Short stories & poems

She was as vibrant as the sun.

Her smile was so bright and powerful it would heal the darkest of souls.

Her hair flowed freely like it would be a crime to pin it up.

Her golden waves cascaded down the back of her head in such a way that was mermerizing to perceive.

Her freckled skin looked as if it was kissed by the sun itself.

She was radiant.

A gleaming star shining so brightly it could blind those who aren’t careful.

I was careful.

I am always careful.

Once the light burns it burns out in the same breath.

I snuffed out her light.

I broke her so deeply she hasn’t smiled like she once did.

Once so bright; now so dark and cold.

As empty as the void of space is without it’s shining star.

The sun that used to be warm; is no longer there.

Her hair once always free as her spirit once was is now tied up in a mess atop her head.

The golden color that once radiated strength is now a muddy brown cold embrace.

She was my shining light, and I destroyed her.

Everyone knows the story of Alice in Womderland. Her stumble down the rabbit hole that led her to this bright and colorful world; that which led to her inner awakening of who she truly is. Alice ultimately ends up conquering the Queen and is bathing in her power. What no one talks about though is her re-entrance to the human world. Returning to her snobby family and mundane exsistence after being surrounded by magical creatures and talking animals was a jarring experience. Alice was given word that one of her family members was on the way to the next life, so she thought I’d only be plausible if she went to say her farewells. Alice did not really give much thought to what this truly meant. She would have to face everything she left behind, face the reality of her situation. As Alice entered back into the human realm her heart began skipping beats at such an irregular pattern. All the memories from her past bubbling up to the surface. Her gut twisted into an irreversible knot, causing her to feel nauseous. She felt her knees go limp as she stood tall after crawling out of the dark tree trunk. But Alice then remembered who she was. She slipped back into her habitual patterns that she had worked so hard to be liberated from. Alice took a deep breathe, closed her eyes, and focused on the sound of her own breathing until she felt grounded again. Reeling her mind back like a magnet pulling in metal for a close hug. Alice was so used to the random methodical creatures approaching her that being here felt barren. She got stuck staring at a tree waiting to make a quick acquaintance when her Aunt coughed saying “Alice, what are you doing staring at that tree?” Alice replied “Oh I thought I saw something.” Alice then realized how odd she probably looked to her Aunt. She definitely had her hands full in this moment but she knew she could conquer anything. Remembering Cheshire the cat saying “We’re all mad here” made Alice giggle. She could be herself knowing that her real home was waiting for her.

Allie Raine swept her leg foward incapacitating her opponent earning a wave of applause by the onlookers in the crowd. This move both ended the fight and solidified her place as a natural warrior. Allie looked out into the crowd with a natural confidence that some thought to be arrogance. She was a natural fighter and rarely lost; if ever. Often, Allie demonstrates a certain brutality to her fights that seem inhuman.

♣︎♣︎♣︎

“Fear, truly, is not something to be frightened of. Fear warns you if something is not safe; Fear feeds your adrenaline when you must run.”

♣︎♣︎♣︎

YANT

I did not go down to dinner.

After what that servant told me, I don’t think I’ll be able to get out of bed any time soon. Levan left me as well, following the same servant as they led him to the guard’s quarters. So it’s dark in my room, the candles full and untouched, and the moon screams at me from the sky, howling in laughter as though my death amuses it.

I’ll die if I stay here, I’ll die if I play along, and I’ll die if I make it to the end. I wasn’t expecting to fight while being here—or a possiblility of dying, the real danger here—the King truly told me nothing.

“Oh, Grandma.” I sigh, tucking myself deeper under the covers to entertain my thoughts to the object of sleep. They decline, sadly, being spurred up by this whole situation. Then, they go to the person who is destined to kill me once my time here has ended.

Prince Venus Heart. Why does someone fated to end me have to be so beautiful?

I think about the other royals. The Damsel and the High Prince. Both seem to be on bad terms with the Prince—and with themselves. Both seem unstable, in their own ways. They also obviously find me less than, and I certainly don’t want them near me when my paint falls off. Levan may help me, but I’m still not certain about where he stands in all of this.

A plan, I think as my eyes start to droop, I need a plan if I am to get through all of this. Always a plan. Some structure will help me.

I can’t live without it, for without structure, there is only the fear of what to come.

♣︎♣︎♣︎

♡♡♡

“No one must know. So keep quiet, and stare at the sky ignorantly.”

♡♡♡

BLACKJANE

I stare at the gentle moon, wondering how this majestic sphere of light can handle the wickedness of this side of the world, as I pour the soft, sweet smelling liquid into the cup of Elder Prince Dianthus.

He lays in his bed, long dark lashes framing his purple eyelids that flutter ever time his eyes move restlessly; his dark curls are matted on the sides, for he hardly ever moves from the bed. His thin lips pressed harshly against each other in pain even in sleep, wrinkling the black heart resting beside them. For some reason, I feel regretful to wake him, though, I know myself, and that is not the only thing that I shall regret.

Three black hearts rest on my right arm, where my shoulder and upper arm meet, signifying my ranking. The ugly black of it stares at me, jeering at me in joy for allowing it to take away my original color.

