I drop my phone on the covers reading and rereading the message. My eyes dart around the room with the knowledge he’s here somewhere.

I consider calling out of the window to someone, anyone. I glance at my clock, fuck it’s 11, who would be up?

Wait! The officer!

Please be here. Please be here.

I move my legs through the air trying to get my weight off of my bed. Without thinking I step onto my f...

**Not really the prompt**

“Henry just told me his parents won’t be home tonight.” 

I shut my locker door and looked at Sarah. “And?”

“And he invited me to… hang out.” Her lips curved upward in a coy smile. “I think tonight might be the night.”

“The night?” I gave her a curious look. “For what?”

“To… you know!” I smiled at her. “Don’t make me say it, it ruins the fun of it!”

“Of course I know,” I ...

oh. look at that. ha. ha. that’s funny. I’m an idiot. just when I thought this could be the day, the night you finally talk to me. I’m all prettied up, just for you. and you look as good as always but even better because of the suit. I like your tie. it’s a pretty color. a light turquoise blue. it kind of matches her dress. that’s dark blue, but still. both blue. I’m in line with my friends, tryin...

I gasp as the spiked whip hits my back, blinding me with pain.

But as I'm laying there, my brain floods with questions.

The most prominent one...

"**_Why_**?"

Why have we been abandoned on this planet?

Why am I in so much _pain_?

Why...

Another lash makes me cry out, sobbing.

"Come on, Casper, beg your god to make it stop... is he not saving you?"

The voice is distorted and garbled, and I...

Snow descends gently, each flake melting as it touches my flushed skin. My shoes squelch through the slush on my driveway. I'm about to twist my key in the lock when the clamorous screech of metal halts me.

My skin prickles with goosebumps.

What the hell was that?

I take a look around the street. I’m unable to get a full glimpse, the only source of light being the sole street lamp.

Not now. Not t...

Is this all I’m capable of? Crying? Weeping over my decided fate? Yet I lack the strength to stand tall, reach 18, and die audaciously.

A family curse, the firstborn is to die the first day of his eighteenth year. A simple heart attack. Here and gone. A dandelion seed passing by.

At fifteen, you could say my parents broke the news, but really, the news broke me.

What have I done? Where is the...

[Viewer Reading Advisory]

{Sexual Themes, Adult Language, Drug Usage, Violence, and even trigger warnings}

Nessa (Venessa Jones) 21

Lilly (Lana Jones) 18

Cole (Collin Smith) 21

Zaz (Zavier Roberts) 20

Nicky (Nicole Peterson) 22

Max (Markus Salomon) 23

**Nessa**

A few drinks tucked away after work wasn’t to bad. Of course she’d chatted away with Nicky for an hour or so before sul...

I was foolish to believe I could have something so pure. My past self laughs at me as I stare into the mirror. My grief standing right next to him. The screams I have kept in rise in my chest as the tears I have held back weigh me down. She never saw this side of me and never would. When I was with her, all of this melted away. She brought a peace to the violence that swayed in my mind. When she s...

This feeling, this wrongness, this wrinkled sadness that only time and experience can bring upon oneself. I wish I didn’t know it.

This kind of wisdom isn’t worth its cost. I am not merely talking about some “be dumb, be happy” shitty ideals. I am talking about the gall and glass left at my throat as psychological souvenirs of the past....

I should have seen this coming

But I must have been too preoccupied

13 is a taxing age

It was a taxing year

Taxing times

Tax money torn from our hands

Taxed to line old money pockets

Was this the start?

I still can't pinpoint the date

Was I even thirteen?

I think it was a Saturday

I didn't see this coming

I didn't see it as it hit me

I see it now

The penny dropped years ago

Our final penn...