Writing Prompt

Authenticity is demonstrated through one's communication style, integrity, reliability, strong reputation, discernment, commitment, loyalty, sincerity, and consistent adherence. This recognition is a genuine show of respect that serves as a safeguard against potential threats. It is filled with affection, good wishes, and blessings, ensuring positive outcomes only. The future is influenced by a history of respect, love, and gratitude. The transformation is genuine - although it may be different from what you are used to, it is what you truly deserve. Time will only bring about more respect and support, was good takes time was right will be consistent. It’s worth the investment no matter what. It is important to acknowledge and embrace what is real and true, without denying genuine feelings. Therefore follow your heart. The Shift Is Real .Time will reveal what you have invested into. Don’t you agree?

Oreos and milk cigarettes and coffee winter and mittens A good book and a better nook Crisp bacon and strawberry jam saccharomyces boulardii and modified citrus pectin a mild antihistamine and a major SSRI quiet and still shaking legs and muffled cries cheap red and a choice cut Friday morning and 800 numbers 16 years and this coming January the preacher and the choir praise and the sway of a Sunday a pilum and a tattered side lies and mother-in-laws tongue someone God has plans for and someone God has plans for

“I really like her and I will treat her like a princess. Well not a princess because she would probably stab me if I did that. Treat her like a warrior is probably more appropriate,” Ward rambles.

It makes Haze want to melt with how sweet he is being but also laugh like a hyena at the same time. He’s being ridiculous. She approves of him already. Maybe even before Nova liked him.

Ward is constantly in motion. His hand on his neck, it’s his nervous tick. His foot taps in a fast rhythm that probably matches his heart beat.

Part of her wonders how long he’ll go like this if she doesn’t say anything, but the poor thing doesn’t need to suffer.

“Ward, I don’t know what you’re asking me, but the answer is yes,” she says.

His mouth falls open quite comically. A fly could just waltz right in and he probably wouldn’t notice.

Finally he shakes his head, shaking off his shock like a dog shaking off water. “Really? Just like that?”

Haze doesn’t get why he is so surprised.

These castle people are confusing. Everything is so complicated to them. But it doesn’t have to be. To her, Nova and Ward make sense. It’s that simple.

Animals just go by instinct. Don’t overthink or anything. Why can’t humans just do that?

“I approve of you. You make her happy. That’s all that matters to me.”

“You don’t want to ask me any questions?” He asks. What a curious cat, he is.

Questions? Geez, Ward is more anxious about this than she realized. He must really like Nova. “Like what? Would you like me to ask you something?”

Shrugging, he nods. “Sure. If you think of something.” His movements are exaggerated. Like a strutting bird.

He’s an open flower, petals outstretched towards her sister. Easy to admire and even easier to read.

“Why do you like her?” Haze decides to ask. Give him a basic one. Maybe he won’t stress as much then.

A glazed over look takes over his eyes. Like he sees the most beautiful sight. And maybe he is. “Where do I start?”

“From the first chapter would be nice,” she comments.

They are on the second floor, and he stops at a window. He leans his forearms on the ledge and gazes down at the training grounds. Haze peeks over his shoulder and spots her sister.

Nova is effortless to see. She shines. Not literally, but she has this magnetic presence. One’s eyes are just drawn to her, especially when training. Watching her sister work with a sword, she can understand why Ward called Nova’s fighting ability Starshine.

“She is fiery. A burning flame that burns everlasting. She is strong. Her Starshine legitimately mesmerizes me. She will fight for what’s right no matter. No matter the challenge or obstacle. If you gain her trust, she will be by your side. She is everything.”

While Ward’s attention is on Nova, Haze’s is focused on him. Glassy, wide eyes. Unconscious smile. Totally relaxed state when talking about Nova. He is love struck.

He is a flower and she is the sun.

“You are the ground,” she tells him. He manages to rip his eyes from her sister to give her a questioning glance. “Is that a compliment?” He asks, amused by the short but confusing statement.

“Yes,” she answers simply.

His raised eyebrow indicates he wants her to continue. She pretends to think about it but expands shortly after.

“You are the ground underneath her feet. We’ve grown up with a lot of instability, Ward. You can’t expect anything to stay the same in the Wild Thicket. We’ve always been each other’s rock. To lean on when we need to. But you are the constant ground. You make her feel secure. Safe.”

Maybe Haze had it wrong before because the grin he gives her is so sunny that she might have to shield her eyes.

Turning his weight on his left elbow, he faces her fully. “I want to be with her and I want your blessing. Because I know you are the person most important to her. The person she trusts the most,” he confesses.

Sweet like a fresh bunch of grapes.

