I hold my breath and look around. Nature has sure made it rounds.

Chilly winds and chances of snow. How beautiful is the sky’s January glow.

Love in the air and winds dialing down. The beauty of February will keep you in town.

March madness is breaking out. Soon saplings Will start to sprout.

Spring-y clothes and beautiful flowers. Starting April and the beginning of peaceful showers.

Last day of school and almost time for summer. May is a student’s favorite, because it’s always funner.

———

This is only 5/12 done, as you can tell. But, I wanted to share what I have for feedback purposes. I do want to end the poem with “And, yet, I saw the whole thing” which I’m using as I saw every part of the year.

The grammar in that author’s note was . . .

CALLIOPE

“I saw the whole thing.”

I turn to his voice.

“What?” I ask, staring at his appearance. I examine him with confusion.

His blonde hair is all over the place and rather fluffy, and his eyes are filled with tears. He looks at me with a tired expression.

“Asher, what happened?”

“Ask yourself, Cal.”

I hate that his voice breaks so much. —————————

“Calliope!”

**_Don’t turn around. Don’t turn around.

_**_I was practically shouting at myself for turning around. I couldn’t meet his eyes. _

_“Cal.” _

I heard his footsteps until he was only a few feet ahead of me.

“What happened in there?” He asked.

“I can’t keep doing this, Ash.”

I pivoted on my heel and started to walk away.

“Callie!” ————————

“What do you mean?” My voice trembles. “That has nothing to do with—” I gesture to his appearance before he cuts me off.

“I thought we had something, but I couldn’t have been more wrong,” he mumbles.

I rush towards him.

“What did you see? How did we have something?” I nearly shout. “All we did was talk. And, that was when you weren’t with your girlfriend. Must I remind you that you have a girlfriend?”

He shakes his head.

“I saw the chemistry.”

I look up at him.

We’re only inches apart now.

“I saw the whole chemistry. I didn’t see it then, and I don’t know how I was such an idiot.”

He turns away from me, digging his fingers in his hair and breathing unevenly.

I lift my fingers ever so slightly, starting to reach for him. “Ash—”

“Stop calling me Ash!”

He’s yelling at me now.

“Why— why can’t I call you Ash?”

“Callie, you saw it too. You saw the chemistry, and you left me to deal with the ashes of what could have been,” he continues.

Asher pivots back to me.

“You saw the chemistry, Cal. So, why are you denying it?”

“You have a girlfriend,” I caution, my body heating up at his heated gaze.

“I don’t.”

“What?”

His eyes close.

“Claire agreed to fake-date, just like Boston agreed to,” he admits, his tone defeated.

Asher opens his eyes again.

His eyes remain on me.

Dilated pupils… what does that mean again?

I’m scouring my brain to figure out why he’s looking at me like that.

I start to back up.

“Asher, please just listen.”

His gaze falters.

“I’m scared,” I explain, “because of the future. We both know that you’re not staying in Colorado much longer. I don’t want to fall in love with someone who’s just going to leave—”

A tear falls from my eye. I glare at my feet.

I keep talking.

“You know that I had no one because my dad decided to take those-”

Disgust crosses my voice.

I look back up at him, my bottom lip quivering. We stand in silence a little longer before he speaks once more.

“I’m so sorry.”

I step forward, watching his eyes water while he continues.

“I’m so sorry I made it all about how I felt, I should’ve considered your feelings—”

I step forward again, motioning for him to lean down a little.

He closes his eyes and shakes his head.

“Callie…”

“Just trust me,” I say, a tear falling down my cheek as well.

He leans down, enough for me to wrap my arms around him.

“Haha! Beat that, stupid 5’3” height!” I joke through my tears.

Asher laughs, a saddened expression of joy.

I lean my head against his chest.

“Can we stay like this?”

—————————

Got a little more emotion than usual. This is not the end of Ash and Cal! I have a surprise in store. Also, I had like thirty minutes and decided against editing at the moment. So, both this and Part Two are in editing. Yay(!)

I wanted to have some sort of a moment between the characters, so that inspired this!!

Thank you for reading, - Yours, Zain 🌸

[adjusted prompt]

Behind my back and to my face, you just love to attack those you call a disgrace.

I have ears, you know. Words can cause tears, so stop being so low.

