were not pleased withβ Raven realized that mabye being in first grade didnβt mean she had to grow-up just yet.
In words that speak, in hearts that beat, A love that's so tender, so pure, so sweet. In whispers soft, or in a gaze, We find our hearts all set ablaze.
Through acts of kindness, gentle and true, I show my love, just for you. Not in grand gestures, but simple and small, It's the moments we cherish, one and all.
With touch so warm, you hand in mine, A silent promise, love will shine. Through each caress, through each embrace, I feel your love in every space.
And in the quiet, words unspoken, Where love is deep and never broken. Our hearts converse in a language so rare, A love that lingers, always there.
Happy valentines, the heart's own song, In every gesture, where we belong. Through all the ways that love takes flight, Together, we make everything right.
π·ππππ’ π ππππππππ'π πππ’! π©·
Beneath a sky of fading gold, A girl in red, so brave, so bold. The flowers sway, as if they know, Her heartβs a story, yet to show.
With every step, the earth does sing, Of ancient ties, of hidden things. The petals red, so soft, so deep, Whispers secrets she must keep.
She walks alone, but never strays, In a field of red, her spirit stays. The land, her mirror, deep and wide, Reflects the blood that flows inside.
Her heart beats strong, a quiet call, In fields of flames, she heeds it all. She moves with grace, where shadows fall, In a sea of red, she still stands tall.
Ember Hawkes
_ February__ _26, 1:32 p.m.**_
_** Ember stood at the edge of the cliff, her eyes fixed on the horizon. The deep blue ocean stretched out endlessly before her, a vast expanse of blue that merged with the sky in a way that made her feel small and insignificant. It was comforting in a way, to be reminded that there was so much more to life than what you usally got to see during the day. She breathed in the salty ocean air, feeling it fill her lungs, letting the wait of her worries lift, even if it was just for a moment. There was something about the endless horizon, the promise and mystery of what lay beyond, that gave her hope. Mabye everything would be ok after all.
Keith Harkins
** **February 26, 1:46 p.m.
_ _Keith stood next to Ember, but his gaze was fixed on the rocky cliffs below, not the ocean. The jagged rocks, sharp and unforgiving, made sent cold shivers down his spine. He couldnβt stop himself from imagining what would happen if he or someone else fell. The crash, the mess, the finality of it all. His hands clenched into fist as he replayed the scene in his head over and over again. Carefully, he took a step back from the edgeβ the ocean might look peaceful from here, but it was deceptive, dangerous even. He glanced over at Ember, wondering what she saw in it. To him, it was a reminder of just how fragile everything really was.
Raven Cunningham
February 26, 1:56 p.m.
_ _Raven grinned as she looked at the ocean, her heart racing with excitement practically ready to explode. Sheβd always felt alive near the waterβ something about the power of the waves, the way they crash against the shore, just filled her with an electric thrill. They where so unpredictable and wild, she loved the chaos that they brought. She wasnβt like Keith, who saw every danger in a wave, or Ember, who seemed content just to simply watch. For Raven, it was above diving in, feeling the rush of the cold water against her skin, challenging the unknown. The ocean was freedom. It was the place where she felt truly at home.
He wakes up, He kicks their tails, He gets ready, He kicks their tails.
He eats breakfast, He kicks their tails, He watches the news, He kicks their tails.
He leaves for work, He kicks their tails, 12:30 pm he comes back, He kicks their tails.
He eats lunch, He kicks their tails, He watches a movie, He kicks their tails.
He didnβt get the promotion, He kicks their tails, They are starving? He kicks their tails.
βItβs not animal abuse if they deserve it.β He kicks their tails, He is mad, He kicks their tails.
Theyβve had enough?! He kicks their tails, They bite back, Still, he kicks their tails.
She slipped beyond the safetyβs reach, Where wishers of the waves would preach, A place of awe, or dread, of grace, The oceanβs wild and endless face.
Her heart raced fast, her hands were cold, Stories of terror sheβd been told, Yet still, she stood on trembling feet, Drawn by the rhythm of the beat.
The waters roared, the wind did howl, A beauty dark, a fearsome growl, But in her chest, a spark did burn, A curious soul, unwilling to turn.
The oceanβs vast, itβs beauty feirce, A place of wonder wrapped in fear, And though the ocean filled her with fright, She marveled at its endless night.
Once, shadows whispered with a chilling grace, Eyes wide with dread, fear showed on his face, But now he stands, no tremble, no sound, In the face of the storm, his feet hold the ground
He walks through the woods, unflinching, unscarred, Lips curved at the screams that echo from afar, No longer does he flinch, from the voice in the night, Instead, he watches the flicker of fading light
He has learned to stand where others would flee, As the world unfolds with a new certainty, And in every silence, his heart seems to find, A rhythm that pulsesβ dark, yet refined.
