Writing Prompt

I run. And run and run, until I reach my house. My pulse is racing faster than ever, and I drop down on my bed, a hot mess. I must have fallen asleep, because Marley wakes me up.

"Where have you been all day? I saw you come home like 2 hours ago. What is with you?"

"Hmm?" I say groggily.

"Get up. Mom will be home soon to make dinner."

"Okay"

"And you might want to take a shower."

I take her advice and have a nice warm shower that was long overdue. I keep on thinking about the boy and how pretty his smile is. His bright green eyes, and chocolate brown hair take over my thoughts. What is this feeling? I want to be with him, next to him, look at him. I try to push it all away as I step out of the bathroom for dinner.

"Hi Melanie. How was your day?"

"Oh I just took a nap for a while and went outside. Nothing too crazy."

"Well, I had a fabulous day at work. I got everything done so I don't need to go in tomorrow."

"That's great mom!" says Marley.

I smile with my teeth but not my eyes. We will surely do someone all together tomorrow, so I can't see the boy. Maybe I'll go at night, after dinner perhaps.

"What do you say we all go to Linda's house for lunch and get peticures?"

"Sure!" I say with the brightest smile I can fake.

Linda is... well she's a character for sure. Don't even get me started on her food. It's all naturally grown from her garden, and won't use anything otherwise. And it's always dishes nobody's ever heard of before. She doesn’t have a regular kitchen, but some wood for a fire and rock bowls that she hand carved herself. Her wife, Kristen, is never home and seems to be working at a hidden place that no one knows.

"Thanks Linda," I say gritting my teeth as I look at the brown green bowl of mush that isn't quite soup.

"Of course. It's my new recipe, Veggies and More, only the second time I've made it!" she says with a cheery smile.

We all sit on the floor in a circle eating the mush with our hands (forbid we ever use silverware) and she talks about the ingredients. The second she says dirt, I gag in my mouth and force a smile. The list keeps on going of weird ingredients, all from her garden.

"Well it's wonderful Linda," says mom.

"Would you like to take some home with you? I just made a new clay container."

"That would be lovely."

They both share bright smiles as me and Marley have a conversation through facial expressions. Glad I'm not the only one who thinks it's disgusting. We both share gross faces with one another until they come back.

We walk over to Linda's little shack-room-thing to get pedicures. Those are always good, leaving our feet with slight smell of lavender. But she has to hand do each of ours, so it takes three times as long.

"Thanks Linda, for the lunch and pedicure," mom says with a relaxed smile.

"Anytime."

Marley and mom both decide to take naps after the spa day, so I take my chance to go see the boy again.

He's dressed in a nice suit, and keeps on looking at himself in the mirror and fixing things that don't need to be fixed. The older version of him walks in, and the boy leaves his room. I watch as he walks out the front door and him and the other guy drive away in a black car.

I sigh and go back to my house, the boy didn't stay in his room long today. Mom and Marley are still asleep, so I start working on dinner. Tonight I think I'll heat up some leftover chicken and have rice and broccoli.

"Dinner looks good," says Marley.

"Thank you. Oh my gosh, Linda's lunch today was... well, interesting."

"I gagged like 17 different times"

We both giggle and sit at the table to play a quick card game while dinner is still cooking.

"So, you go back to school tomorrow. What time should I come pick you up while you skip?"

"I am not skipping school!" I laugh at Marley.

"I'm just saying, sometimes it gets boring..."

"Well, I think it's interesting. Especially math. Numbers are so fun to work with."

"Okay, now you sound like a psychopath."

Mom walks out just as I finish setting the table with food. Her tired eyes say all about how her nap went. Marley gives me a look, one that says 'tonight is going to be rough' and I feel the same way.

"How was your nap?" I ask.

She walks past me, grabs a plate of food, and heads back to her bedroom. Me and Marley both relax a bit more, because we don't have to deal with mom tonight.

"Did you take a nap?"

"Umm yeah."

"No you didn't"

She caught me. I feel my heart pound faster and my breaths are shorter.

"Yes, I did."

"No, you didn't"

"Okay, so maybe I didn't. But what do you care?"

She raises an eyebrow and I sense a lecture coming.

"So what did you do?" she says very slowly.

"You didn't sneak out and see the boy again, did you?"

I give her and quick smile and slowly retreat to my bedroom. She has full, loud breaths and I hear her footsteps creek towards me.

