Rita stuck her tongue out in concentration. She reached out and grabbed some pliers to her left and moved a wire out of her way in the small box in front of her. She grabbed a wire lower in the box and carefully connected it to another nearby.

"Yes!" Rita flicked up the mask covering her face onto her head. "I did it, I did it, I did it!"

Her softshell father or mentor aka Donnie leaned over her...

“I got you. Don’t worry.”

My hands were clenched around his, veins surging thickly from under my skin with the effort. He swung off the face of the cliff, feet kicking for a foothold and finding none. I was on my belly. Beneath us spread a wide expanse of stone and desert floor. It would have been beautiful if it wasn’t hundreds of feet down.

“Can you pull me up?” He muttered through gritted te...

The rain poured heavily on us as we made our way slowly back to the office, the sound of cars and sirens muted my groans and pants as I carried Sorren. He stumbled beside me as I helped him walk. I looked to him, unable to hide my concern with stoic silence any longer. His eyes were flutttering, his face was pale, blood from his head slowly dripped down his face along with the rain. I glanced down...

One moment.

Ten seconds.

Tear-stained eyes.

I was too late. Your dishelved look, horrified eyes, your white dress stained with what seemed like blood. In my normal state I would have just held your hand in mine and dragged you out of that apartment, leaving the beast you somehow loved.

But my fist thought for itself, and without as much as a blink, I left you at the entrance to face the monster ...

We used to talk for hours.

We used to pick flowers.

We used to climb trees.

Talking about what we could not be.

You used to hold me tight.

You used to stroke my hair.

You told me I was special and that you really really cared.

We used to be best friends.

You were my beginning and my end.

We never ever kissed and that was okay.

But now it leaves me heartbroken every single day.

Because you aske...

“Jordan,” she calls from the kitchen. “Baby carrots or big carrots?” She stands in front of the fridge, staring at the two on the shelf.

“Wha- I uh,” he pauses the gun game and blinks, rubbing his eyes. “Uh. Big carrots?”

“Big carrots? Why big carrots? Why those?” She sounds angered, he quietly picks up the controller again and shrugs even though she can’t see him.

“I thought you liked the big...

“You’ve got the job,” Jordan overhears his girlfriend's boss say.

He’s by the doorway, keeping out of sight as she speaks to her boss on her holophone. She’s holding her holophone outward as she stands by their bed, trying not to scream as a wide grin spreads on her face like nanos in a pajama cube spread across one’s body to create the latest pajama trend. Her tone remains serious as she thanks...

The room is huge.

A grand chandelier hangs from the ceiling, reflecting beautiful little rainbows all around the room.

The floors look to be solid marble. Cold and smooth like an ice rink in the winter.

Gold designs on the walls form beautiful landscapes and natural scenes.

At the center is the biggest bed, Haze has ever seen. Pink tulle billows from the ceiling above the bed like a pink wa...

Near the Kingdoms School of Arcana, there’s a quaint little café I work in, where mages frequent. Every day, without fail, they saunter in, their robes swishing with promises all young mage tells themselves. But they're a peculiar bunch, never tipping in mere coins. No, they leave behind little enchanted items for the waitresses—a pin that ensures perpetual good hair days, a ring that glimmers whe...

It’s as normal as any other day has ever been. I wake up, take a shower, get dressed, and start making breakfast for my daughter and I. My husband left early for work, which leaves only Maya, my four year old daughter, and I for all of Valentine’s Day. I figure what better way to spend this cheesy, hallmark holiday dedicated to love than with the one person who can always put a smile on my face.

...