You were my best friend for several years of my life I didn’t put it together during those times that I would end up your wife But did I cross the line? Yes we were happy and I got pregnant and we were in love I know we were

But sometimes love are two different things when in reality you were in love with me yes but not the same we wished for So on that day I changed everything should I not have crossed the line?

The last day you moved out of our college apartment where we were just friends Do you think it should have just been left at that?

even though I saw you almost every day with all our friends I called you and finally the night came when i dared to face my courage But was it worth it? Was it worth it that I crossed the line?

We started dating and it was perfect as well as I thought it should be and how you thought it should be too. Our child came into this world and I began to believe No I didn’t cross the line we didn’t did we?

But a year down the road we were different people and you wanted another and how could I make you stay Yes we have a child together and are both in his lives I talked to you a while back telling you I still wondered why I called you that day 11 years ago to came clean about how I felt. To finally cross that line

The turmoil and agony and depression and tears and tears and feeling like love was wasted why did I do that? You looked me in the eye and said I thank God you crossed the line If I saw you beside it and saw I couldn’t cross it I would’ve pulled you right over it

You see we needed each other at the time and we needed to grow up and understand why the line didn’t last permanently in ink but it was a line we could jump over and it was that line that gave us a son

Don’t anyone dare to be too scared of failure and heartache by staying inside that lined circled comfort zone

I couldn’t help but smile because even though those years ago we crossed the wrong line we both crossed the right one and both of us our happy in our lives today

(Sorry for it not being the best I think I may have crossed the line .. or is it jumpin the gun? Haha wrote this just now when I should be getting ready to leave ahhhhh)

Did I cross a line when I told you to stop? When the joke wasn’t funny, when I wasn’t the laugh? Did I cross a line when I wouldn’t comply? When I would tell you what you wanted to hear? Did I cross a line when I opened my mouth? Or was I simply sticking up for myself?

The line is long gone, I’m already here I will not be erased by your fear

You scare me out of myself. You scare me into being someone who is hiding from people like you. You scare me into not being able to reach out to talk about how I feel in fear of being in trouble or locked away for my emotions. You scare me into hiding blades to collect dust for a decision I can make in a blur of emotions. You scare me into watching how I look every day and every second so I can live without worry of being picked on. You scare me into not talking about my point of view because if I think something different than everyone I am ostracized. You scare me into pushing around my food. You scare me into being quiet. You scare me into silence so I don’t mess up. You scare me into staying in my room so I won’t get yelled at. You scare me into kindness. You scare me into never asking questions, because one wrong question may lead to answers that make you angry. You scare me into trying to balance my life by myself. You scare me into writing. You scare me into not doing what I like because I know you are watching somewhere. You scare me into loving who you think I should. You scare me into denying myself so I am not standing out. You scare me into staying silent about my struggles even though everything else says to reach out. You scare me into ignoring the signs that I have seen before when I went down this path of sadness and fear. You scare me into never speaking out. You scare me into changing myself to not love who I want to. You scare me into panic attacks You scare me into tears You scare me into shaking You scare me into dizziness You scare me into anger You scare me into insomnia You scare me into perfection You scare me into fear You scare me into silence You scare me into being who you want me to be You scare me into fitting your ever changing standard You scare me into not knowing who I am and who you are You scare me so much the lines blur

We played hopscotch On the chalk-board gravel, Missed the lines, said It's too much to handle "Liar, liar," — couldn't see the markings, Killed the squirrel, Now your dog ain't barking. Guilty-sounding Secrets but they're all true Just keep quiet, that's what Daddy told you I was young, you Always acted older Burnt our sleeves off, right up to the shoulders Torn bandannas, aluminium soldiers, Crumpled sheets and wires that they soldered Mummy said to leave you to your shooting, Door left open, had to get my boots in. Bullets lined the carpet in your bedroom, Sorry that I Never could believe you. Coward-kid, thought Father was a hero, Saw the bruises, but I wouldn't let go. Said he loves me better than my sister, Torn in half, I'm scared he's gonna kill her Maybe I could Be a better brother, Make him pay, I'll save you and our mother: Creep into your shoes And I'll call shotgun, Fire it through his brain 'cause I'm a good son, Dig a grave so no one ever finds him, Haunt his ghost, I'm always right behind it Lock me up, there's oxygen in jail cells Twelve deep breaths, "We used to walk on egg shells." No more hopscotch, he can never touch you. Now you're safe; Your baby brother loves you.

Kw turned to Apollo and said,” I’m sorry, I have to do this.”

“No you don’t!” Janette shouted at him. “You have other options!”

“No, I don’t, this it the only way to save Bes.” Kw replied.

“But at the cost of my sister! If you do this, I will never fully trust you again.”

“I understand.”

Kw turned. He walked to the door.

“I am truly sorry, Apollo. You would understand if it was Artemis who needed saving.”

“No, because she’d never want me to betray those I love for her. We would find another way.”

“I’m sorry but this is the only way.”

I miss the days Of splashing in puddles And playing with dolls I miss the times When you and I could love Without hesitations I miss the days of being together Without a second thought I miss you and I miss us When did we fall apart? I miss the days of Holding hands Of quick cheek pecks and of side hugs I miss you inviting me to prom and making out for the first time I long to relive your proposal and our wedding day I wish to see again your tears when I told you I was pregnant But as you stare at me teary eyed Chained to the pipes in my celler I wonder…. Where did I cross the line?

…

🫀

Have me Halve me

Take me Break me into two

If you Salve me I will speak like lovers do

If you Solve me Your embrace I will take to

You will never have to do The things you used to have to do

You will never have to choose Between two evils and a ruse

How my heart has ached for you How my heart still breaks for you

Let safety be your embrace true And I will cry for love of you.

