Can you hear me? Over the ringing of the phone The fifth time today it’s rung A finger against your lips in silence The ignorance began to stung

Can you hear me? Over the violent yelling Words like daggers in the soul Inching deeper and deeper My body paying the toll

Can you hear me? Whilst the glass smashes into pieces The symphony my new lullaby Though I tremble in fear Silent tears fell, I couldn’t cry

Can you hear me? My voice falling deaf on your ears Raspy from the pleading I had a superpower of invisibility But this superhero kept bleeding

Can you hear me? Silenced by the silence My words had to flee Mouth locked up for good No one can hear me

Blood. Screams. Terror. While the darkening forces invaded the world, seeping through soul to soul as if a sickening disease was spreading. Nightmares of which only existed in the mind dripped violently down our skulls. Drip. Drip. Drip. As the dark storm brews around us, the roaring wind harshly slapping the faces of innocents, the bullets rapidly pummeling towards others, the sick hands invading what doesn’t belong to them.

Trembling, shivering as an all too familiar feeling creeped it’s way through our frozen minds. The thunder crackling throughout the night, the lighting striking children, bodies found. In a world rapidly descendeding into a hallow abyss it’s difficult to find a way out, a safe place. Perhaps there is none.

Perhaps the light has dimmed, reduced to a faded memory or what was once alive. Where music hummed to the rhythm of life, the beaming warmth of an embrace didn’t feel so lifeless, hearts never stopped beating.

But what can one do when one can no longer see? What else is left once the light dies? One becomes blind, left to wander aimlessly navigating their way through a nightmare of which was the new reality.

Oh how the stars weightlessly shimmer in the night A peaceful presence silently floats, listening to the whispers of all A dark aura enraptures the universe, seemingly calm While the moon lends itself to those who feel small

Oh how time slows to a stop while lost in thought Regrets, fears and joyful memories consuming the soul The mind talks over the now silent world Allowing for those to speak freely without fear of control

Oh how the presence accepts the unaccepted with open arms Wrapped in a warm embrace as though we weren’t alone Yet the shining bright light will soon awake, dissipating the darkness Disposing of the only safe place we call our own

My head rested gently on her stomach, slowly moving up and down to the symphony of her breaths. Fingers softly ran through my hair bringing waves of calm over my body. Hands weaved together as if mine were meant to have hers within my grasp, small bolts of electricity in between them. My thumb soothingly rubbed circles into her hand as I felt her relax more. Our bodies entangled together like two completely different pieces of a puzzle that miraculously fit with each other.

The smell of her light perfume danced around me while I tried to take it all in. I knew that smell quite well, the scent that let me knew happiness was just around the corner. Her soft skin felt magical against mine, her hair lightly tickling my face while I tried to contain a dopey smile.

I shifted my head so it tilted upwards and opened my eyes only to be met with her shimmering brown eyes, the colour of hot chocolate, my comfort and favourite drink. Some say brown eyes are boring, but hers are unlike any I’ve seen, they’re breathtaking. I felt out of breath as I stated into them and when she smiled? My face broke out into a big lovesick smile.

Leaning forward, I gently placed a soft kiss on her cheek, feeling her dimple appear. Meanwhile, I felt the presence of soft lips on my forehead while cuddling closer to her. My eyes shut while I soaked in her presence around me. She made me feel things so deep inside my soul I didn’t know was possible. Through the gentle touches of love, we knew how we felt, it was more than words.

The human never imagined his day would end up as it did, discussing the concept of love with an alien of all things. “Love is when you feel deep affection for someone or something,” the human explained. “It’s something that makes you happy, it makes your heart warm and fuzzy.”

The human appeared perplexed, love was entirely more complex where he was from. “Is that it?” Now it was the aliens turn to be confused, “What do you mean?”

“Where I’m from, love is so much more than that. Love does make you happy, but it also has the power to make you very sad. Love is a puppeteer that plays the strings of your heart for the good and the bad. A lot of the time you have no control over it either, except to follow the movement of the strings. Love is happy, sad, complicated, confusing, incredible, breathtaking and so much more.”

The alien was astonished at all he was hearing, as a simple creature he’d never thought so much of it.

“But love is more than a feeling, it embodies your entire being, waves of electricity running through your veins. The electricity fueling your every move and thought. Love is everything, not just deep in your soul but in all the things around you. It’s in the homemade food someone cooks up just for you, it’s in the hugs you share with others, it’s in the free things you get just because you connected with a kind person, it’s in the money given away to people who need it, it’s in the family gatherings, the free spirits and the friends you have. Love is the little things, the ones that seem small but in reality carry the grand feeling one just cannot express enough.”

