I see you through the window Ivory skin Cheanut hair Vibrant green eyes A smile Playing your pink lips a blush acfoss your rosy cheeks

• Left

I see you through the window Skin of porcelain hair of Mahogany Eyes sparkling in a thousand shades of brown a tear slides down your cheeks dark bags sink further down your eyes by the day

• Right

I see you play with your dog and watch tv I see you cook a meal sing songs and play video games I see friends come over and I see you laugh You never stop smiling how do you do it?

• Left

I see you sleep and read a book I see you cry and talk on the phone I see you barely get out of bed I see you throw away food you cooked but never ate I see you lose all hope Are you ok?

-Right

I dont know your name but you are always happy I like that about you I see a sparkle a light That I dont see in myself you give me hope when things are hard but its always hard so you are my light in the dark I will meet you someday I vow

-Left

I dont know your name But you seem so sad I worry about you even though we have never met I see a beautiful soul seemingly trapped in darkness and sorrow I wish I could help you find the light I will someday I promise

-Right

The snow falls hard outside I hate winter with a burning passion things get worse by the day and I cant seem to breathe I am hungry but have no will to eat I long for a savior to pull me from the ditch But no one comes because no one cares

-Left

Snow falls outside my window I love winter It is beautiful White and pristine It is innocent and fresh I like winter but I dont like the cold so I stay inside to admire the snowflakes and you

• Right

I come out of the apartment for the first time in a while I want to get better I really do I go the bridge I just sit on the bench I watch the snow and try to be happy but its hard

-Left

I leave the apartment to walk the dog crossing through the bridge is inevitable Then I see you and recognize you instantly But I keep my cool

• Right

Is that you I see? The boy in the window the happy one Your dog is really cute is it a husky They are my favorite breed I ask to pet it and I see you blush as you agree Your dog likes me that makes me happy for the first time in years

-Left

I see you Just as beautiful as always You ask to pet my dog and I stumble and blush but agree You are an angel I dont know why you would be sad but you seem sorta happy right now you say huskies are your favorite I slide in next to you and we talk and we just talk And I see you smile

• Right

Did you just make me smile I may cry Can I cry? I sob and I tell you Why its hard and I feel bad because I dont know you I dont even know your name My name is Aria I say I burry my face in my hands thouroughly embarrassed of my pathetic cries

• Aria

You smiled but it didnt last long of course you can cry I’ll give you my shoulder You are so beautiful why would you need to cry You tell me your life story and you tell me your name and youjust keep crying I just hug you and hug you You didnt ask but my name is Roman I hug you until you apologize and I tell you not to because you did nothing wrong

• Roman

You hugged me But I just keep crying You have such a beautiful name “Roman” I like that name I think I read it in a book sometime You hold my hands and tell me its all ok and ask if i need help I am hesitent but I let my walls down I tell you everything I tell you about how I am sick and how I live alone and how I am depressed and how I dont have friends or family near here You hug me tight and invite me to walk with you.

• Aria

I ask you everything and you tell me I think we mah be friends now I would hope so I ask if you would like to walk with me and to that you agree We talk for a while before we stand up You say you dont have a coat and that you will run home and grab a blanket or a sweatshirt I call nonsense and let you borrow one of mine you look so cute because its a little to big on your petite figure I hold your hand and let you keep talking

• Roman

Yoj let me borrow a jacket because i dont have one It smells really good like vanilla and lavender I wonder if you have a girlfriend because it smells like you do but you tell me you dont and you dump your feelings You tell me you see me in the window and have longed to meet me for a very long time you admit you like me and have worried about me forever I start crying again and hug you tight I say I see you in the window as well and I like you too Of course it may not work but we could try to love eachother once we know eachother as more than faces in the window

• Aria

You seem worried when you put the jacket on You ask a question your lips slightly trembling You ask if I have a girlfriend I say no and it is the whole truth I just like lavender and vanilla Weird I know But I hug you tight and I start to cry a little too I admit my feeling and say How much I worry about you and just how mych I like you and how you are the most beautiful girl i have ever met and I express wanting you be more than faces in a window you say we could try to love after we learn eachother I agree enthusiasticly

• Roman

You kiss me Warm and sweet A gesture that feels so strong after feeling nothing for so long I kiss you back you wrap your arms round my waist and I hook mine around your neck maybe we dont need to learn eachother first

-Aria

I kiss you its an impulse You taste like honey and lemons Its sweet and beautiful just like you You kiss me back its amazing I put my hands around behind your back and you hook your behind my neck maybe just maybe this is what love is like I really hope so