Once in my room, I shut the door securely behind me and lock it. I try to slow my breathing.

Marley can't know my feelings for this boy.

February 17th. That was the day I saw him. The first time I saw him.

A person, but with short hair. Different clothes.

"What is that?"

"A boy, I think."

"He's... well."

"Ugly"

"No," I pause, "he's beautiful. In a different way than us."

I stand there staring. _How could I have gone all my life never seeing or knowing this creature. _

"We need to go, Claire."

"Just one more minute."

"No. There's nothing to look at anyway."

She takes my arm and pulls me away as I try to catch one last glance at the boy.

"Claire!"

"What?"

"I know I was the one who wanted to go, but we can't just stand there and stare!"

I blushed and tried to change the topic.

"Could I make dinner tonight? I know mom needs a break, and you... well you don't like to cook."

"Sure but that's not the point."

I widen my smile and walk to the kitchen as she rolls her eyes.

I think I'll make pasta. Probably penne with a pinkish sauce. Mom hates just plain red sauce, so I get to work. I put everything in a blender to make it creamy, adding tomato's, garlic, italian seasoning, salt, pepper, sour cream, and another unnamed seasoning that we always add to a pasta sauce. I pour it all in a small pot and mix in some sliced green onions and some chicken from the freezer.

"This is delicious, Melanie!"

"Thanks mom," I reply with a mouthful of food and a huge grin on my face.

"What did you girls do today?"

I look at my sister and she looks at me. We need a cover story. So I say,

"A whole bunch of nothing."

"I, went to the store," she says glaring at me.

"What did you get?"

"Nothing. Just to get a little walk in"

I giggle because Marley never goes on walks for fun. Mom has a questioning look but doesn't say any more.

"Will you go to work tomorrow?"

"Yes, I didn't finish everything I needed to. Maybe you girls could hang out with on of your friends or something. I just hate leaving you here all alone."

"But Mom, it's not like anything's going to happen. We know everyone in town and have robber systems or whatever." Marley complains.

Her face softens and she starts working on the dishes. I think about that boy again, and I realize that I want to see another human that isn't a girl or woman. I will go there again tomorrow.

I watch his movements, folding clothes as he puts them in a basket. I am in awe as what must be an older version of him comes into the room and says something to make the boy laugh. It's truly a beautiful sight. And no one here can stop me from watching.

He opens and book and writes something on a piece of paper. He does this over and over again, but it doesn’t bore me.

When he finally puts the pencil and book down, he seems more relaxed. I smile to myself, but then he looks in my direction. He squints and then our eyes meet. He has a weird look on his face, but waves towards me. I quickly turn around, calmly step away from the spot I was sitting in, and run.

Ethel stood at the edge of the village, her heart pounding in her chest as the horizon stretched before her—vast and unknown. She had spent her entire life within the walls of the Matriarchal Society, a community founded on tradition, faith, and the strict, unwavering rules set by her mother. Her mother, Selene, was the embodiment of those rules—fierce, pious, and unyielding.

"Remember, Ethel," her mother's voice echoed in her mind. "The world outside is dangerous, filled with temptation and sin. You are only safe here, in the shelter of our faith."

But Ethel had always felt a pull toward the world beyond, a longing to understand what lay beyond the walls of her sheltered existence. Her mother’s stories of betrayal, of the chaos that had led to their secluded society, had never quite been enough to quell the curiosity that burned in her.

Today, though, was different. Today, Ethel was leaving. She didn’t know where she was going, or what she would find, but the choice had been made. The world had always felt too big to ignore, and now, she would finally see it for herself.

Ethel had wandered farther into the town than she intended, drawn by the vibrant colors of the marketplace and the unfamiliar sound of voices that filled the air. Every step felt like a leap into the unknown, the faces of strangers a blur as she tried to make sense of this new world. She’d been warned that the world outside was full of temptations, but nothing her mother had said had prepared her for what she was about to experience.

As she passed a small coffee stall, a man’s voice caught her off guard—a smooth, deep drawl that sounded unlike anything she’d ever heard before.

“Well, hey there, darlin'. You lost or just lookin' to get some fresh air?”

Ethel stopped in her tracks. His voice had a warmth to it, a calm confidence that made her stomach flutter. She turned slowly to face him, and for the first time in her life, she found herself staring at a man up close.