After I’m done filling the cup halfway, I shake the Elder Prince gently, handing the cup to him as he rouses. “Ah. Jane.“ He nods, taking a sip without hesitation. The trust he gives me is not what I deserve, but he is less perceptive than his younger brother and sisters because of his sickness and how he was raised.

He hands me back the cup once he finishes, and I place it on the desk near the head of the bed. “Shouldn’t you be asleep, Jane?”

I shake my head, holding my tongue to stop myself from repeating the question back to him. A verbal tic, the doctor said when my mother called for him, should start to disappear as she grows up.

But it’s still here, and once, it almost landed me dead.

I shake my head and respond with, “Doctor Grand told me that he forgot to give you your dose today.” Which was true. What was in the cup wasn’t his dose though. By his face, it seems he can’t tell the difference. “I should be off now. Goodnight, your majesty.”

I make my way towards the door, but a weak grip holds onto my naked wrist. I start to shift into a defensive stance, but I remember where I am and the part I am meant to play, and I hold myself.

“Please don’t leave,” the Elder Prince’s voice is faint as he drifts back to sleep, “We haven’t talked in a while. What’s that about anyway? Do you find me boring now, because I sleep all the time and the sick, almost-dead prince isn’t what you’d thought he’d be?”

I look back, sigh, then walk back to the bedside and place his arm back over the covers. “No, you are everything I knew you’d be.” Another truth. But I was supposed to know everything about him so that he’d like me.

The Elder Prince smiles at my words and leans back against his pillows. “Okay. Talk to me, Jane, tell me again about the stories your mother told you? Those are my favorite.”

I look down at his weak form, regret rising up inside of me once more. But I distract myself from it, I do as he asks. “I’ll tell you my favorite one. Did I already tell you about the Dealer?”

He frowns, opening one eye to say, “That is not allowed in these walls.”

“I know, but this is a different kind of story. This is how the Dealer was created. It is not something for the faint of heart, and there is a lot of death surrounding it. And of course, as you said, the Dealer is a horrible thing. If you think you can’t handle it, though, I’ll leave you—“

“NO!” He shrieks, surrendering to a coughing fit after. I do not know if he really is two years older than me; he seems and acts like a child. “Tell me the story. Tell me now.”

“Alright then,” I look back out the large window and take a breath. “From the Jesters to the Hearts, a story always starts, then, of course, it must depart—The Birth of the Dealer.”

Then the words flow freely from my mouth, though I have to pause several times to stop myself from repeating.

Oh, how I miss the red, how I miss my Own.

♡♡♡

It’s start on a cold weekend out to our favorite place in the woods nearby the city city park. Away from the crowds and nosies of the city. But this time it’s different after hearing the news report of the escape killer. But we weren’t going to let that dampen our spirits. We will keep the fire big and roaring

As I open my eyes, my vision obscured, I look around, trying to remneber something, anything. My head aches my arms and legs bruised. What happened here? I looked over to the drivers seat, and that’s when I saw her. Kelly, laying their unconscious, her face scratched and glass covering her body. I tried to scream, but I couldn’t. I felt frozen in time. I drifted in and out of consciousness before it all went dark. I pictured my life with Kelly, our children, our marriage, all the awkward moments, the joyful moments, the hard moments, the moments where love wasn’t enough. Then I awoke, in a hospital bed, and the first thing I said was, “Where’s Kelly.” The news hit me hard, it couldn’t be, she was right there. I knew she was real. But the doctors said nobody by the name Kelly McClarrin ever existed. I was driving that car, I was alone, I don’t have kids, I’m not married. It was all a dream…

that smoke, what was it? twisting and poofy like clouds in a dull landscape, there i was i saw stars in the smoke but not where it came from am i leaking into the world? is the smoke me?

**My heart once full of life ** **Ever flowing ** With the warmth of love **But now frozen solid ** **Like a river in the dead of winter ** **My only friend the wind ** Who never stops to say hello **But whisk furiously through me ** **O how i miss the warm sun **

**But cold and dead I shall remain **

**Your beauty is like the sun ** **vibrant and bliss to all but me ** **for me it is like the sun for ** **I wish to see it every morning ** **as the birds chirp ** **and every evening when the ** day is done

**Will you be my ** **Sunshine **

I don’t like it this way My mind is in the wrong place I can’t think straight I don’t know if I want to

I can’t keep it clean anymore My thoughts My words My room

I Don’t wanna wake up I just want to sleep until I can’t sleep anymore and then I’ll sleep again

There is dishes on my desk cups and forks and plates Clothes on the floor Did i wear that yesterday?

I feel trapped my room is so small yet it holds so much pure emotion

Posters falling off the walls Painting chipping from the frame The door is creaky and the windows do not look the same

Have not brushed my hair Have not changed my clothes slept past noon Havnt left the house in a while

I know it seems dramatic But I am stuck here alone I don’t have depression So don’t take this the wrong way

I am lonely as can be Because no one wants to be friends with me I dont read anymore all i do is scroll

Help me get rid of this messy room Please help me pick up my shattered pieces I beg you to listen And maybe stay for awhile