• Roman

You smile wide and hold my hands asking if I wnat to hold back to your place and talk I agree we talk for so long sharing anything and everything somehow we have the same music taste and love so many things that the other loves and seemingly eachother as well We decide to show eachother out favorite films you ask first if I would like to cuddle on your sofa I don’t hesitate and Agree we fall asleep intertwined Twilight playing in the background

• Aria

I smile so big and ask if you want to go to my place just to chat and you agree we talk until it is dark we talk about everything we talk about anything We have the same music taste Indie pop and Indie rock weird right? We decided to show eachother our favorite films I let you go first You put twilight on I pretend I have never seen it but I love it I ask if you wnat to cuddle you dont hesitate and curl up on top of me We fall asleep intertwined The Tv just background noise.

-Roman

I wake up curled up alone on the sofa And I smell bacon I love bacon I haven’t had it in so long You are wearing just boxers and I am in your hoodie you bring me a plate Eggs Bacon Waffles Fruit It looks so good You ask if I want to watch cartoons I giggle and agree We put on Looney Tunes and eat our food I have not been happy in so long

-Aria

You wake up That is good I am finishing up breakfast cooking the bacon I plate our food Eggs Bacon Waffles Fruit I bring you a plate and you grin I ask if you want to watch cartoons You giggle and agree Cartoons make everyone happy I put on Looney Tunes and we eat breakfast and chat I think you might be happy

• Roman

After I finish my food I ask where the bathroom is so I can wash up You guide me down a hallway hand me an extra toothburh and kiss my forehead In one swift motion you jump up unto the bathroom counter I grin so big I brush my teeth for two minutes and you stare at me lovingly man I guess I hit the jackpot I hope in the shower and ask for a towel I am trying not to show you how hard it is to do these simple things but I think you can tell

• Aria

You jump in the shower after brushing your teeth I can tell you are struggling So I jump in with you I keep my boxers on no need to amke you uncomfortable while you are already struggling and I ask if you need help You nod your head I grab the shampoo and the bodywash and everything you would need and I sit down and motion for you too as well you curl up in my lap and I wash your hair I assure you that you are not a burden and that I am so glad I can help you I wash your body and face I give you a kiss and help you yo shave your legs I help you stand up and then I help you to dry off and dress you hug me and seems so tired We go to my room we sit on my bed and I ask What can I do

-Roman

I thank you for helping me though I admit to being embarrassed You assure me that isnt needed You aks whag you can do to help and I just break down right there in your arms you pick me up and rub my back you say you will help however you can The first thing I say is that I need help getting better

• Aria

You say you need help getting better and I never say no We have not known eachother for long but I think you might be my soulmate You are everything I have ever dreamed of I love you so much though I cant say that yet so I hold you tight and I rub your back and I say that I will do anything I can to help however long it takes

• Roman

I think this may be the longest thing I have ever written on this app. Let me know if I should write a part two because I really liked writing this one and I feel like there is potential.

…

🫀

There are so many bricks And the charming alleys are draped With silks and signs Colors paint the sidewalk A small dog is trotting the path Snow tops it’s snubbed nose like a cherry on a sundae. There’s the cupcake stand, A cart with books and honey sits perched by the swings, How perfect does that sound. And look at the snowflakes I can almost see them. They whir with electric buzz, Lighting up the streets. There’s the tree being decorated, With shiny red toys and green paper. It truly is Christmas. It truly is Summer.

So this is a mix of an alley where a farmers market takes place and where they set up Christmas decorations in the winter in my town. It’s a mix of both because it’s like looking at it and remembering.

The snow falls

The wind howls

Carols and bells sung to reach our hearts

The bridge though

Keeps us young and warm

The sight seeing city

The open but cluttered plaza

The young and old people

The kids with their hats and coats

The dust and the smoke leave a memory of the revolution ever since this place was once involved.

Burnt flags were lying on the ground, after a time when we were choosing who to be, what we are now.

Quiet songs sang from the heart, before everything was tarred apart.

A never ending battle between a wish that we once had and the mind that was telling us to beware.

A men standing on the edge of times, with his eyes constantly searching for a place to rest for a lifetime.

People screaming and crying for their beloved ones, the ones who wanted to see the end, but the’re now longing for a start.

This is what I know call home, what I have buried in my soul . My little hiding place, the place I cannot only love, but treasure the most.

At the same time there’s a place where some say that it has empty spaces and mounstrous voices, just wounds that were never healed.