Taking his hand that remained on the ledge, she says in an overly proper tone, “Of course, Ward. I humbly give you my blessing.”

She drops the polite voice and cocks her head to the side, indicating towards Nova. “Go ask my sister on a date now.”

“You are the epitome of kindness, Haze,” he pauses to think of a second and then continues, “Maybe take your own advice and have a chat with Aziza.”

A cheeky glint is in his eyes.

With a glare that doesn’t hold any malice, she says, “Don’t push it.”

“Noted.” Stepping away from the window, he makes sure Nova is still where she was last and begins to walk in that direction.

Having had to see their weird mating dance for weeks now, Haze can’t wait for them to be officially together. One more moment seems too long.

Haze waves her hand, purple light dust fluttering through her fingers. The light encases Ward and he appears near Nova in a puff of lavender smoke.

Leaning out the window, she can see him shake his head, probably from the disorientation and then whip his head up to where she is. She waves, wiggling her fingers with the lavender glow.

Nova doesn’t even blink at his sudden appearance, just holds up her sword and goads him into a fight.

When they begin sparring, she can see their lips moving. They’re talking.

Haze turns and walks away. She doesn’t need to see the rest to know what’ll happen next.

I’m a good man.

Raised in the South until I drifted West like a tumbleweed.

Meeting Michelle was a moment that God must have arranged.

Meeting her friends must have been something the Devil planned.

Snickering because of my Southern drawl, my values, all the small things a lowly person would make humor of.

But I’m a good man.

So I’ll hold the door open for them, their eyes examining my worn clothes, as if staring would make them able to spit on me.

I’ll walk their dogs when they’re out and about, doing only God knows what. Their barking dogs reminding me of their owners, spit flying from their loud mouth, growling and preparing a bite but I never receive it.

I have done all tasks to make them soften their hard glare, all ways to make their frowning lips curl up into a smile,

All tactics to make them realize that Michelle has a good man.

The results are promising,

I’m smiling while writing this as I recollect,

They grinned and nodded at my prescence,

They complimented my once judged appearance.

I was damn glad of their change in behavior,

Until I felt a hand snake up my thigh.

I’m a good man.

Raised in the South until I drifted West like a tumbleweed.

“Petrichor.”

“Huh?”

“That’s the smell you’re describing—petrichor.”

Cecil blinked. “I didn’t know there was a word for it. That’s such a specific scent.”

“I get curious about random things sometimes, so one day when it had that damp smell I wanted to describe it better and I looked up some rainy day words and found the word petrichor.”

James smiled silently. He wasn’t sure if his friends appreciated Joanna’s sporadic knowledge, but he found it to be quite charming. Truthfully, he thought to himself, if Cecil and Will weren’t here, he and Joanna would be going back and forth right now, exchanging words with unique meanings. He would tell her that once they got to the café they’d finally have some chrysalism—the feeling of protected peacefulness from being inside during a thunderstorm. She’d probably respond by commenting that the city streets had a sense of kenopsia about them today—the forlorn atmosphere of a place that is usually bustling with people but is now eerily quiet. They’d go on until the conversation drifted to their shared love of rainy days and he’d—

“—don’t you?” Cecil asked, looking at James.

“Huh? Sorry, I was lost in the thought of—“

“—how much he loves rainy days,” Joanna finished his sentence.

Cecil noticed they shared a look, but repeated their question. “You always drink your tea without any sweetener, don’t you James?”

“Yeah. Not all of us can drink sugar with a splash of tea like you,” James teased.

“Hey, there’s no such thing as _too_ sweet.”

Will nodded. “Which is why I’ll be dipping my cinnamon roll in my hot cocoa,” he declared.

James feigned a gag as he reached to open the bakery door. His fake expression quickly melted away as he was hit with the sweet aromas of baking pastries and brewing coffee. He smiled again as the door gently closed behind Will, sealing them off from the pitter-patter of rain droplets bouncing off the concrete sidewalk and rippling in the curbside puddles. The damp gray air was replaced with a comforting warmth, the mellow chatter of others seeking refuge from the rain, and the clinking of coffee cups.

Joanna stepped forward to place her order. “Can I get one cardamom scone and one sour cream scone with lox please?”

Cecil and Will turned to James in disbelief. James tried to hold back his laughter, but it burst out loudly, confusing Joanna and the barista.

“What’s wrong with scones?” Joanna asked, unsure whether to be embarrassed or annoyed.

It was the three friends’ tradition to try out Freshly Ground’s weekly scone flavors whenever there was a rainy day. James had bet Cecil and Will that he knew Joanna so well, he could predict that she would get two of the three new scone flavors. With the idea that Joanna, never having been to their favorite spot, wouldn’t even think to look at the specials chalkboard on the sidewall, the two friends took the bet.

