We had broken the law and were now were sentenced to our grim fate. Condemned to the strict laws of our Government, the country was trapped inside some chess game. All lower and middle class citizens deemed expendable in this fight against each other. Only the king the one who must survive. People sought justice. People sought fairness and people sought safety. Then there were the upper class citi...

Oh no. I look awful. I can’t wear this dress… and these shoes, no, no, no! What was I thinking when I went shopping?! Just because my dates ugly and unpopular doesn’t mean I have to be.

I was, I should say, grasping at straws. No one was asking me… me, the popular, loved, wanted Jeanette McIntyre. I gave not-so-subtle hints to the cutest boys in the grade, but all of them were already taken. And ...

It was finally here. I had been dreading this day for weeks and now it was here. I adjusted my cross body backpack strap for the zillionth time a nervous habit I developed in early childhood. When I started preschool and was continuously adjusting and readjusting the straps on my little Wonder Woman backpack. Now my backpack was plain black but with blue trim. I sigh when I see Tracy pulling up to...

The day you have been dreading

has finally arrived.

Is it your wedding,

The guests in disguise.

Family now waiting

Bride in the wings

Groom’s now debating

Weather to stay and sing

But nerves got the best

The groom starts to shuffle

Bride’s lost her bet

Groom’s got to Hussein

Tessa🦋...

Fact: Flying fish can take to the air at 37 mph.

Shhhhh. DD! I hear something.

Jrrr, jrrr, jrrr…Click

Creeeeeak.

“Alriiiight!” exclaims a debatably east coast accent from around the corner. “The key still works.”

Post an anxious glance at Jawafra, you rake papery fingers through your lengthy hair, taking care to cover your e- I mean, your face. You pull white-framed spectacles from your le...

(The following passage was taken from the very last page in Jason’s diary.)

Today is finally the day. I, Jason Strange, will finally be let out of prison. I’ve dealt with other inmates beating me up, making me bleed out until I couldn’t stand it anymore. I’ve got scars all over my body because of it, so many that it looks like I tried to remove my own skin.

I’ve been given glares the entire time...

I know how it goes. They think they’ve tricked me—my students. Most told me they’d be absent the last day before Christmas break, but what parent would give up a day of free child care?

And so they stampede the halls like elephants, flipping off any light switch they pass, running at different rates. Most of them arrive to class. I ask where the missing students are. Kandra is one. One says, “I ...

I wake up with the alarm, with a sinking feeling of dread in my chest. I go through my morning routine stressed out. I just want to get this day over and done with.

Today I testify in court. I’ve been summoned to give an expert testimony, a psych evaluation.

The defendant has made an insanity plea but my findings contradict that claim.

My mouth is so dry, I fear I won’t be able to annunciate my s...

It’s happening

It’s finally here

They say I have nothing to fear

And yet my legs tremble

My tears burn my eyes

And I am still struggling

He told me I was pretty

And sweet

Told me I was unique

I believed him

I needed him

And then he pinned me to a wall

I know I said no

Know I protested

Yet I’m still being questioned

While he sits there

Waiting for the verdict

And still thinking he did ...

It’s happening

It’s finally here

They say I have nothing to fear

And yet my legs tremble

My tears burn my eyes

And I am still struggling

He told me I was pretty

And sweet

Told me I was unique

I believed him

I needed him

And then he pinned me to a wall

I know I said no

Know I protested

Yet I’m still being questioned

While he sits there

Waiting for the verdict

And still thinking he did ...