Halve me Have me

Take me Break me, I don’t bruise

I only hurt when you I lose I only bleed much when I muse

On the distance between Our heartbeats two.

So

Halve me, but Darling, Have me, too.

—— Repost because previous posting of this piece was banned :(

I saw her once and that’s all it took for me to become smitten by her androgynous look

Her infectious smile brought life to my senses her unique style was no match for my heart’s defenses

(The rush is real when you want to feel your crush for real.)

Keeping her a fantasy is a must given my situation except I had one too many disclosed my desire with no hesitation

It was subtle, tho perhaps she will not notice offering me time to refocus and figure out this woman’s purpose

You know, That twisted knot. You show, What I cannot.

I knew the line, That chalkboard. Build you a shrine, Cut the cord.

We crossed the threshold, Into what isn’t ours. Trying to be bold, But just killing all the hours.

We can’t step back, This makes us mortal. Nothing to unpack, Just our own downfall.

…

Love you R

…

🖤

Jared watched wearily as the blood slowly seeped away from his body. He had strength enough to maintain his grip on the object he held to his chest, but just barely. Karath’s blow to his open wound had given Jared the opportunity to hide the object under his cloak, but it was only a matter of time before the dragon noticed. He and Sycker had to find a way out of this mess, quick. 

As Jared struggled to hold on to consciousness, a small, silent part of his mind whispered amid the chaos…

Did I cross the line…?

A younger, bolder Jared stood before the announcement board in the middle of town, scrutinizing each paper pinned on the cork. This was the day he would get the chance to be something more than a useless lump, a blot on the perfect lives of his neighbors. Today he would hunt his first bounty.

Jared usually chased small prizes: a wayward goat or sheep, the jeweled letter opener that a desperate servant had swiped off of her master’s desk. With each bounty he claimed, Jared felt more sure, more appreciated than he ever had before.

His wards didn’t understand. The surrogate parents assigned to him by village officials denounced bounty hunting as a job fit only for scavengers and rats. If they didn’t know better by now, they never would. Jared had run away from their home as soon as he thought he was able. He hoped they wouldn’t get it in their heads to “raise” another abandoned child. Any kid would be better off on the streets. 

About three years into his adventures, Jared had done fairly well for himself. He never stayed in one place for long, and could have written a tour guide on the entire continent if he had thought to make notes. 

Ashford was an intruiguing place. Jared didn’t know why he kept coming back between jobs. The town was nothing special. It had maybe a hundred citizens at best, and featured nothing more than a simple inn. In all fairness, it was kept clean, and the food was better than the mush served at most other places. For some reason, Ashford felt… safe.

That is, until Karath.

Karath grinned at his speechless brother. Sycker’s talons clutched at his throat as he fought for breath. His red scales were nearly purple, and the light in his eyes flickered faintly, about to go out…

Karath released his hold on Sycker. There would be time enough for games tomorrow. But today, other business demanded his attention. 

Karath issued brief orders to his guards. As they rushed to bind Sycker’s talons and disinfect the rug, Jared began to move.

At a first glance, it appeared as if Jared was trying to crawl out of the guards’ way. But Karath was quick to dismiss that theory. As he looked closer, he noticed Jared was not making use of his arms…

Jared sat in his usual seat at the bar. He stared into his drink, not thinking about much. It was late and the day had been long, but Jared wasn’t quite ready to turn in yet.

He lazily lifted his head and scanned the room for anything of interest. On the opposite side of the bar sat a man in a dark cloak. The man lifted his face just enough for Jared to see his eyes…

And winked.

Karath cautiously walked closer the the mortal. Jared rolled onto his back, grinning. He pointed the mouth of the bag at Karath.

He pulled on the drawstring. “Eat this, lizard.”

Karath called it the Raze. As Jared had soon come to learn, the Raze was a creature rather than an object. It had taken Jared nearly a year to find it, despite Karath breathing down his neck. 

Jared warily eyed the cave in front of him. After months of chasing and tracking the creature, he was exhausted. This was his moment, and he couldn’t screw it up. He readied his equipment, and sat down to wait. 

After maybe an hour, he heard faint snuffling and tiny footsteps. Jared tensed. He looked down at his crossbow to ensure it was loaded. One shot and this nightmare is over. Don’t. Screw. Up.

The Raze crawled out of the shadows. It resembled a lizard in general shape and size, but it’s features were more mammalian. It blinked and stared straight at Jared. He froze. After a long moment, it looked away and skittered towards the bait. Jared breathed out and took aim…

Sycker dashed across the room and propped Jared up with his arm. Jared coughed lightly and looked around. The smoke was beginning to clear.

The room was scorched. Parts of wall had crumbled and caved, trapping some of Karath’s men underneath. 

The other guards weren’t as lucky.

Sycker stared at the charred lumps of flesh and shuddered. “I know you said the Raze was bad, but…”

“What were you expecting, then?” Jared laughed, but soon fell into a coughing fit, blood spraying from his mouth and mixing with the carnage around the room. 

The Raze was curled up in the middle of the room asleep, as if its appetite for destruction had been satisfied and it was sleeping off the hearty meal.

Jared finally managed to catch his breath. “Sycker… the bag…”

Sycker jumped. Right. He picked up the bag and slowly approached the Raze. A movement in the corner of his eye made him pause.

One of the mounds, covered in cloth and armor, heaved with labored breaths. Sycker watched, horrified, as Karath pushed himself to his feet and growled.

“Enough.”