“Nothing’s wrong with scones,” James grinned. “In fact, you just got me a free lunch.”

Wellington fell like we’ve been together for years Through the tears Through the turmoil Through the laughs And cries And sighs And fights And long nights Of holding hands Walking in the sand Even though We’ve been together For a week!

“Look at me right in my eye I told you “I swear I’m her guy” I see the smile from miles away And I can tell it’s her I can always tell it’s from a silly voice I did Just to tell her that her toast was ready , it’s not a lie I can walk with her for miles and miles Just to hear what she says about the trees and the bugs Could you tell me the same! I bet you wouldn’t know her favorite brand of milk Or the jelly she wants on her toast, or the the way she likes her beef and broccoli. These are all levers I can’t stop thinking about The flowers I want to buy her just to see that 50 yard smile stretch across her face. And that’s why I’m her guy”

Ok listen

No

Please just listen

Ok fine I’m listening

I can treat her really well

Stop

What

I’ve heard enough

I haven’t even said a full sentence

Now you have

You didn’t even hear me out

You never said hear you out you said listen and I listened

You know you’re really a dick

And that’s why you aren’t good enough

For what calling you a dick

Yep

Unbelievable

You know what fine I’ll hear you out

Thank you

Ok heard you out

..

I’m joking please you actually seem decent enough to date her

Ok listen I know I’m not the best person at times and I will probably cause her lots of stress which I know she doesn’t deserve but I’m really gonna try my best

What if ur best isn’t good enough

It probably isn’t but if she loves my best then she loves my best

Do you love her best?

I love her lowest and best

How can you protect her?

I took martial arts????

Ok what about mentally?

I’m actually pretty good at that already but if I’m not good enough I’ll study more of psychology

So ur calling her a phycho?

Not what I meant but She could be

So you’re in love with a phycho

Anyone who loves me back is phycotic And my therapist said I’m a phycho

Yeah I really don’t think you’re good for her

I’m joking, I don’t have a therapist

Are you though

Yeah pretty sure I don’t have a therapist

Ok what if you guys don’t last

You know what we probably won’t even if we get married one of us will die or worse we might get divorced but I mean we’re living in the moment and if we have good memories now then that’s all that matters I mean if a story is ass but has a good ending is the story magically gonna not be ass? Or if a books really good but has a bad ending does that ending still take away from the fact that the book had great moments??? No it wouldn’t my point is the ending isn’t always the most important part

Hmmmm

…

I don’t think you’re good enough You’re imature and ur thoughts on life are stupid we both know she deserves way better than you can ever be so stop wasting ur time go ruin another persons life not hers

Well fuck you like honestly and you know what I don’t even need your promission to date her If we love each other you can’t stop that just because you don’t like me I don’t need your approval the only one that matters is her I don’t care what anyone else thinks

Yk that’s kinda toxic I mean what if she’s really bad for you are you gonna ignore that and shut out everyone else who’s trying to tell you she’s bad?

… Who’s side are you on man ..

I’m joking You passed by the way not that it matters

What?

Yeah I mean why should you care what I think or other ppl think it’s ur relationship and you honestly seem like a good a funny dude

Oh dang thank you man yk this is a really dumb way to end a story but atleast it ended good

Yeah 😂😂 we should do this more often

We should

(Car crashes through the window of the restaurant then exploding killing everyone and it turns out the girl that the dude was trying to get with was the one driving the car ) Pretty ironic or something Anyways there’s a message in this story Find it.

Bernie sips his Diet Coke slowly as he eyes me coolly, while Gary picks at his fingernails distractedly.

“He’s been in there for a while, huh? Maybe we should steal his fries.” I meekly offer this lame attempt for friendly small talk but can see I’m getting nowhere by Gary’s brow-furrowing and intensified fingernail picking.

“So, did I mention I have been collecting David Fincher VHSs and found the 1994 edition I’d been searching for in Finn’s store? That’s how we met actually. Huge cinemafile here. Guess that’s why we clicked so quickly. You know?”

Bernie mumbles something that could be a burp or could be a “yeah.” Not getting far with these ones. Will have to find a different tool to crack these nuts.

I like you I’m sorry It wasn’t my choise It was my subconscious taking over my voice In the back of my head Screaming so loud You like him You like him Tell him right now But I didn’t because I couldn’t I shouldn’t I wolnt Obviously not I’m not a thot I just have thoughts About you And how you speak Your smile And the blue braces on your teeth They Disctract me from the fact Your eyes are brown like Ice cream Chocolatey like your favorite park Well the feelings are back Don’t know if you could tell I was over it I couldn’t be over it Not now