Writing Prompt
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WRITING OBSTACLE
Submitted by sarya the ceiling
Write a passage about something you believe is beautiful, but in the tone a newsreader might use if they are speaking of a national tragedy.
Use a positive event or thing, but describe it with language that is formal and emotionally neutral.
Writings
Behold the wretched creations known as flowers, deceivers of the natural world. These seemingly innocent plants lure unsuspecting victims with their alluring colors and tantalizing scents, only to reveal their true, sinister nature upon closer inspection. The roots of these floral monstrosities burrow deep into the earth, strangling the life from the soil and draining it of precious nutrients. Their vines and stems twist and coil like the tentacles of some eldritch horror, entangling and suffocating any living creature unfortunate enough to cross their path. Their petals, once thought to be delicate and beautiful, are now known as the vessels of a sickly-sweet aroma, a concoction of volatile chemicals concocted to disorient and intoxicate their unsuspecting prey. The vibrant hues that adorn these petals serve only to distract and deceive, leading the unwary to their doom. Flowers are not the gentle, passive beings they would have you believe. No, they are masters of manipulation, scheming and calculating in their quest for domination. The bees and butterflies that once danced among their petals are now slaves to the flowers' will, trapped in a cycle of servitude and deceit. Beware the seemingly innocent flower, for beneath its beguiling exterior lies a heart of darkness and a lust for power. Shun these harbingers of despair and seek solace in the safety of barren landscapes, where their twisted tendrils cannot take hold.
“Perimeter check, east solarium 328, all secure. Continue scan,” Millers Unit 011 said.
Warm grey clouds hovered beneath the huge clear dome. Mounds of electric green spaghum moss in precise grid pattern dotted the coarse carpet of synth tree bark. The Android monitored the humidity levels. Something felt off.
“Organic gas levels within acceptable range, humidity 80 percent,” Millers Unit 011 said. The android didn’t have to speak but it missed the sound of talking. Meat or metal, Millers Unit 011 wasn’t really a people person. It had had enough of talking from his ag work on the Martian plantations. It had jumped at the chance to homestead alone among the outer moons.
“Temperature drop anomaly still unknown,” Millers Unit 011 said. No community, no ties, not even a name, the android had chosen sweet solitude. It preferred the quiet at first. Lifting a golden yellow cattleya big as a serving platter, Millers Unit 011 examined the frost burn on the outer petals.
“Orange alert, investigating potential security breach west section.” Feet pounding the android raced between the rows noting plant damage. Orchid mania raged among the wealthy and the popularity was reaching a wider demographic. The android’s farm was worth its weight in water.
“Interlopers located. Two humans deceased, atmospheric poisoning, one Android, Winchester Unit damaged by possible shun gun blast severely—“ Millers Unit 011 stopped mid sentence. There was a sound. Head swiveling rapidly, it needed to find that sound. Millers Unit 011 approached the fallen housekeeping robot. A faint cry came from beneath the damaged android.
“Dome breach located. Orchid thieves accessed western section most likely via hovership. Signs of hovership leaving orbit. Three cubic meters of orchid props stolen. One human recovered unharmed, approximately two Earth years. Dome patch by thieves holding. Alert saturnine police force. Repair Winchester unit. Replace wall replacement by next lunar cycle,” Millers Unit 011 said arms outstretched as the toddler crept up in its lap. Patting the child gently, Millers Unit 011 stood and googled What To Expect Toddler Edition. It carried the child in one arm and dragged the damaged android with the other.
“Mommy?”
“No, tiny human, I am so sorry for your loss. I got you. I will keep you safe. Please call me … Milly.”
Me and my sister were having our average daily walk. The cold autum wind was still a bit hot due to the fact we were just exiting summer. We were waving to people we knew, it was a small town. Cars past us as usual. “Oh my god!” My sister pointed to a firetruck. “I wonder what happened” we had lived in the same town our whole lives, everyone’s families had lived here for generations, and would probably live here for generations to come. We turned back to go home soon, the smell of smoke in the air showed that fire was most likely the issue regarding the firetruck. We were close to home when we smelled the fire even stronger. Beautiful flames of fire came into our view as we our home got close. The smell of smoke stained our noses. The flames surrounding our home and starting to attack the ones next door. Fire men trying their hardest to stop this beautiful masterpiece. It wasn’t till then when we saw our parents cars in the driveway. One then exploded brilliantly right next to us despite how unlikely it would be to happen, hitting me then my sister. Pain struck along with beauty. The flames on the cars and the houses were so beautiful to the point I wouldn’t mind dying right there. All because of someone leaving the stove on. How could such beauty cause such a great tragity?
The lights in the sky are comparable to our bulbs. Inside the tenements, they blink on and off, not reliable. Like those, the sky lights do the same, keeping us on edge as to whether or not we can rely on them. Like the woman, walking up four flights of steps to reach her $3000 a month apartment on the 6th floor of a broken building, that is loud and stuffy, wonders if she will have to light a candle tonight instead of turning on her light switch, those lights above us are shimmering - making us all wonder, what are they? And how can they be used to our advantage? It seems it is only a matter of time before we can harvest them and ruin them, like the bulbs within the tenements.