I’ve been here, I offered you my hand. But, you became insincere and started to demand.

I’m sad to say we used to be friends. Don’t go back to asking “are you okay?” We both know it’s pretend.

Badmouthing is your specialty because you bring the constant sting. Don’t pretend to defend me, I heard the whole thing.

I saw the whole thing. I saw her jump off of that twenty story building. I saw her plummet and hit the ground. I saw the blood splatter and heard her bones crack. I heard the screams and cries from the people on the streets and her mother sobbing from the balcony. I saw the red and blue flashing lights and heard the loud sirens throughout the city. I saw everything. I saw the tears, the sobbing, and the grieving. Her beautiful expression taken over by the blood and wounds. “Why would she do it?” I asked myself once I had made my way home. I felt shaky and anxious about the matter. Why, why, why? What made her want to commit suicide? Was her life really that bad? I sat down on my couch and reached for the remote. As the news turned on a slight knock was sounding from the door. At first I didn’t hear it but eventually the sound grew louder and louder. I finally groaned and stood up to peep through the peephole. I saw nobody and perplexed, I opened the door to look around. No one was waiting there. I stepped out to see if anyone was down the street. No body. As I turned back around to enter the house a girl was standing there. I flinched, scared to death. “Oh my God,” I exclaimed with fright. I took a few deep breaths. “Who are yo-“ I observed her good and well. “You’re the girl, that, um, who jumped off the building.” I pointed at her my finger shaking with fear. What in the world? How is she alive? “Yeah, what about it?” She responded without a care in the world. “Do you not understand?” I questioned. “You jumped, off, of a building. Everyone thinks you’re dead! I saw you lying there on the ground!” I exclaimed. “Well, I’m not dead am I,”she replied calmly. I just blanked out staring at her in complete disbelief. “I’m more alive than ever since I got out of that tombstone.” She smiled at me. “What?” I questioned. “Huh?” “Don’t worry about it,” she responded. “I’m just a figment of your imagination. Just a thought.” I pushed her aside and sat back down on the couch. I closed my eyes to be rid of the nonsense. Whispers sounded inside my head and images made clear of my mind. Her fall replaying in my mind and each time becoming more real and real. Was I there again, just watching her fall? The more I looked closely at the scene the more it morphed. My whole body buzzed. What was happening to me? Wait, I know what’s happening! I’m going crazy! You know life has a way of making you insane. It hit me real hard I guess.

I saw the whole thing…

The way he looked over at her. The way he smiled, And touched her hand.

I stood beside the classroom, One foot on the wall. Other planted firmly.

I watched, arms crossed. Eyebrow raised. He didn’t see me.

Good.

I slid away, clicking my tongue. Went to class, sat down. And began my plan.

Again, after class, he walked her away. I watched, silently. Waiting.

“What are you doing, cutie?” Tae pulled my ponytail.

“See that?” I motioned. “Yeah…” he kissed my head. “You owe me a favor. Remember?” He groaned, pinning me against the wall. I let him, let him think he was in charge.

“I remember,” he smirked. “Good. Now here’s what you’ll do…” I told him all of it, he done his part.

Later that day, I sat in the cheater’s lap. Tae and his homies hid behind the bleachers.

I made out with my boyfriend. Meanwhile, the girl he liked- Was getting talked to good. In another part of the school. Her status was mine, everything. She’d never look at a guy again. Especially not my guy, no, never.

I bent in close to him in the dark gym. “I saw you with her,” I said.

He shrugged under me. I slowly put pressure on his crotch. “I saw you. With. Her,” I repeated. He said my name, stopping my hands. I kissed him hard, lips crushing into him.

“Baby Ryl,” Tae came out of the dark. He came up behind me, grinning. As I sat on the cheating fuck’s lap. Tae kissed my head, pulling me back. “Time to go,” he grabbed my hand.

I smirked in the shadows. The cheater’s mouth fell open, as Tae’s homies came out of the dark. Slowly, he stood, shaking.

“Hey, pretty boy,” one member teased. I walked from the gym, Tae at my side. We shut the gym doors, leaving.

Shoes squeaked on the polished floor. I called over my shoulder; “You better get to her before I do.”

Like lighting a match next to gas- Wild laughter started up. Tae’s homies caught the cheater.

