I’m sweaty. Sticky. The black void stares back at me. Taunting me. Tempting me. I feel so drawn to it as if it’s physically pulling me towards it. My entire life I’ve craved the adventures the characters in my books and video games go on. I wanted an otherworldly experience. An otherworldly life. But as I stand here directly in front of this darkness I’m shaking. There’s a pit in my stomach and I ...

Our hands are dirty covered in Georgia clay

Not an adult in sight by this creek

Sunkissed skin we’ve played all of our worries away

It’ll be homework and yearning for recess next week

Will we still be bonded like we are now?

Surely this friendship goes beyond a summer fling

This incites laughter as we exclaim “no way no how”

But is this to be promised with words? A ring?

Expression of mischief as ...