Swallow, Beau tells himself. Just do it. It’s the only way to save both of them pain, and he knows as much. Unfortunately, that doesn’t make it any easier. David was prone in a cot, laying peacefully asleep in front of him. He felt so far away, and yet, Beau was sure it was the other boy’s heartbeat that rung through his ears. Silently, he stood and crept toward the door, nonchalantly checking to ...

If watching cartoons has taught me anything, it’s that morality is relative. Even heroes can commit atrocities. Superman can destroy a city in pursuit of the bad guy- causing injuries and property damage- but as long as he was doing it for the right reasons, nobody cared. I mean really, he wasn’t getting paid anyway....

I sit in my car, staring at the sprawling building in front of me. Though it was an extremely small school, with class sizes typically down to around 60 by graduation, it always felt like the kind of place that went on forever. I had never seen all of it. I doubted I ever would.

Getting out and walking up to the door felt like a reflex, one I’d forgotten I had- like when the doctor taps your kne...

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People bustle around my home. Every single greeting is accompanied by a hug and a kiss on the cheek. A tray of cookies barely makes it through the door before it’s being passed around.

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Shouts come from the other room as I lead the newcomers to where the rest of the group has spilled chips and dip. I cringe internally, knowing I’ll be the one to clean it up later...

The walk home from school has always been the same. Every day, without fail, I start down Cypress Street and find myself cutting through Cherrycreek woods. Within five minutes, I’d be home.

Naturally, today was the exception.

As soon as I entered the woods, something felt off-putting. I slowed my pace, glancing around to see that I was completely alone. Not a single bird chirped, no snapping tw...