Writing Prompt

Years from now, my efforts to hide the fact I went to both prom and anti-prom would be in vain, when my friend—the host of anti-prom— finds a polaroid in my room I took at prom. Back then, though, I wouldn’t know that.

Who thinks about the future at prom anyways? It’s the most important night in a teenager’s life; the culmination of our final four years of youth. I heard some people complain about the lack of alcohol, but they didn’t realize this would be the last party they ever attend that doesn’t have alcohol. I didn’t realize it either at the time.

I arrived late, when dinner was over and the partying begun an hour ago. I was weary from the energy of anti-prom, but I couldn’t just not go to prom.

Honestly, I didn’t care as much as I should’ve when a teacher informed me I could’ve came in without a ticket, since the ticket only covered the costs of dinner anyways. It was my parents’ money. I never had a job yet, nor was I poor, so the value of $75 went over my head.

I was more concerned with the fact that the dance floor was empty, save for the six or so people who stood there. Yes, stood there. They weren’t even dancing.

After I went around and greeted my friends, I was surprised to see some of them sitting alone. “Aren’t you gonna go dance or something?” I asked.

“No. Drake didn’t ask me.” Mavis grumbled dejectedly, her chin in the palm of her hand.

This shocked me as well. Why would someone be unable to dance without a person to ask them to? Much less from someone who hardly knew her. Drake was her crush, yet they were more like acquaintances.

It must’ve been cruel of me to wonder why Mavis was sitting here alone, waiting for a movie miracle that would not happen.

“Why not ask him yourself?” I furrowed my brows and smiled.

To this day, I can’t remember what her answer was. Perhaps it wasn’t profound enough to stick with me. I left to go speak with someone else.

“I have no one to dance with.” Lorenzo explained to me when I asked him why he was sitting alone too.

I rejected him when he asked me to prom a few weeks ago. I can’t remember why I did, but he’d grow up to become someone entangled with the police, so I dodged a bullet. Still, I could’ve felt guilty, yet I was annoyed instead. What, was he expecting me to pity him enough to ask him to dance?

“Mavis is looking for someone to dance with. You could dance with her!” I suggested with a warm grin. In my mind, it was the perfect solution. They were friends, so they could help each other feel better, and no one would have to be alone.

But then Lorzeno waved his hand and said, “Nah, it’s fine.”

This was very stupid, I thought.

Every movie I’ve ever watched depicted prom as a place with a crowded dance floor and boundless energy. But a mere glance around the room, and all the people sitting around, alone, on their phones or staring at the wall, made me feel like such teenage magic was a Hollywood myth.

Was dancing alone really worse than not dancing at all?

One of my last memories in prom was taking a polaroid picture with some of my friends in a photo booth. I grew apart with everyone in that picture over the years, but I keep it up in my room anyways. It’s just nice to know I didn’t dance alone that night.

As fire spreads And children burn, And men cry, And women scream, And elders stare I walk down the street.

and then trees fall, And smoke rises, And our planet breaks just like it did to me.

So while everyone dies and hides and runs and screams I look up in the sky, smile and say,

“ What a beautiful day”

Pretty face and a pretty smile Doesn’t mean I feel worthwhile Happy happy happy Sad Sad Sad Angry angry angry Mad Mad Mad Doesn’t mean I’m never glad Mostly means I’m always sad

THIS ONE SUXS IK 💀

It’s my birthday happiness day of my life. Darkness hangs above. I feel a sense of loss and longing. I smile but inside I feel lonely among people like death in the soul.

There’s nothing in my brain No feelings to explain My creativity down the drain Because I quieted the pain

The meds are working But it doesn’t feel good Because you can’t light a fire Without any wood

So set me ablaze! Let the old me out! So at least I’ll have something To write about

I wanted to get better but This absence is stark Feeling nothing isn’t better I miss the dark

As I saw my brother in the ditch, dead, I didn’t feel sad or mad for some reason. The only emotion that I was feeling, was excitement and satisfaction.

Body felt these emotions but my mind was filled with questions. Why? How? Who? What? My mind was in distress when my emotions were controlled.

I would never see my brother again because he crashed into the ditch and the only emotion i was feeling was satisfaction?!??!

