I finally get home, kick my heels off, and pick my best little boy, Rocco. As I’m loving on Rocco I take a look around my apartment. It’s small. Like really small. The smell of Nag Champa fills the air regularly. I look at the microwave clock, it’s 4:43 a.m.. I go to the refrigerator and pull out a beer. I don’t really care beer but I need something to take the edge off. The edge? Yes the fucking edge. I’ve been dealing with complete craziness all night. I’ll just be honest,I’m a struggling full-time student working as a dancer on the side. I mean we all have to make a living right? I’m sitting at my kitchen table completely baffled by what I witnessed tonight. I’m even more baffled by the offer I was given tonight. I’m crazy for even thinking about not accepting it. My phone dings. It’s Rich. He asked if I had an answer for him. It’s only been an hour since we last talked. Rich my most frequent customer. With him always asking for “private dances” I have gotten to know Rich pretty well, as vice versa. Rich still has me speechless which I did not believe it was possible. Usually during our sessions I talk about school and he talks about work. He’s always bragging about how good his paychecks are but how bad he gets boned in taxes. Thank God my tips are cash. Anyways last night Rich brought up how he got a promotion and is now the Co-CEO of a major business here in Chicago. I congratulated him with kiss on the cheek and a screech. Rich giggles and goes on to tell me about how he got a $35,000 bonus along with his promotion. He then got oddly quiet while receiving his dance. I asked him why he wasn’t more excited, especially after informing me of all the good news. Rich went on to express that he was just thinking. Rich then started to come off as nervous. He looked as if he was trying to think of what to say. Rich then says, “I know our relationship is just business but I would really like to pay for your schooling this year.” I was dumbfounded. I told Richard that my tuition was $20,000 a semester. Rich replied, “I know I also went there.” I asked him why he was willing to do this for me and what the catch was. Rich replies, “no catch, I just see a lot of potential in you.” I was flattered but how in the hell could I accept $40,000 from him!? I told him I would think about it. I finally pick up my phone and reply to Rich. I reply, “I accept your offer.” Rich then replies immediately with, “I lied early there is a catch... you’ll have to be mine and mine only.” I sat there at my table dumbfounded. What would you do?

space is infinite silence is deathly

i fill it with words that are not yours

they could be if i close my eyes tight enough

stop the tears from spilling out

im lonely, but i thought i was yours

who do i go to now

I could smell the fresh-pine air in the twee woodland, and hear the crunch and crackle of the autumn leaves beneath my little wellies. Weak sunlight danced down from the heavens as I shuffled along the winding path, my four year old self completely alone.

I could hear the voices far ahead, occasionally bursting out into untuneful melodies and shouting at one another. I was only young but I was old enough to know that I wasn’t happy in this life I led. I had two physical parents, and yet mentally I was raising myself for all the good it did me.

It wasn’t long before I reached a mahogany-hued, leaf-littered, forked junction, with two paths to take.

From the right, came the all-too-familiar bickering noises. I was reluctant to follow, to continue with my life the way it was.

From the left I suddenly thought I heard growing whispers, a calling so much stronger than my parental bond. It was as though the trees had come alive, leaped out of their bark shells to become my new guardians, to protect me from whatever dangers the world may bring.

I didn’t think about it, at all really, although it was probably the biggest decision of my life. I followed my heart and skipped cheerfully down the left.

 I have never been the kind of person to rebel, never been that one kid who the whole town knew to stay away from, In fact I’m the kid who sits at the front of the class has pretty good grades and keeps there head down in the hallways at my school. Yet here I am jammed in the back of a police car. It’s a funny story actually, a classic tale of a Harvard bound girl arrested for possession of ..well possession of something. 

                ONE HOUR EARLIER 

“Carly please I need your help, Carly”

She’s panicking I can hear it in her voice. I can’t help her, I can’t do it. Everything I have ever learned tells me to help her, she’s my friend she’s in trouble she needs my help and she’s clearly desperate. But here’s the thing, my whole life revolves around one moment. If I help her I might as well kiss my dreams goodbye. Everything I have worked for, every countless hour I have spent studying, working and doing god knows what else to build up my application will be washed away in a single moment. I can’t do it.

