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 when she had died. Sometimes I think of her. What was her favorite color? Would she like me? What do her hugs feel like? Bonnie Ree Christiansen was her name. My grandma’s grandma. I smile, and tears come to my eyes. I’ll meet her one day, I know it. I can almost feel her here with me right now. I stare up at the stars, wondering when I’ll meet her. I have my life ahead of me… but I always wonder if she can see me right now. Would she be proud? I hope so. I’ll try and make her proud.

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 better than snow.

Both have microscopic beauty. So I lay on the dock

Waiting for my savior to bathe me in white light And study me in the name of medicine. Left out to dry out under the scarlet sky—

Summer will mummify me. If they’d open my skull,

They would see the Garden of Eden, The serpent And a puddle where the icicles melted On top of Winter’s unmarked grave.

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 wants for me to go back to normal.

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 spots on her nose The very things that I hide in my own face Speak in brush strokes like beautiful prose

In evening I’ll walk down to the water Where I sit in a wide wooden frame Posing still in the light of the sunset Like that queen, in painted stillness I reign

In that moment all my insecurities Become dots of paint that combine Into the most admirable work of art The frame catches the water and shines

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 deep brown eyes, and his smile could light up anyone’s day. I swore that day that he’d be the man I married.

After seeing him for about three months, I worked up the courage to ask him out. The smirk that spread over his face when I asked made me blush bright red. “Why would such a beautiful girl be asking a scraggly guy like me out?” He asked, running a hand through his dark hair. “I-I- well… you’re… really cute…” I managed to stutter as a response. And that was how our relationship started.

It was about two months after we started dating, we’d been on a few dates and I’d decided to show him my dock, so I brought him over and led him through the complex maze of fields to get to the old dock at the back of our family’s property. We sat at the edge, with our feet dangling off. We talked for hours, until the moon peeked over the west horizon.

I turned to look at him at that point and his glittering eyes were transfixed on me, as if staring at a priceless piece of artwork. I blushed amd started to look away, but he gently grabbed my chin and said in a raspy voice, “Don’t look away, you look beautiful in the moonlight…” his voice trailed off and he carefully leaned forward and stopped only inches from my face. I could feel his warm breath on my cheek and my breathing faltered nervously. He giggled slightly and kissed me. He kissed my like I could break at any moment. It was gentle and warm, like a fresh apple pie.

I stopped breathing for a good 5 seconds, then I realized what was happening. The boy of my dreams was kissing me. He was so gentle about it, not wanting to startle me. I leaned into his kiss and wrapped my arms around his neck. He pulled away from the kiss just long enough for his dark brown eyes to bore into the back of my head, then he smiled and kissed me again. More confident now that I had responded positively to his touch.

That night was the start of a 67 year long relationship. We got married at 19, had our first child at 24, renovated the dock and had our second child at 29. We lived happily together ‘till the end of our lives. And it all started with a kiss on the dock.

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 whole event that drastically changed his life. It was in March, and everything was fine; he was happy, and his father worked at a hotel for the moment as he looked for a job at a college. He and his siblings were in homeschooling and his mother was the teacher. It was a good life. His father had been applying to different jobs at a lot of different areas. One of them was at a college in chicago. There were a lot of circumstances that made it very promising, and so they were all excited except the factor that it was in the U.S. Zack had heard about a lot of good things but never really thought his father would get the job.

He did. The time in between was just preparation and a time of gloom. They eventually left Canada on a Sunday after all of the goodbyes. By the time they got into the moving truck with his father, Zack was conflicted with his emotions. From the time they arrived to right about now at this moment on the lake, Zack was in depression on and off. Sometimes it was bad; thinking about ending his life, and other times it was more mild; just existing. But he never truly showed his emotions to his “new” friends or family.

“Do know how hard it is to lose everything in your life? To lose your friends, your community, your home?” Said Zack to the lake. The lake stayed still and quiet as the light from the sun slowly drained away. Zack stared at the lake feeling lost. This lake was a place of comfort though. Every night he came down here and talked to the lake. “Thought so.”