Questions again swirling in my mind. Did I kill him. No. I had just gotten here. The police had informed me of it on a phone call.

I had no idea why I felt these emotions. The air was cool. The night was young and fog covered the floor of the earth at the time. The stars burnt bright and the moon shone on his brothers corpse.

That was it, he was now the only family he had. He was alone. It was thrilling and fun but it was also scary. He now had a life… Finally.

In den Blumen zirpts, in den Bäumen rauschts Von innen drückts meine Brust hinaus Die Tränen krazen mir im Hals Dein Lachen laut über die Wiese schallt

Obschon der Frühling bald schon hier Wird‘s kälter immer mehr in mir Der frost droht mich zu rauben In den Röben hangen die reifen Trauben

Die du pflückst und die so schön Dein Gesicht rot färben, so tönt Doch die Sonne auf dem Wasser klar Für dich ist all‘s so wunderbar

Für mich kommt mehr und mehr Ein schluchzen in die Kehl‘ Das ich nicht länger wegdrücken mag Obwohl ich in der Sommerwiese lag

Bienen summen und die Vögel Wissen nichts von meiner Pein Zwitschern wohl, und du mit ihnen Lachst frohlockend in den Wind hinein

Strahl mich doch noch einmal an Dann dreh mich um und sag bis dann Die wiesen zirpen und der Bach der plätschert In mir wachst stetig ein unendlicher Gletscher

(Sarcasm is my love language) Happy birthday to me. Wow turning 16 is such a big deal. Well let me tell you this. It is only fun when you can drive. And fun fact, you cant drive if you just got your leg amputated. Ya, bone cancer is super fun. And while I do agree that there is quite a but of relief not having a deadly disease in your body, it is more fun when you actually have a leg.

Valentine’s Day.

At my age, I probably shouldn't worry about romance.

And I don't.

I am not one of those people who hate Valentine's Day just because they are single and resentful. I don't care about having a boyfriend.

Still, it’s degrading not having anyone to look forward to to show me appreciation for, well, anything.

Actually, last year, I got elbowed in the nose by a random guy. Looking back, it was pretty funny. Even if I burst into tears the second I got into my mother's car, my nose was bleeding. I appreciate that the guy blamed it on their friend instead of apologizing.

Wow, love at first nose smash. Take out your paper and pens because I promise that this one is going to become the romance novel of a lifetime.

Not really.

Anyway, I still think that's much better than having your partner break up with you or something. That's just wrong.

I remember when school ended and there was this long line of students waiting outside the office to pick up their Valentine’s gifts that they had dropped off there before class. There’d be girls walking out with three bags of gifts each, then a guy with a teddy bear and a small bouquet of paper flowers.

Meanwhile, I had Fun-Dip.

I know I should be grateful for everything I receive, it's the thought that counts. But just watching everyone around me passing their gifts around so eagerly like it was a second Christmas, it feels like I'm not someone not deserving of those things.

Then I'd go home, and sure maybe my mother would get me a small snack. This year, she got me kettle corn.

Which was more important than telling her she loved me because she didn't say those words a single time that day. Not that she's said that in months, I had to ask her yesterday if she did to get her to say yes. She did love me.

“Yes. Why,” was what she said.

Thanks for the confirmation, I guess.

—”Hey Tess, Happy Valentines Day! Do you have any plans?” Sarah texts—

I stop and stare at the phone.

—”No. You?”—

—”Yeah this guys taking me out!!! He's sooooo dreamyyyy and he has this friend that you may like! I can set you up.”—

—”Eh no thanks. I don't really want to date right now.”—

—”Alright! Time to go get ready!”—

—”Bye”—

—Tess leaned on her apartment wall and sighed. Plum came and rubbed against her leg.—

”Hey buddy. You wanna be my valentine.”

Plum meowed.

”I'll take that as a yes,” Tess replied, smiling slightly.

—Tess sat on the couch eating chocolates and drinking some concoction with different drinks. She was disappointed, sad, and frustrated. Sarah has a date and Tess wants her to be happy.

However..

Tess thinks that Sarah would have a better time with her, than him…—