“Carly I’m begging you I’m 18 your still a minor they won’t be as hard on you”

I can’t risk it I can’t play this game with her, I can’t put my future on the line to save hers.

“It’s not that simple, I can’t just give up on my future Allie. Your my best friend, I can’t...” I stop it’s time to consider why she would ask me this. She knows what Harvard means to me. She knows my dreams, she knows my story, she knows me, so why?

“Allie how bad is it this time”

She looks up at me, tears in her eyes. And I know, I know what I have to do, but I’m suddenly doubting my decision, she’s my best friend, but some things go beyond friendship. But somethings not right. Allie doesn’t cry, not when her mom died, not when she found out she was pregnant at 16, not when she got arrested and put on probation. It’s hard to say what it is, maybe it’s the desperation and fear that’s pouring out of her, or the pain in her voice or maybe it’s just the fact that she’s crying but something inside me breaks a little and I’m stuck. Not knowing what to do.

“Carly.. they.. there going to take her away.. I can’t if I.. I can’t lose her” she’s balling at this point, tears streaming out of her eyes. Her arms clutched around her backpack. And that’s when I hear it-the sirens-and snap back to reality putting all my own needs behind me.

“Give me the backpack and run Allie I don’t know what’s in here and I don’t want to it’s better that way”

I take a deep breath it’s done there’s no going back now. God this better have been worth it.

I don’t know what to do.. do I do what my heart wants me to do or what my head is telling me to do.. do I follow the dreams that I come up with every time I leave or do I stay “where I belong”.. do I take off and run away or do I stay here and lay in bed and think about doing it .. do I branch off and try to be my own person or stay where I feel “comfortable” .. am I scared to face reality or am I scared to grow up.. I know I’m scared to make the wrong decision but is any decision actually wrong? Everything happens for a reason right? But I want to know the reason and we can’t. I want to see how the future will be with each choice I make but we don’t have that ability.. I want to know if the consequences are worth the struggle for the choices I want to make.. if only we could see the outcome before we make decisions maybe everyone would make the right one..

I stared at my two choices. Beads of sweat ran down my temples as my eyes darted to and fro with indecision.

My sister Becky tapped her foot impatiently. “Aw, c’mon Harold!!” She bounces up and down on the spot. “Just pick onnnnnnne!!”

“But it’s so hard!” “NO ITS NOT YOU IDIOT!” “YEAH WELL FOR ME IT IS!” I screamed in absolute agony.

“Just hurry up you baby.” She rolled her eyes. “I’m not a baby.” “Yes you are.” “No I’m not.” “You’re fat like a baby,” she grabbed my cheek and stretched out the chubby skin. “OW!” I jerked back. “STOP!”

“Then just hurry up!” “I told you it’s HARD!” “OH MY GOSH YOU’RE SO STUPID!!” She kicked my shin. “OW!” I hopped up and down and glared at her.

I lunged forward and pushed her backwards. She stumbled and jabbed her back with the edge of the dinning table.

“OW!” She cried and dropped to the floor. She started crying. “Who’s the baby now?” I grinned. She glared at me through crybaby tears. Oh no. Wait. No don’t- !!! “MUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUMMM!”

I heard footsteps thunder down stairs and Mum flew into the kitchen, past me and before I could say “I DIDN’T DO IT” she was cradling Becky in her arms.

“You alright, baby-boo?” She cooed. Becky shook her head and pointed at me while making whiny whimpering sounds. I’m in trouble.

“Harold...” “Wasn’t my faul-“ I started. “Harold you’re the only other person in the house.” “The cat did it.” “Harold I’m not stupid.” “The cat did it!” “Stop,” she said, giving me a look. “Why’d you push your sister? That’s literally all I want to know.”

I stared blankly at Mum. “She kicked me.” That got my sister fired up. “You were taking too long!” “You called me a baby!” “You pushed me!” “You called me an idiot!” “STOP!”

Mums voice screamed. “What the HECK were you fighting over?!?”

Becky and I looked at each other. She pointed to the counter. Mum laid Becky up against the table leg and got up to examine the counter.

She spotted two plates and peered at them. Mum just stood there for a while. Then she turned to us. “You.. you were fighting over... this?” Becky and I nodded. “You were.. fighting.. over.. THIS?!?” She yelled. “You two are unbelievable!”