Let’s just say; The cheating fuck never cheated on me again. His lips never touched another girl while I was around. Ashamed, he slipped away. He no longer flirted, no longer made out with random girls. And he never got another girlfriend from the school.

I saw the whole fucking thing.

(A combo of two different prompts)

I watched as the little girl walked onto the stage. The music began to play But admist the roaring applause A silent tear feel Reflecting the untold story That she could never tell

As I watched the tear slide down her cheek I noticed her small smile I could read the pain in her eyes I could tell that she loved every moment But the pain was to much to bare

She bolted of the stage Her hand on her heart It was almost as if I watched it break in two

I looked behind me And there I saw The ghost of her little brother That had recently passed on

I went back stage And hugged the little girl It will be okay I had said

She cried on my shoulder She let it all out She screamed with rage And punched the air

I said nothing I listened I could hear her love For her brother

The ghost came back with us And what he said Broke my heart in two

I love you my sister And I saw it all from heaven I saw it all

With a smile he faded away One last visit One last stay

I loved the little girl With all my heart I helped her grow up Right from her start

And her little brother saw the whole thing.

“I saw the whole thing!”😱

“Saw what?”👀

“Ya’know… when you took underwear 🩲 and wore it on your head screaming that there was a woman, named James. And that women shouldn’t have boyish 🤵‍♂️names. Then you said that you needed me to feed your pet rhino 🦏 and scratch you itch on you forehead because your hands where the size of a t-Rex.🦖”

“What the f-“❓

“Language! Damn!🤬”

“What?😵‍💫”

“Oh wait! Haha my bad, that was my dream 💤last night. 👉👈 K, have a goodie!”

“…”☠️

“I saw the whole thing!” Ember squealed after closing the storage closet door. “I saw you and the mayor’s son making lip on lip contact! You can’t deny it now!”

“Shh!” I put my finger to her lips, my heart wildly beating in my chest. “Do you want the entirety of Luton Hollow to hear you?”

“Sorry,” she giggled. “But come on, you have to tell me everything!”

“Ok, I will! But you better promise not to tell anyone!”

“I won’t! I swear on the Emerson Floral Shop!” She held three fingers up, like pleading an oath. “Now come on, tell me!”

I took a breath and began.

“It all began when I was getting ready to close for the night.” I grinned excitedly as I begin to tell my story. “I was preparing deliveries for the next day, dusting the floors, when I see Avion tapping on the front door.”

Ember grabs my hands in hers, ready to explode with excitement.

“I let him in, and he tells me he left a small pouch of gold on one of the nearby shelves. I go and check every nook and cranny to find it, and as soon as I do, he turned me around and kisses me full on the lips!”

“I’m so happy for you!” Ember cheered.

I feel like a little girl again, gossiping about every small thing, hiding around in secret. It was almost comforting sharing her experiences with Ember, one of the very few accepting people in the village.

After our fit of enthusiasm, Ember’s face becomes solemn. “Look, I know things are going to be difficult for the two of you. There will be conflicts, fights, and on top of that, you have to keep this a secret from everyone,” Ember said, “but just remember, as your friend, I will always be rooting for you.”

I smiled.

I could have the entire world against me, but as long as I had Ember, I wouldn’t care.

For she is my light.

“I saw the whole thing!”My nosey neighbor exclaimed, pointing fingers in our direction.

As frail as she appeared, she holds her finger up with the strength of her judgemental eyes.

“Saw what?” I say keeping my tone neutral.

There was only one way to get out of this and that was by gaslight girlbossing my way to freedom. Usually, I’m better at dodging Mrs. Simmons with her vacuum-like eyes ready to find dirt and prying questions bent on entrapping but with the unexpected visit of my friend, Danny, I was caught off guard. Minutes ago, Danny had knocked on my door and I opened it to see a frightened expression on his face. I was confused as to why but then I noticed my friend was floating, sadly, so did Mrs. Simmons.

“Oh, don't give me that, you both know what I saw!” the woman points her finger like a weapon.

“We really don't, M’am,” Danny says from beside me.

His tone cracks at the end and I give him a warning look, praying Mrs. Simmons didn’t jump on the weakness in his tone. I lock my front door then grab his wrist and plaster on an innocent smile that I direct at the old lady.

“We must go,” I say, moving forward and pulling my friend along with me.