He was older than the young men she'd imagined—the ones from the stories her mother told her to stay away from. His hair was graying at the temples, his face weathered but handsome, with laugh lines around his eyes. A faded leather jacket draped over his broad shoulders, and his hands—large and calloused—were busy packing away a basket of fruit.

Something about him was striking, but it wasn’t just his rugged features that made Ethel’s heart pound. It was the way he carried himself, like someone who had seen the world, someone who didn’t need to prove anything. She felt her face flush as she struggled to remember the words her mother had drilled into her.

"No, I’m not lost," she mutters, feeling an odd heat rise to her cheeks. She hadn’t meant to sound flustered, but something about his gaze—those steady, knowing eyes—was unnerving. The way he looked at her wasn’t predatory, but rather curious, as if she were an intriguing puzzle he wanted to solve.

The man smiled softly, his lips curling up in a way that made her chest tighten. “Well, you’ve sure got a long way from home for someone who isn’t lost," he said, his southern drawl making each word sound like a soft caress. "You’re a long way from where people usually wander, darlin'. What’s your name?"

Ethel opened her mouth to speak, but her throat felt dry. She was suddenly acutely aware of every detail—the way his presence seemed to fill the space, the warmth of the sun on her back, the sound of her heart beating in her ears.

“Ethel,” she finally whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Nice to meet you, Ethel. Name's Beau. You need any help with anything, you just holler," he said, giving her a nod before turning back to his work.

For a long moment, Ethel stood frozen, her mind racing. She had never met anyone like him—so sure of himself, yet kind in a way that felt almost dangerous. Her mother had always said men were a source of sin and temptation, but she hadn’t expected it to feel like this. A simple conversation had left her more confused than ever, a strange pull she didn’t understand tugging at her chest.

As she walked away, the sound of his voice lingered in her ears, the warmth of his gaze still searing into her thoughts.

ethel spends the next few days exploring, looking around, exploring.

she's walking to the farmers market, needing the next few days of food, she encounters Beau again, he's with his children, Cole and Jackson.

Ethel had spent the morning wandering the farmers market, doing her best to keep her mind focused on the task at hand: buying produce for her temporary stay in the town. But no matter how hard she tried, her thoughts kept drifting back to him. Ray. She had tried to forget about the strange fluttering she’d felt the first time they spoke, but it hadn’t gone away. If anything, it was stronger now, lingering in the back of her mind.

As she reached for a bunch of carrots, she heard that voice again—a familiar drawl that made her heart stutter.

“Well now, look who we got here,” he said, and Ethel’s breath caught in her throat. She turned to find Ray leaning against a nearby stall, his hands casually tucked into his pockets. His eyes were bright, amused, and focused solely on her.

She tried to steady herself, but her hands suddenly felt too warm, too unsure. “Oh... um, hi,” she managed, her words coming out too quickly, too awkwardly. She felt suddenly out of place, like she didn’t belong here at all, not with him, not in this world where men like him existed.

“You seem to be wandering' quite a bit for someone who's just visiting',” he said with a smirk, clearly teasing. He pushed off the stall and took a step closer, and Ethel could feel the space between them growing smaller, even though they were still a few feet apart.

“I’m just... getting to know the place,” she replied, her voice sounding thinner than she meant. It felt like her heart was thumping in her chest, and her body was suddenly too aware of every little movement. She didn’t understand what was happening—why was she so nervous?

Ray gave her a warm, slow smile. “Well, I’m sure you’re doing’ just fine. But if you ever need directions—or anything else—you just let me know, alright?”

Ethel nodded, though she felt her face heat up, her pulse quickening. He was being nice, that was all. There was nothing more to it. She had met plenty of men back home, though they’d been distant figures in stories or the occasional acquaintance, never someone who made her feel this way. This was different. His presence made her feel... *off-balance, * like the ground beneath her was shifting.

She quickly turned her attention back to the stall, hoping it would somehow help her regain her composure. “Thanks,” she muttered, looking down at the vegetables in front of her. But the strange warmth inside her didn’t go away. Instead, it seemed to grow with every passing second.

Ray chuckled softly, a sound that seemed to vibrate in the air. “You’re a long way from home, aren’t you?” he asked, his voice low, almost thoughtful.

