I gazed out at the water reflecting the beautiful sunset. It was amazing, like always, but it wasn’t the big thing on my mind.

I pondered again about what had happened at school. Jack was teasing me as usual, but then Gerry punched him for it.

Why did he do it?

I considered this philosophical question for a moment. Maybe Mom would know the answer. Walking inside, I called, “Mom?”

“In the kitch...

I stare up at the stars and fiddle with my ring.

The surface of the water ripples.

I remember what grandma told me about this ring.

It had belonged to my great grandma.

It’s gold, with a small, rectangular-shaped fake blue diamond in the middle, and three very tiny diamonds on each side.

Everyone said I reminded them of her, and she gave the best hugs.

I was really little, possibly not even born w...

Only in the heart of Michigan

Am I a polar bear paddling in a lake as big as a small ocean.

I always slept through the morning swim—

The water has sharp, serrated edges for waves,

Swallowing me as I thrash to reach the surface.

But my feet were heavier than stones

And I drowned until dusk.

When the symphony of crickets marched me to my resurrection,

My body was starlight and seafoam.

Sand is bet...

NO WAY HOME SPOILERS ⚠️⚠️

I look at the end of the lake. Little did I know this was given to me by Aunt May. When I look into the sunset all I see is my future, and my sacrifice. I sacrificed everything for the world. Now none of my friends know who I am, and I’m stuck with myself.

I know that I am Spider-Man, but something in me doesn’t want to think about it.

Something in me just want...

There is a painting of some forgotten queen

That hangs in the museum downtown

She watches stoically the patrons passing by

Her lips tight in neither smile nor frown

I’ve often admired her majesty

Though she may look homely by modern times

She is lauded as a work of fine art

In spite of the way her face creases and lines

They marvel at each pore and blemish

The cracks in her lips and the spot...

I grew up a lonely child, and the only comfort I could find was on the old abandoned dock over the lake in my yard. I never showed anyone the dock. That is, until I met him.

I was 15 when he moved into town, he was 17. We met at the local diner where I worked at the time. He came in with his family and when i first saw him, I swear he was the cutest boy I’d ever seen. He had messy black hair and ...

As Zack stared out over the still waters of the lake, he thought about how much his life had changed in the past 3 years. The sunset was one of the most beautiful things he had ever seen despite his circumstances. The air was cool and fresh. He sat under the wood arc, his back against the wooden wall, as a slight wind picked up the further he got into the evening.

He thought about the build up to ...

The sun sinks behind the purple mountains as the black sky takes its place.

Lily looks at me, her eyes glowing in the last sliver of sunlight. Sometimes I can’t make myself believe that a girl as beautiful and amazing as her is dying.

“So,” Lily says calmly, “You grew up here. It’s beautiful. Thank you.”

My eyes leave the sun and meet hers, “For what?” I ask.

Lily sighs, resting her elbows on ...

Crickets sing a riverside love song as a million stars twinkle overhead, barely visible against the reddened sunset. Nightfall will come quick tonight for the couple underneath the stars.

“Rylee,” Ravi whispers as they lay on their backs on the sanded deck and watch the sky glitter like a billion tiny diamonds.

“Yeah, Ravi?” Rylee slides her hand over and takes his in hers.

“Why did we come her...

Electrifying love.

Everlasting, permanently engraved on my heart

Sending shocks through the soul

Watching the water

Rippling across existence

The cold on fingers

Like poking time

Feeling it rush by like the fish

Admiring the sky

Pink of the blush on my cheeks

Red like my lipstick

Orange like my favorite color he remembers

Purple like the color we dyed my hair that night

Stars like the ones tha...