“I’m at a loss for words, I never knew you humans felt so deeply.”

“We do, it can be the greatest curse yet it can also be the most wonderful blessing.”

Tick. Tick. Tick. My beady eyes zeroed in on the clock hanging above the grand ballroom. My sweaty palms hidden under the lavish pure white gloves gifted to me by my mother. Flashes of thick red waves crashed through my mind, hitting the surface. Red red red. The spine chilling shrills of people echoed, louder and louder. Tick. Tick. Tick.

I jumped up when I felt a palm land on my shoulder, it was my father.

“Are you alright darling?” His eyes sparkled with concern.

“Yeah dad I’m fine, just a little nervous for tonight,” I zoned out, eyes glued to the blurring numbers as time seemed to be passing by swiftly.

“You know this must be done, it’s either the kingdom or one sacrifice. One life for millions, it will be worth it. You remember what happened, don’t you?” He eyed me accusingly. Years ago, when I was merely a young child, I encountered a ghost. Though at the time, she was my friend. Nobody believed she existed, Opal was said to be my imaginary friend. Opal and I would play tag, hide and seek, climb trees and do everything together. But my favourite thing to do, was dance with her, not the way my family and the kingdom elegantly swayed. We danced in the way of freedom.

Until came the day where it all came to a stop. I had awoken from my nap to the shrill screams of my parents. I was jolted awake and lifted into the arms of my father and as he hurried me out my room I saw what it had become. The walls dripped with blood, smeared handprints decorated the ceilings, curtains were torn to shreds, the windows broken. Looking down at my small white dress, it was splattered in black fingerprints. To this day, I don’t know what the black substance was.

“I remember father,” I whispered. He smiled and stood beside me along with my mother. Tick. Tick. Tick. The guests were due to arrive now. I numbly stood at the front of the castle greeting our people, people with terror shining through their eyes, people clinging to their children as if it’s the last time they’ll ever hold them. It might be. I saw people who were forced to attend against their will, in fear of being punished.

What was a worse fate? Imprisonment for life or death? It’s the question I often pondered. Or rather imprisonment for life or a chance at death? Only one was sacrificed, so what were the chances? One, yet that one soul might never see their family again, parents, children, friends. One of these faces would be dead at midnight, if only to keep Opal at bay, for she almost killed me that night.

Tick. Tick. Tick. I sat on my throne and watched my people dance, clinging to their dance partners. We’d caught a few attempting to escape, my parents gave them a warning and sent them off towards the dance floor. The speedy drumming in my chest grew louder, flashes of black now crashed through my mind. I swallowed thickly and blinked back into focus.

“It’s time,” my father announced and he stepped up onto the balcony overlooking the ballroom. “Attention!” His voice boomed through the eerily silent room, “it’s time for the sacrifice. One shall risk their life for not only my daughter but for the entire kingdom. This ghost must be kept away or death will be brought to us all. Tonight however, my daughter will be doing the honours as she has turned eighteen. Whoever she chooses should feel lucky to be chosen, you will be a hero!”

I snorted. A hero? No, his twisted words don’t affect me. I composed myself and slowly walked next to my father, overlooking my people. The people I should be protecting, who my family should be protecting. Yet they’re cowards, both of them. Not me, I’m nothing like my parents.

“You can do it,” my father encouraged while my mother watched from her throne in anticipation. The cold metal of the gun graced my fingertips even through my gloves. It weighed heavily in my hands as I brought it into the air which grew thick with fear.

Suddenly I felt something drip down my hand and arm, I turned my head to see a black substance spilling from the gun. My father’s gun. It was the same substance that graced my dress that night when I was little. I swiped a finger through it and realized, this was blood. But not human blood, ghost blood. Opal. My father had killed Opal. The black fingerprints on my dress were his covered in Opal’s blood.

My brain spun with memories of our laughter, our fun, she was never a threat to me. But I guess she was to my father, who was the first one to start calling her imaginary. All the pieces of the puzzle connected, my dad killed an innocent being. Granted she was already dead, but her soul lived on, at least it did. This whole ball was a show and for what? My jaw clenched and I spun on my heel pointing the gun to my father. Tick. Tick. Tick. DUNNNNN. I pulled the trigger.