Ethel’s throat tightened as she tried to keep her cool. “I’m not... I’m just here for a little while,” she said, but her mind was whirling. She hadn’t meant to sound flustered, but it was impossible to ignore the way he made her feel—like she was both drawn to him and scared of him at the same time. It didn’t make sense. She had never felt this way before.

Ray’s gaze softened, but the faintest glint of amusement was still there, as if he could tell she was struggling. “Well, darlin’, I’ll leave you to it. But if you need anything—anything at all—you know where to find me.”

Before Ethel could answer, he walked away, his steps slow and easy, and she couldn’t help but watch him go. For a moment, she stood frozen, trying to make sense of what had just happened. Why did his words make her feel like she was standing on the edge of something, like she was about to fall into a world she wasn’t sure she was ready for?

She didn’t understand it. She wasn’t sure what it was, but something about the way he looked at her, the way he spoke to her, made her feel... *different. * It was as if he had opened a door inside her, and she wasn’t sure if she wanted to walk through it or shut it and lock it away forever.

She shook her head and turned back to the stall, but the feeling didn’t fade. *What was wrong with her? *

As days passed, their paths began to cross. Beau, with his kind patience, would talk to her softly, even when she didn’t know how to respond. Ethel found herself drawn to him, her shyness melting into something warmer as she began to see the strength in his hands, the gentle wisdom in his words. She admired the weathered lines of his face, evidence of years that had shaped him, and felt her confusion deepen.

What was this strange ache in her chest? Why did her heart race when he laughed, or when their hands brushed accidentally? Ethel had no name for these feelings; all she knew was that Beau’s presence filled a space inside her she hadn’t realized was empty.

For the first time in her life, Ethel was learning the language of love—awkward, tentative, and beautiful. Though she didn’t yet fully understand it, she began to realize that the connection she felt to Beau was something profound, something worth holding onto despite her confusion. Little by little, she allowed herself to fall.

As the first light of dawn painted the horizon, Ethel leaned her head against Beau’s shoulder, the rhythm of his heartbeat calming her racing thoughts. In his steady presence, she found a new kind of home—one she never knew she had been searching for.

After the long, long journey from the desert to the lush region of Faron, Maru’s feet ached as she finally made it to the top of the mountain. She had finally found what she was searching for: the legendary Lover’s Pond. This is the place where mother and father met. She thought to herself. He gave her a blue nightshade flower to win her heart. As she looked around and saw no one, she did not feel discouraged. _Someone will come, someone who is dedicated and ready to commit to marriage. _ __ __ Maru was a young Gerudo woman. Since the Gerudo were a tribe made of women and only gave birth to girls, once they reached maturity, they were sent out into the world on a quest to find a husband. Having grown up in the isolated Gerudo town, Maru had never seen a man until she left the desert. She had seen them from afar at the stables scattered across Hyrule, but she still had very little experience with men. It wasn’t that men didn’t want to come to Gerudo town; they simply were banned from entering.

Maru took off her backpack and used it as a pillow to rest her head. She fell asleep to the twinkling stars high above and the noises of the night.

After a few weeks, Maru awoke one morning to see a man sitting on the opposite side of the pond from her. He had dark skin and dark eyes that twinkled as he met her gaze. She felt her face heat up, and she felt her heartbeat quicken. _A man… is that the man fated to be my husband? _Gathering her courage, Maru stood and began walking around the heart-shaped pool to where the man now stood, waiting.

Shyly, Maru looked up at him. “H-hello.”

He smiled gently. “Hello, to you too. My name is Larkson from Tarry Town.”

“I-I’m Maru,” she stammered. “I’m from G-gerudo town. I-I have come here to find a husband.”

“Ah, well that is fortunate, indeed!” Larkson grinned. “For I have come here in hopes of finding a wife. I always heard the legend of Lover’s Pond, and I’m very glad I believed it, for it has led me to you! Before making such a commitment, I think we should take some time to get to know each other first.” Pointing toward the path that led back down the mountain, Larkson continued, “Lurelin Village is not far from here. Might I treat you to breakfast?”

Maru smiled, “Yes, that sounds wonderful.”

