I drummed my fingers against the desk. He was late. And that was making me increasingly nervous.

Had I not been a warm, welcoming hostess? Had I not treated him with every kindness? Had I not done enough to earn his favor?

There was a knock at the door and I hastily rose to my feet, smoothing my dress as I tried to repress my anger toward his lateness. With a sigh, I finished composing myself, and...

In summer days I reminisce

The fallen leaves of past

Sunshine warms the asphalt road

I drive back home at last

In hand I take my horn and key

In heart I carry fear

Will I be welcomed back again

By those I hold so dear?

I left with hardened bitterness

I resented what was done

I return again with hopefulness

I return to see someone

The door is opened by a face

I do not know their name

I fear I n...

I looked at the crazed writings of the lunatic I once called “brother.” Scribbling on napkins, photographs of shadows he claimed were not supposed to be there, all piled onto his desk in his room where the only light that worked was his flimsy table lamp.

I shone the flashlight on my phone up onto his bulletin board, where he had connected newspaper clippings and Polaroids and sticky notes with s...

Blood and ice.

These are the things that cloud my vision. That dictate what I do, how I act, what I say, what I feel.

I am blood and ice.

As I stare up at the sky - gray and submitting, like my spirit - I can feel my power sinking into the ground. Any sense of normalcy that I gained over the last two years went with it.

My skin started to turn blue, the scars that ran up and down my body grew ...