When the butterflies distract you Soaring through your body on cloud nine Speeding hearts run a great marathon Making it first through the finish line

All the highs lifting you up up up Floating through the care free clouds Until a storm starts to brew Pouring down rain and all your doubts

The fairytale life isn’t often lived As the harsh reality starts to sink in Realizing not everything was as it seemed The troubles stirring chaotically within

While the lies fade into darkness The truths come towards the light When it may be too late to turn back It’s not too late to take flight

The blurry lines become clear As you bravely take a stand
You must be your own hero You’ve experienced your pain firsthand

You’re by your own side The only one to rely on is you Don’t let the negative inner voice Succeed or come through

Done with the illusion I once lived in Done with the darkness you omit You’ve caused me so much pain Yet the love I feel for you blinds me of it

The helmet on my head burdened my body yet unfortunately it was something I needed to survive. The helmets provided oxygen to humans as all the trees have fallen. Synthetic oxygen was created and is now used to keep what’s left of the population alive.

A beautiful green world was burnt to ash, the vibrant forests resembled a grey cluster of broken dreams. The shimmering oceans now completely obscured by garbage, the bright blue now a dark murky black. The bright sky was covered in pollution from our planet, the only clouds visible were those from factories.

All the animals became extinct because none could survive in our deadly environment. Our whole planet was out of balance and it wouldn’t be long before it took us as well.

I looked around at our burning world, consumed with blazing flames. The endless nightmare of reality burying the beautiful memories of our past. People were getting choked up in the fires despite their oxygen helmets. Global warming had progressed dramatically since a couple decades ago. The wildfires now spread across the entire globe.

Maybe this was our destruction. We are the cause of our own suffering and downfall, how ironic. I close my eyes and wish with all my heart to wake up in our previous world because I didn’t want to wake in the world where all the trees died.

My eyes took note of her saddened, drooping eyes. Mine must’ve looked quite similar, reflecting the pain we’ve both endured. Looking at her broken expression made my heart break further, more than I thought was possible.

“Darling?” She slowly looked at me, her movements seemingly holding the weight of the world. I softly took her hand in mine and intertwined our fingers while my thumb rubbed small circles on her hand. I knew we were both thinking the same thing, yet neither of us wanted to say anything.

“I don’t think we can go on like this,” she spoke with hesitation. I nodded despite the salty tears building up in my glassy eyes.

“I wish it didn’t have to be this way,” I whispered. She tightly squeezed my hand, as if she knew this would be the last time she’d hold it. The lump was growing in my throat as I tried to control my uneven breathing.

“Neither do I… but this is the only way we can move on from each other.” I knew she was right, but I didn’t want to accept that. Why couldn’t I move on from her and keep her in my life as well?

“I’m sorry I couldn’t be brave for you,” she spoke with regret shining in her eyes. I understood her situation and why she had to do this. I wish I could lift the heavy burden off her shoulders so she wouldn’t have to worry. However the painful truth, was that she couldn’t live without fear until I got out of her life. That, that was the most devastating feeling.

“Hey,” I lift her chin and brush away a couple stray tears, “it’s not your fault, you’re the strongest person I know. Even if you don’t believe it yourself, I know it’s the truth. This situation is out of our control, despite our love for each other.” I pulled her towards me and embraced her with everything I had.

I held onto her like my life depended on it because it felt like it did. I let the tears fall down my face knowing this would be the last time I hug her. She slowly pulled away, her red, puffy eyes looking into mine.

“In another universe we’re together, I promise. A universe where I’m braver, where my parents wouldn’t disown me, where you love yourself. We just weren’t meant to be in this one. Goodbye love,” she whispered, her voice cracking. I watched her walk towards the door, my heart pounding louder with every step. She opened the door and looked back with a forced smile before turning around and walking out of my house and my life.

As I stood alone in the room haunted with memories, it only just dawned upon me that she was gone. I wished with all my heart that I was in that other universe with her, but I wasn’t. I was in this one, the one where we weren’t meant for each other. I numbly sat on the couch, gazing at the doorway.

With her scent still clinging to my sweater, I pulled my knees to my chest. Sobs racked through me, my body being torn apart piece by piece. It was over. She’s gone.

Goodbye darling, you’ll always be in my heart.

How could I possibly explain the rapid thump thump of my heart when she looked at me? The way it felt like a mere thousand boxers were fighting within me. How do I explain the stampede of animals that erupts in my stomach when she smiles? How do I explain the happiness that bursts in my soul when she’s around? The sun shining much brighter than before like a million suns stood poised. How do I explain the wave of calmness that settles on me when I’m anxious? A blanket of reassurance draping my figure. How do I explain how her laugh is the gorgeous melody playing as the soundtrack to me heart? The strumming of vocal magic dancing through my brain.

How do I express myself in such ways that seem impossible to explain? Words couldn’t possibly describe what I feel, it’s beyond comprehension. My feelings shimmer within me in ways that turn my world upside down and my universe inside out. How do I express the inexpressible?

For now I watch from afar, admiring my love, yet trapped inside my own body.