She scooped up the two plates. “If you can’t learn how to behave and share over.. over these!” Her face had turned red. “Then I guess you don’t deserve them!”

I watched helplessly as she marched away with my two choices.

“No..” I whispered. “My cake.”

Original story by Phifi

I dream big, I find a way to accomplish my dreams, but I met this boy. He is dreamy and someone who relates to me. Recently we got together, causing me to forget the long list of dreams I had. Noticing that I wasn’t fully the same, he finds out about my dreams. As who he is, he decided to put his life on hold for me. What a sweet guy! A few days went by and I realized that I am late. I tell him and he asks me if he should go get a test. I nod and he is running out of the house to the drugstore at the corner. My hands start to shake, it becomes hard for me to breathe, he runs in opening the package. Looking at me, he asks if I am ready. He takes my hands, leading me towards the room. I come out and sit next to him. We wait for the test results, and then I check my phone. I get up and grab the test. My heart is pounding. POSITIVE. It is positive. Leaning in to me, comforting me, and reminding me that he supports whatever my heart tells me. I close my eyes. A choice of ending a life, saving a life and giving mine up, or saving a life and giving an opportunity to someone else. Knowing I want to save this life but keep mine, I know my only option. Adoption I tell him. He embraces me in his arms and chest. One day I will find my way back to this child, if and only if it is meant to be. It is the hardest choice I had to make, and I believe I did the right thing.

There was fire all around The sky dark yet bright The blood on the ground Shone into his eyes

This was his worst fear Her hand laying limp The end drawing near She could not yet go

She turned her head toward him Her last words on her lips Looking him in the eyes as her own grew dim She coughed out the few lines

Her heart slowed to a stop Her trust in him and soul at peace His eyes went to the top To her boy in the trees

The fire grew brighter The risks multiplying rapidly Her last wish could be lighter For he might die for it

 The border separating me from the Mystic Valley and the real world was right in front of me.  I was a fairy living in Mystic Valley.  It was my 21st birthday and I was given the choice everyone was given at my age.  Do I stay as and be a teacher in Mystic Valley, or get rid of my wings and be a normal person in the real world, helping the humans to do good, not evil.  I did not want to leave our land of magic, but the real world had so many positive reasons to come, it was practically pulling me.  At home there were our teachers, preparing us for life in the real world, or life at home.  In the real world, everything was different.  Sure they had good food, fun activities, and tons of people, but everything was different.  Change did not go well with me.  I had a breakdown when I had to get a new bed....  All of my friends were leaving Mystic Valley, and they all seemed to expect me to go with them.  The more I thought about it, the more I felt the need to leave this place.  I looked up at my teacher, Ms. Dixie.  She whispered in my ear, “I know what you’re thinking.  Don’t feel compelled to stay here with us.  We’ve got it all under control.  You don’t need us anymore, and someone out there surely needs you.”  I nodded, knowing that she was right.  I took a deep breath, and stepped over the border.  My wings disappeared and I looked behind me.  I couldn’t see any trace of Mystic Valley.  A tear leaked from my eye, but I knew that somewhere out there was someone who needed my help.

Jerry’s enemy was trying to beat him, but he knew something his enemy, Tanner, didn’t. Behind Jerry was a vast desert that stretched miles across the country. But behind his enemy was a hundred-foot deep cliff. Should Jerry tell him? They were fighting for hours, and suddenly Tanner slipped on a rock and fell into the cliff. Jerry was frightened. He extended his arm. The enemy grabbed on, looking genuinely confused. “What are you doing?” he asked. “Saving you.” Jerry responded, pulling him up. Tanner got up and dusted himself off. They awkwardly stared at each other for a minute. Then, Tanner’s mouth formed a smile. At first Jerry felt glad and then he noticed his smile becoming into an abnormally wide grin. Tanner extended his arms and pushed Jerry right off the cliff. It all happened so quickly. Just when Tanner finally thought he was victorious, he heard a yell. “Why did you do that? I just saved you!” Annoyed, Tanner saw Jerry holding on. He was sweating and struggling to get back onto the ground. Tanner chuckled. “Because... I’m not to be trusted.” Jerry’s fingers started to slip, but miraculously, he climbed back up. Jerry walked away, not wanting to get into anymore fights that day.