Forgotten wishes are made of beautiful dreams, by the ones who belived in these signs, these little angel wings.

What I know is not what I thought, what I saw. This city is rising from up to below of everything I used to say it’s mine, it’s home.

In the forest, we found ourselves by a bridge. I could sense how much magic was used to keep this bridge hidden. The bridge had a golden glow to it. We couldn’t turn back now, not when we so close to finding the truth. I grabbed Lucine’s hand and squeezed.

“We’re almost there.” I said.

“And almost to the truth.”

We stepped forward. The bridge had a weird sensation to it, like we were going to burn if we stayed on it to long. We started walking and the bridge turned too colorful to fully describe. It hurt my eyes to look at, but we kept going. Eventually, we reached the other side.

On the other side, the world glowed. There was a shinning city. The city looked was tall and majestic, like something you would read in the old myths. We reached the city of the dead gods. It’s still as luxurious as the day they disappeared.

“We’re here.” I breathed out a sigh of relief.

The fifth floor of the apartment on 26th street was always crowded, bustling with fun. There were many nooks and crannies for children to hide in, many rooms leading to more, secret places not everyone knew about.

Mary, James, and Kam lived in the apartment on the left side on the fifth floor. Camila and Jordan lived on the right side. They loved to sneak away to see each other, quintuple trouble. They had many secret passageways and hiding spots. Their caretakers liked to say they were the sneakiest, slyest, most mischievous little things they’d ever come across. They loved to joke about how well the children would be at stealing or spying. But how did they know the children weren’t doing that already?

Those two little apartments on the fifth floor hold so much, not in items, but those kids. What is in their minds and in their hearts and in their energy.

A bridge that connects heaven and hell Only the Lord and the Devil know And neither will tell

Lost souls may cross unknowingly Confused and alone But greeted by either side glowingly

Come across and home to me Both sides call out Though one side may seem dark, there’s different parts to see

Our minds will be open and our hearts too Cross the bridge between heaven and hell Go to whichever you believe in your heart is true

Most people ignore it. Even more people can’t see it. But it’s there. And it is important to so many creatures. The building on the left rises above, housing humans as they go about there day. But what rises up on the right is the most unique thing. To the human eye, you will see an empty lot with nothing more than stray cats. But to the supernatural eye, it is home. One problem, people can’t see you just disappear into a invisible space. So you go into the left building and make your way across and incredible bridge. But it’s more than that. It is a connection between human and supernatural, normal and magical. It means so much to people just trying to live a normal life.

When they were born, Raphael and Narissa had no way of knowing that they would become mortal enemies. Their parents gathered them around when they were ten, telling them about their powers. Raphael inherited his father’s necromancy; Narissa, her mother’s growth magic. Together, they could do beautiful things for the world. But they became bitter, each one wanting the other’s gift. “If only I could raise this bird from the dead,” Narissa would call. “If only I could grow my own crops!” Raphael would counter. They refused to help eachother with their wishes, something that would have been so easy. They were too proud.

Raphael inherited his father’s necromancy tower when the patriarch died. Three days later, Narissa inherited her mother’s garden heights, painted a deep red and crafted of brick. The necromany tower was like a tenement: black, rusted steel rose to the sky. And between them, a white, windowed bridge linked the siblings. Their parents had loved the bridge because it brought them closer to together; Raphael and Narissa began to plot for how they could destroy it. Raphael raised his dead, but they could not tear the bridge down. Narissa grew weeds and poisonous plants within, but nothing consumed them.

And from the street below, onlookers saw only two sweet, elderly siblings cleaning out their old homes.

“Hotel is too expensive, Shadow Mind, I told you this,” Shadow Queen hisses, looking up at the red walkway that they have to walk across to get to their rooms. “A-And you want me to walk across that? Did you know that we could like… fall? Or something.”

“Are you scared?” Shadow Mind raises an eyebrow and chuckles quietly.

“And you bought four different rooms. I told you, we didn’t need this for-“ Shadow Queen starts, but Shadow Mind pulls her close and shushes her, kissing her forehead.

“I promise you’ll love it,” he says. She pouts, “This is royal bullshit.”

.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“This building?” Kallian pushes back her hair shyly. The airport was no fun, too many people. Cannibal steers the rental car slowly, as if it might suddenly have a mind of it’s own.

“I mean- well yeah, I guess.” Cannibal sighs and pulls the key from the ignition, slowly turning to face FluffyFrog and Kallian who sit in the back. “Who paid for this anyways?”