Men are from mars women are from Venus Men are violent it was said in myth and legend She thought men were a fantasy One day she was banished from the underground world and ventured out to the surface. There she met a man She could believe her eyes they were not myths they existed her mother and the all the other women had lied. This man was young like hers she felt butterflies in her stomach she felt elation feeling of emotion overwhelmed her as in her world feelings were repressed. The man’s world was full of beautiful landscapes and gaudy cars aeroplane’s and robots not boring knit wear. It didn’t seem so violent although there was a lot of war and fighting but the man exooeubecvit wax all fit fun and showing off. Any way who cares she wondered as she entered the new world

Heal was admiring the stretching pillars of cracked stone and loose pebbles that held together what the Lanmen called their “Holy Sanctuary”. The one devoted to the Lanwomen’s goddess was much more kept with and polished. As she stepped inside with Kerge—and Josie who was in a contraption that strapped him to Kerge’s chest—her nose was overwhelmed with the smell of incense and lavender. It smelled sort of like the brothel were her companions stayed at, yet it was cleaner somehow. It gave you a calming sense.

Josie seemed to think the same, because he cooed happily, which Heal knew by now was are rare thing to hear. Kerge was frowning. The moment Heal asked him if he could lead her here he’d been this way. Heal wished that their minds were connected like it was with her sisters back at home; she usually could despite this, but it seemed that Kerge had his mind on lockdown. It made sense since him and Penny were complete opposites. The only reason Heal trusted Penny was because her thoughts were so open.

“So this is your place of worship?” Heal traced the chipped marble of a deer and fox hybrid as she asked.

Kerge glanced at her, then faced forward again. The frown on his face deepened. “Not anymore.” That made Heal want to know what he was thinking even more. Why did he resent this place so much? If so, why did he bring her here when she asked?

They all turned as soft steps clicked their way quickly. When it stopped, Heal tilted her head at the Lanman before her. A white shock of hair with a pale face that looked suken and drained. His smile was the opposite when he saw Heal, but it slowly slipped away as Kerge stepped forward.

“Welcome,” he stretched his thin arms out, blue veins winding up and down like vines, “To what do I owe the pleasure for you?” He tilted his head. “Highlander?”

“No, sir, I’m from the Land of Women. I’m here just for the sights.” Heal didn’t like to lie—it was prohibited in her land to even lie about an eaten cake—but it was necessary for the mission. Secrecy was key.

The pale man smiled, then bowed. “Even more so, then. Hardly anything changes here, so it’s nice to see a new place in the Holy One’s temple.”

“Kovich,” Kerge acknowledged the pale man, voice curt. Josie began to suck on his fingers—Heal had a little connection to children; they were more easier to hear, so to speak. Josie seemed a bit nervous at the tone his father used.

The man, Kovich, smiled, a bit sadly if Heal looked closer, at Kerge’s words. “Let’s put the past behind us, Kerge, if you will. I’m different now.” His face was one of pale innocence, but his blue eyes looked too clear, unseeing.

“No one really ever changes,” Kerge said in a low voice. The flinch Kovich had before he settled back into his shaky smile told Heal that he had heard it anyway.

“So,” Kovich fiddled with his fingers for a moment, his mind a high-pitched sound Heal found annoying, before taking a breath, “Y-you have a child now?”

Kerge ignored him. “Heal, I’ll be outside near the candy vendor when you’re done. Don’t take too long.” Josie made a fussy noise. Kerge patted the head softly as he opened the great doors to the temple and stepped out.

Heal was left with the screeching sounds of Kovich’s mind and a question on her lips.

                   [*+*+*]

“Kerge…”

“Yeah?”

“Why do people leave?”

“I dunno, it depends.”

“I knew you were going to say that.”

“Then why’d you ask me?”

Kovich sighed. “Why do you think my father left?”

Kerge paused for a moment, looking out from the creased pages of his new favorite book. He tilted his head, then tucked back into his book. “Your father’s an asshole.” He said this so forwardly as though this was obvious, leaving Kovich sputtering.

The boy, gaining his wits once more, slapped his friend on the back of his head. Not hard enough to leave a bruise, but hard enough that he knew Kerge would be feeling it when he slept that night. “No! My father is NOT an asshole!”

“Your Papi thinks otherwise.”

“No, he doesn’t!” Kovich jutted out his lip in defiance. “He loves Father and knows how important his job is! He says it all the time.”

“Sometimes…people lie with their mouth.” Kerge tightened his grip on his book, an unwanted memories started to invade his mind. He turned to see Kovich staring at him with a concerned look. Kerge changed the tone. “But, I’m older than you, so I see these things more quickly.”