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 her knees and then her chin on the palm of her hand. “What do you think Adrian?” She asks, her voice as soft as the breeze blowing her golden hair. I think. I’ve been here for her. At least I hope I have. I’ve made her laugh, even when death is following her around. “Well, for being here I guess. For listening to you.” Lily turns her head to see me, “Adrian.” I nod, “Yeah?” A small smile spreads across Lily’s lips. “Adrian, I’m thanking you because even in times where death is taughting me, you make me smile. I feel alive around you. My cheeks burn as I stare into her perfect green eyes, “Well . . . I care about you.” I mumble, “A lot.”

Lily brings her head up from her palm and rests it agasint my shoulder. “You know what my wish is?” She smiles. I shake my head. Lily chuckles, “Adrian, it’s you.” I can’t help smiling, “I don’t know what to say.” Lily lifts her head off my shoulder and gently pulls my face to hers. Our lips touch, and everything around me stops. The chipping of the crickets, the calming sound of the lake below our feet. The smell of the fall leaves floating in the blue water.

Lily pulls back, her hand still on my cheek, “I don’t want to die,” she whispers. Tears gather in her eyes. I don’t know what to say. So I let my heart take over, “Lily, I’ve only just met you. But I love you.” Lily removes her soft hand, “I’m dying.” She says. “We can’t be together. We can’t be happy.” I slide my hand across the wooden deck to her hand. Lacing my fingers between hers. “I can choose to believe that. But how will we know what could have been if we don’t try.” Lily looks down wiping her tears away with the back of her hand. I pull her close to me, hugging her tightly. The stars shine above us as Lily whispers in my ear, “Never forget that you and me were always meant to have this.”

Don’t worry, Lily. I think. I knew that the day I saw you.

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 here?” “I wanted to give you the stars.” “Then why are you holding my hand?” “Because I’m falling,” Rylee replies.

Rylee turns her head to the side, looking away from him. She hears him sigh and feels his hand tighten around hers. She smiles, bitting her bottom lip as she watches the water ripple on the light breeze.

“I love you,” she hears him whisper, barely audible. When she looks his way, Ravi blushes and stares at the sky. He holds his breath, chest up and cheeks puffed out.

“I love you too, Ravi,” Rylee whispers as she stares at the side of his face, taking in each perfect feature after another.

The crickets’ song rises around them, as Rylee rolls onto her side and kisses Ravi’s cheek gently and gets to her feet.

She pads to the edge of the dock where she sits and dips her feet into the water. She hears Ravi stand and tromp to the edge, plopping down noisily, bending his legs so that they don’t touch the water.

Rylee leans her head against his shoulder and closes her eyes, bringing in his sweet scent that mingles with the scent of the water from the river.

Ravi grabs Rylee’s hand and kisses her scarred knuckles. Rylee smiles and pulls away. As soon as her hands are free, she pulls Ravi into a hug and kisses his forehead.

He lays on her like that for awhile, his head on her shoulder and her arm around him as the sun drops below the trees and the frogs join in the chorus of crickets with their drum-like croak.

Then, Ravi and Rylee gather their things and walk hand in hand from the deck, where Rylee’s car waits in the grass beside the darkened river.

Yet another memory made and cherished, something Rylee’s never had, it makes her feel special going on these adventures with him, each one more exciting than the next.

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 that sparkle in your eyes

Looking upon this sight I see Electrifying love. Everlasting, permanently engraved on my heart Sending shocks through the soul

Sitting on the other side, dangling my foot on the water.

“I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“Wha-what?” My heart dropped.

“I can’t go to prom with you.”

“Uhm,” I mumbled, fidgeting with my rings. I looked at him, then looked at the sunset beaming on the lake.

“I just can’t, I can’t pretend that day didn’t happen.”

“What day?” My mind went blank, and no memory was found.

“The day you kissed me..” he said, looking into my eyes. “You actually don’t remember it-“ I interrupted him with a kiss.

I didn’t remember it, but I knew he meant so much to me, I couldn’t mess this up.

“I can’t remember that, but all that I know is that I don’t want you to leave my life.”

“You don’t?”

“I don’t remember anything that happened last year,” I took a deep breath, “I think I lost my memory somehow.”

“When you got into that car accident, I didn’t know it was that fatal.”

“What car accident?”