I hear the old lady protest but I ignore her as we walk past. We walk in silence for a long while and then we reach a startling empty park. I gesture to a park bench and he sits there, looking around. His gaze ends up staying on a tree covered in blossoming flowers. My gaze stays on him, and I feel exasperated by it.

“So what exactly are you now?” I wonder.

It’s strange asking this type of question to someone you’ve known for so long. He looks down, sighing. His left hand nervously rubs his other arm.

“Do you remember when I disappeared and no one knew where I went?”

I think, not remembering what he was referring to, then shake my head.

“No, I don’t.”

“Maybe it didn’t feel like disappearing to you,” he mumbles then looks up at me. “It was at Elaine’s party when I lost my phone signal, do you remember?”

“I remember calling you to see where you went and you not picking up.”

“I told you back then something strange happened.”

I go back in my memory and let my mind return to the scene where he approached me at Elaine’s party. Earlier, he had wandered off and he now returned with dirt covering his clothes as if he rolled in it. There were also sticks in his hair and his eyes looked so distant.

The music in the house was loud so I had to scream to talk.

“Where have you been?!”

He turned and looked at me with a blank expression. He didn’t give a verbal response, in fact, he didn’t talk at all that night. It wasn’t until we were sharing a cab to go back to my place that he uttered a word. We sat in a cab as the sun rose and he touched my hand to break my attention away.

I looked at him.

“You…I need you to believe me, okay?” he asked, his tone pleading.

I responded with a nod. “Okay, what is it?”

“Something…something took me and they injected me with—“ he lifts his arm, lifting his sleeve to show his bare shoulder.

I looked at it but saw nothing. “Maybe you should get some rest.”

“No…” he said, his voice so low and broken. “They…”

“It’s okay,” I said, reassuring him and he was quiet the whole way back.

That was months ago and admittedly, I didn’t think about it much. I just assumed…what did I assume? I felt guilty for not trying to find out more about it prior to today. At least, now I’ll get to know what happened that night but in the past few minutes, he’s become quiet again. Sitting down beside him on the park bench, I grab his hand to give it a reassuring squeeze.

Finally, after what feels like forever he speaks.

“Something changed me that night.”

“Do you remember what?”

“It was cold and I ran, ran so fast, and I was in a forest where I fell and—“ he shivers in fear by my side and I squeeze his hand once more.

“It’s okay,” I reassure with a sad smile. “You don’t have to try and remember anything. We can figure this out together.”

“Yeah?” he says, his tone hopeful.

I nod, “Yeah.”

“I saw the whole thing,” I sobbed into the camera as reporters crowded around me.

There had been a brutal murder in the building, and I unfortunately was the only witness. A slim shadow in a grey hoodie had slipped into a cubicle in my office building, ending a life with not so much as a backwards glance and slipping back out through the fire escape.

“I saw the whole thing,” I repeated, tears raining down my cheeks.

“You don’t have to say anything more,” a police officer told me, and I saw compassion behind his eyes.

He walked me to my car.

“You gonna be okay?”

I looked at him for a moment, thinking over my response before I made it.

“I hope so.”

He offered a grim smile and started to walk away.

“Thank you,” I called, hugging myself and leaning against my car.

I opened my car and adjusted the rear view mirror, glancing at the black briefcase in the back seat. I wiped the tears from my face and drove home, turning on the tv as soon as I reached my living room.

My interview was plastered all over the news. I sighed and set my alarm clock for one in the morning. When that time came, I donned my hoodie and went to my next part time job: being the night watchman in a museum.

The coworker I was filling in for was exhausted, and gladly relinquished his keys and flashlight. He did stop for a moment beside the front door and look at me, however.

“I can’t believe that about the murder,” he commented, knitting his eyebrows and shaking his head. “You really saw the whole thing go down?”

I nodded.

“It was terrible.”

“I bet. Well….have a good night.”

“You too.”

As soon as he left I locked the door, pulled out the black briefcase and glanced around. When I opened it the beam from my flashlight glinted off of several sharp objects, one of which being a short kitchen knife.

I picked it up, grimacing at the stains on it. I thought about the interview and the questions they asked:

“How do you know what happened?”

“I saw the whole thing,” I whispered, a wicked grin on my face as I shrugged and wiped the knife on a napkin.