Stacey Thompson, a 25 year-old first-time mother, delivered her daughter at 3:47 AM at First Baptist General Hospital. After several unsuccessful pregnancies, Stacey and her child’s father, 30-year-old Tyler Thompson, say they are “absolutely ecstatic to finally have this opportunity. “
The birth, while a significant personal milestone, unfolded with clinical precision in the delivery room. Stacey exhibited the expected physical and emotional exertion of childbirth, with medical staff maintaining vigilant oversight throughout the process.
Tyler played an active role in the proceedings. Upon delivery, he was guided by the attending physician to sever the umbilical cord. The medical team ensured that the procedure was performed with the requisite care to prevent any complications.
The newborn girl, weighing 7 pounds, 4 ounces, was promptly assessed by neonatal specialists. Standard procedures were followed, including Apgar scoring and initial health evaluations, to ensure the baby's well-being. Both mother and child received immediate postpartum care to address any potential health concerns and to facilitate recovery.
This event, marking the addition of a new member to the Thompson family, was executed with the anticipated professionalism and expertise of the hospital staff, ensuring a smooth and controlled birthing process.
Stacey and Tyler ultimately decided to name their daughter Andrea. Needless to say, this was one truly blessed day for the Thompson family.
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West Coast of Cumbria, June 20, 2024
In an unprecedented and perplexing turn of events on this summer evening. Residents throughout the nation were left in a state of astonishment and shock as they observed what experts are referring to as a "sunset." The widespread public reaction has left authorities scrambling to address the phenomenon, which unfurled across the skies this evening.
In a spectacle that can only be described as extraordinary, the skies began to transform at approximately 8:45 PM. An abrupt intensification of colours was reported from a variety of towns, with the horizon ablaze in vivid hues of orange, red, and purple. The event, which lasted for nearly 45 minutes, caused millions of people to pause in their daily routines and observe in astonishment.
Eyewitness accounts depict scenes of pandemonium as the skies were illuminated. Maria Gonzalez, a resident of Bowness, stated, "It was unlike anything I have ever witnessed. I was like, stopped on my way home. The heavens was aflame, innit? Individuals was gettin' out their cars and gazing. They was, like, in total silence. It was like totally spooky, know what I mean?”
The emergency services were inundated with inquiries from concerned citizens across the country. Initially, fire and ambulance were dispatched to several regions in response to what were perceived to be significant flames that were imminent. Fireman Alan Roberts of the Seascale Fire Station declared, "We received hundreds of calls within minutes." "We were unaware that the event was a natural, albeit unusual, occurrence until our teams were all sliding down their shiny poles and getting in the fire engines.”
A rare combination of meteorological conditions has been attributed to the phenomenon by meteorologists and atmospheric scientists, who have been prompt to provide an explanation. As per Dr. Linda Weaver of the Met Office, "This dramatic effect was the result of a unique alignment of atmospheric particles, humidity, and light refraction.". It is highly unusual and understandably unsettling, despite its beauty as normally it’s hidden behind clouds and rain.
Social media platforms were inundated with images and videos, which were trending under hashtags such as #ApocalypseSunset and #EndOfDaysSky. Numerous individuals expressed profound apprehension, regardless of the attractiveness. User @SkyWatcher2024 tweeted, "Is this a sign? Initially, there was unpredictable weather, and now this? It’s global warming gone mad! What’s next?
The public has been reassured of their safety and urged to remain calm in statements released by government agencies. A spokesperson for the Home Office stated, "There is no reason for concern." "We urge all individuals to appreciate the natural beauty of our planet, but it is crucial to remain informed and vigilant regarding actual emergencies."
Communities are arranging events to facilitate discussions and clarify the experience in the wake of the incident. Local governments are contemplating seminars to assist citizens in distinguishing between genuine emergencies and natural occurrences, while schools are organising special assemblies to educate children about atmospheric phenomena.
One thing is evident as the nation recovers from the unforeseen event of the evening: the sunset, despite its unsettling nature, has united people in a shared experience of the unpredictable beauty of nature.
Many days pass and nothing chaches its always the same and it always will be the same. As the sun shines on it one day the rain will drip down the beautiful marble the next. The weather continues and the people walk by like nothing has even changed. The beauty that the statue brings is too much to ignore. It’s like the townspeople are ignoring the shining gory like the stature is invisible. The white marbled rock lays there as still as a a sloth collecting the dust from the passing days. Nothings new life continues as if the owner of the statue is invisible, he’s no longer cleaning the stature, caring for it or even sitting my it. No one notices the invisible.
What had once been my neighborhood was now gone. The dam had broken yesterday, as I knew it eventually would, sending deadly waves of water down the valley. The school where I taught science to 4th graders, now rubble. Our peaceful, happy valley.
But then I saw something. A ray of light bursting through water droplets, slowing speed and bending as it traveled through air to the density of the water. The ray reflected off the droplet and tore apart its different wavelengths - colors.
Or, in other words, a rainbow, arcing all across the valley. We would survive and rebuild, the rainbow seemed to promise.
And I would stay to help.
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