(My rules were it had to be ABBA in twelve lines.)

It’s colder now, with shorter days.

We sit by fires that crackle and burn

Wrapped in a blanket as we yearn

For the sun’s comforting warm rays.

We wish spring would come again!

Snow gently blankets the dying earth,

We didn’t know how much summer was worth.

We took it much for granted then.

We must now sit through the storm

Drink some cocoa and...

Element Earth houses four cities: they are Water City, Wind city, Fire City and Soil City. They all have their own cultures and laws, but there is one rule they always agree on:

ELEMENTS DO NOT MIX.

Ashley, a adolescent fire element, just wants to find true love. But what if that love is another element? Even worse, she finds that the other element is a Water element. Can Ashley and her new soul...

I rush in. “Lydia!”

She’s sitting on the bed, crying. I sit beside her and wrap my arms around her.

“Alex…” she chokes through her tears. “You shouldn’t have come…”

“How could I not?” I cradle her gently.

“They could catch you…” she sniffs into the hand-sewn handkerchief I’ve handed to her. “And that could be the end of everything.”

“I know.” I don’t care about the risks. Even though they are...

The assistant jumped suddenly as he had an idea. He carefully poured some more water into the beaker. The golden liquid sizzled and turned into a burrito that rested in the glass.

“Yes! YES!!” Cheering with success, he leaped up and dashed into the room where his boss was pouring over some blueprints. The scientist had crazy grey hair, wild blue eyes and was wearing his lab coat.

“What is it, Ig...

I moan and slump on my desk, tapping my pencil continuously on the piece of paper. My lamp shines brightly, caressing me in a gentle orange glow. I sigh. I’ve been selected for the Survival Games, where a helicopter basically drops you somewhere in the wild with a few other people with ten items of your choice. Then you have to survive for a week. Basically we keep doing this for weeks, or until a...

Jacob and I stepped out of the ferris wheel and looked around.

“So, what should we do now?” I asked, glancing around at the array of midway rides, carnival games and junk food stands that surrounded them.

Jacob eyed the huge circus tent that stood tall a few hundred meters to their left. “Hmm… I saw on the sign that they have a sword-swallower and live animals.”

I roll eyes at my boyfriend’s c...

When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.

Well, I’ve never agreed with that, it doesn’t line up with my general attitude or energy.

I say, when life gives you lemons, throw ‘em back and add in some lemons of your own.

Sometimes I also add some limes as well.

And grapefruit.

But not oranges. Too sweet.

The result, unfortunately, is that life throws the citruses back with more of their own c...

I can sense it.

That low rumble, the humidity, a flash of light in the far distance.

It is perfect.

Now it is upon us— great loads of rain dumped upon my shoulders…

I love it. I live for it.

I hear a crack of thunder and light flickers around me. I was almost hit. But I love being wreathed in lightning.

I throw back my head as cascades of rain patter down onto my face, laugh, and I feel al...

Oh, hello. My name is Andrew. Have you come to hear my sorry tale? I know, this room may look a bit odd, but it’s all metaphorical. Listen in and you may come to understand.

It was my first day on the job. Maybe it’s yours too, I don’t know. I was working in this very building. Floors 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 were dedicated meeting rooms for confrences, and every floor upward of that was hotel rooms.

Ye...

Their eyes met across the crowd; he felt a dizzying rush of feelings. She was beautiful, and he stared at her, transfixed, as feelings of love, happiness, belonging and amazement whirled in a circle in his head. The second he saw her his heart was sold, forever and completely.

He started to force his way through the crowd.

She smiled and he glowed with happiness, only to see her turn away to la...