It worked like a charm. “One year! One year, that’s all you have on me!”

“And that’s all I need,” Kerge replied smugly. He ruffled Kovich’s too long hair and laughed when the boy started to bat his hands with his fists.

Kovich wasn’t like any boy that he knew. He was too soft in places where he should be hard. Hair was scarce where it should be plentiful. He reminded Kerge of the Lanwomen he’d seen in his school books. And something even softer than that, even more precious.

A flower.

No, not the ones in the grimy gardens of his city. The ones in the meadows one could only dream about nowadays. The ones with bright colors that beckoned you to worship them. The ones you could easily pluck from the ground with just a pinch of your fingers. The ones you could hold up to your nose and smell, and smell, and smell. Breathing in the intoxicating smell of nectar and a feverish scent. One that you couldn’t ignore and didn’t want to. One that pulled you in, closer and closer, until it could hu—

“Kerge? Are you alright?” Kovich was staring at him. Kerge brought his frozen hand off of where it sat on Kovich’s head and cleared his throat.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine. Look, Kov, just focus on you for now.”

“I thought we were focusing on me.” He gestured between us. “This whole conversation was about me.”

“You self-centered snob.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“You won’t leave me? Right, Kerge?”

_ He looked back up to see Kovich staring at him with open eyes._

A flower opening its dainty petals, exposing itself, unknowing of the pain.

He continued. “Because I don’t know what I’ll do if you leave. I—I really don’t know. You’re my best friend. My only friend. And I want you to stay with me. For a long time…maybe even forever….” A firey flush took over his skin. “Not like that! Unless you want to—WAIT! That’s not what I meant either! I—“

And Kerge smiled. A slow smile that felt good and warm and just all together real.

“Of course, I will. Kovich Treles, you are so wonderful, you know that?”

A girl who was raised in a society of women ventured out into a world of men for the first time. She looked around curiously, having never seen anyone with a beard or short hair like the men she encountered. This world was very different from what she had expected. In her female-only society, she had been trained in self-defense and martial arts to protect herself from men.

In that female society, men were labeled as beasts and lustful creatures who didn’t know how to respect women. To her surprise, the men she saw were not like that at all. They didn’t even seem to notice her existence. Everyone was weighed down by their own burdens and tensions.

As she explored the town, she noticed that men had been misrepresented in her society. The men she encountered offered her help when she seemed lost, some even asked if she needed assistance or where her parents were. They treated her politely, making her question the beliefs she had been taught. However, she also encountered some men who fit the negative image she had been warned about, reminding her why her all-female society had come into existence in the first place.

When she returned to her society, she shared her surprising experiences, telling everyone that not all men were bad. Many were polite, caring, and friendly, challenging the fears that had shaped their beliefs.

What are those? Men! It’s raining men!

Where do you go when you’ve never seen the world?

Tuk. Tuk. Tuk. Tuk.

Careful, they said, else you’ll get stuck like them.

She listens to her breathing. The air against her nostrils. The exhale is just enough to shift the candy bar wrapper in her lap.

Tuk. Tuk. Tuk. Tuk.

She notices her shoulders feel tight, so she forces them away from her ears. Relax, she tells herself. She feels the breaths in her chest. The rib cage expands and contracts. Slow your breathing, she tells herself.

Tuk. Tuk. Tuk. Tuk. __ __ Why does she have to go? She was perfectly content in her little village. Who cares if she doesn’t have children? As the thought comes to her mind, so does the answer. She just wishes she didn’t have to wait so long. Just get it over with.

She looks up. High ceilings. Square white lights. She looks away and sees blue spots. _Tuk. Tuk. Tuk. Tuk. _The spot in her back between her shoulder blades tenses up. She bounces her knee at the speed of a cheetah. Her shoulders rise to her ears.

“Can you please stop tapping the table?”

All eyes dart to her. The knuckles lift up and rest in the lap. “Thank you,” she sighs, finally meeting her eyes;

Not a her. The person does not look like a woman. Her shoulders tense up again. She hears her breaths. Square jaw. Lump in neck. Wide shoulders. She didn’t realize she’d meet a man before even getting there. This is the waiting room. She isn’t prepared. She isn’t prepared. She isn’t prepared—

Please, just watch Wonder Woman. Otherwise I’ll have to rewrite the entire script to Wonder Woman.