“I heard it was a surprise,” FluffyFrog wiggles her eyebrows and laughs, turning to the window. “Room eight-oh-five,” she whispers.

“Should we get the bags now? Or-“ Kallian motions to her single bag, laying snug against FluffyFrog’s billions of colorful bags. Cannibal’s black duffel sits in the passenger seat, he wouldn’t let anyone touch it for loading.

“I say get them now. I just HAVE to know who bought us those rooms! I’m sure they wait at the top! Let’s go! Hurry, hurry,” FluffyFrog squeals, latching onto Cannibal’s arm.

“Alright, alright,” Cannibal peels her off, they all get out and start up the small staircase into the lobby.

“Excuse me? Can you point us in the direction of rooms eight-oh-five, nine and ten?” Kallian asks a small woman behind the counter.

.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“Not even telling me what we’re here for,” Shadow Queen props her feet up noisily, her thick black boots thumping against the white marble table. “Why can’t you tell me?”

Shadow Mind glances up from his phone, “Babe, would you just calm down?” He looks back at the phone, scrolling slowly, “I’ll tell you in a minute.”

“You know what?” Queen says angrily, grabbing a granola bar from the counter and examining it. Shadow Mind looks up again as she slowly opens it and smells it, her train of thought lost suddenly. Her short attention span giving out. He laughs, shaking his head.

“What the fuck. The hell is this? Made out of carrots? Where’s the oats?” Shadow Queen says.

Shadow Mind stands up, walks over and snatches the bar from Queen.

“Gimmieeeee,” Queen growls, smiling.

Shadow Mind shakes his head as Queen starts to jump for it. He jerks away, pulling her on top of him as he falls back on the bed, then pops half the bar into his mouth, the other half sticking out.

Queen shrieks playfully, pulling it out of his mouth and throwing it across the room as he chews one half and grins. Shadow Mind smacks his lips, expressing how the bar tastes. Queen grabs the sides of his face and tugs on his cheeks playfully as he swallows the bar and pulls Queen down, kissing her.

“Tasty?” He asks, grinning harder. “Yummy,” Queens grins back. “Not that bad.”

He kisses her again as girl voices start to drift towards their room.

“That must be them,” Shadow Mind stands, pushing Queen off.

“Wait,” she grabs him by the collar pulling him back down to the bed. “Who? ‘Cus those sound like girls. And if you paid for a girl’s room-“

He kisses her again and she melts, letting go of him. “Hey, hey, wait!” Queen calls as he bolts from her grasp, out of the room and to the next door in the hallway.

.•.•.•.•.•.•.•

“Food can go here, clothes here, and- WAIT! Should we go shopping?” FluffyFrog examines the room. Kallian blinks as Cannibal hugs his duffel, sinking to a small chair.

“I think we should go back home,” Cannibal mumbles as someone knocks on the door. They all jump- except for Cannibal, who narrows his cloudy eyes. “I told you.”

FluffyFrog walks to the door, slowly opening it. She sees Shadow Mind and squeals, throwing her arms around him and asking him how he’s been.

Like a dark shadow, Queen appears behind Shadow Mind, the whole room is suddenly sullen upon her entrance. FluffyFrog drops her arms and laughs nervously, trying to lighten the mood.

“Hey, guys,” Shadow Mind ignores the shift of mood in the room, since he’s use to how people respond to his insane girlfriend who doesn’t know how to act around people.

Shadow Queen smiles, something she doesn’t do often, causing her to look like she’s planning to slide out from under your bed with her twin knives drawn. Shadow Mind pulls her close into his hoodie and gives her a noogie.

“I bought the rooms. I know that you all are very… festive when it comes to Christmas. So I booked a place that best mimicked it. I hoped maybe we could go shopping or…” he shrugs, pushing his hair out of his face.

Shadow Queen watches the girls in the room like a hawk after prey, her smile still there. She doesn’t blink, her mismatched eyes visible in the bright room. Cannibal looks grossed out by people in general and keeps licking his lips. Kallian picks at her nails gently, ignoring everyone while FluffyFrog looks like she might want to bolt.

“Queen,” Shadow Mind smiles sweetly, “could you go and grab my phone? I left it on the bed.”

Shadow Queen exits. Shadow Mind watches her go, feeling the weight lift and the people within finally breathe.

Hurriedly, he turns to them all, “I want to propose. I don’t know what I’m doing. I need your help. Christmas is hard for her, I want to start something, give her something to look forward to in the coming years… will you help me? Please?”