A World of Stories

 In my father’s stone castle is a tower in which I live It is here where I have learned everything From how to read books, and act properly To preen my wings and trim my nails And it is here I will learn about my anger And the way it has been festering and when it finally swells My dainty nails will sharpen into claws Sharp enough to pierce the guards who help control the world And control the way I am meant to think so that this power I have taught myself will grow And these nails they try to tame Will scar those pretty faces who would dare to try and make me tame. And I will learn to use this anger So that its sharpness will be a dagger And my fierceness will be a shield The domesticated girl they tried to grow Will disappear with the ones who wish to see me broken And it is they who will be dead And I will be taking back my name And the power that it has.

  The true witch will not cause a fuss when met with an accusation. The true witch maintain her dignity even as the pyre draws near and she wants noting more than to scream and shout about the unfairness of their small minds. As the fire is started and flames rise to bottom of her dress the witch will bite her lip till it bleeds and maintain her strong facade so any witches nearby won't turn away and become the next one on the pyre. The true witch will die with dignity even if her grave has none. The true witch will live on in those who can continue to hear her cast her spell.

  He will always be dreaming of me and the future we could have had. He will be dreaming of me as the memories of what will never be haunt both our minds. He will keep dreaming of me while I will be forced to move on and he stays buried in the ground.

  Sleep calls my name like a lover who wishes I wouldn't get out of bed. Sleep beckons me closer like a light just out of reach in the woods. Sleep lectures like a professor the day after staying awake for too many hours. Sleep offers a blanket and pillow and whispers "get some rest" like a parent visiting after a hard week. Sleep promises the next nap will make everything better like the head of IT asking if you tried turning it off again.

  There are monsters in the woods waiting for the perfect moment to strike when your guard comes down and you think you'll be safe enough to sleep. The monsters here are patient they know how to wait for the perfect moment when the woods seem peaceful and the night seems beautiful. That's when the monsters strike right before the moment you remember the woods shouldn't be this quiet and something is terribly wrong.

  Sisters in witch hats and nice heels leave their hovels and embrace the wind as the dead leaves swirl around them. Fall has come and it is time for the witches to take control again.

  How can one such as You who knows no boundaries recognize and effigy that looks nothing like me? Her eyes filled with the sun's rays and mine filled with the moon's shadows. Her curly hair fits so nicely around her face You could hardly tell it was a wig my parents had prepared. Her in a cotton candy dress with a bundle of flowers at her side and me with my sword dressed perfectly for war. And look how proud she is like she is the star of the story she shows no signs of scorn that comes with age and knowledge and duty. And that smile, how happy she is knowing of such a gruesome fate as if dying while still innocent could never please her more. How happy she is to die upon the wooden cross and follow Destiny's demands so that they can live happily ever after even as we suffer in eternal misery.

  I have given all of myself to you And you have left me here on the ground To keep bleeding out in the service of your cause Until all that is left is a doormat in the shape of a person Who is more zombie than person at this point. I refuse to give you any more I am putting up the boundaries and locking the door So no more selflessness For the sake of making you feel good Or making your life easier When it breaks something inside of me

  She didn't hit me she wouldn't have dared because we both knew I would bite back and this unconditional love I have for her would have fractured and the fear already festering inside me would have only grown until I became the beast she told everyone I was.

  Covered in the mist sunlight barely breaking through finally peaceful

  Please leave me alone I don't want these memories I won't go back home.

  I almost feel as if I should apologize for sharing the details of the worst moments of your life. I have told the world about your heartbreaks, traumas, and the death of those closest to you, and so rarely do I tell about the moments of smiles and joy. I could tell the world of those it would be easy I have seen it all. But those moments don't draw people to the story so I'll stick with what works. I am sorry for sharing all of the intimate details of your life but I'm going to keep doing it. It is my role after all.

  My mother gave us silver rings to wear when she died And begged us to never take them off. So when the doctor gave a time of death we donned the silver rings and felt her presence rise up from the ground to reclaim her place as head of the house. It's almost like she didn't die just grew more powerful when she realized we had no way to fight back. The rings wouldn't come off and she always knew when we tried to take them off. So late one night, when whatever was left of her was pacing the lawn. We each grabbed a knife and sliced the finger off. The rings fell to the ground with a clang and out mother fell away with a scream.

  I thought of you when I awoke and noticed the early morning sky was brighter than usual and the world was blanketed in white. Do you remember when we would wake up and declare ourselves a snow day before we bundled up and went to play in the snow. We would spend hours out there until our scarves were unraveled and left in a pile and out gloves and hats were encrusted with snow. But then things changed and we didn't have snow days anymore. It snowed last night and I gave myself a snow day the thoughts of you were fleeting but persistent with the last being that maybe I should visit your grave. Maybe seeing it would change things make me regret what I did, but deep down I know I won't because now I can have snow days again.

  One moment is joy and happiness and it feels like nothing could go wrong and the next the leash has snapped and the weight h disappeared leaving me holding an empty piece of rope. In an instant my world feels like its ending as the panic sets in and the only thing I can think is how I am going to find my dog, and what if something happens, and how do I get back, how do I return to that moment of joy and happiness. But then the moments stops rushing past and there she is just a few feet ahead unaware of what happened and of the way my hands won't stop shaking as I hold her harness and we make the trek back home to buy another leash.

  I dance alone in a crowded room and am happier than I've ever been but the king and queen still frown as I refuse to pick a wife or even to dance when she walks in the room a lady who no one knows so I assume she must be safe. So now I dance in a crowded room leading a lady like I have been taught and I can see the king and queen smile but then she runs off disappears into the night and I couldn't be happier that I never asked her name. But then the expectation is still there so I claim to be in love with this mystery girl and spend each night hoping she is never found. But then she is and it is time to face the music and a marriage I never wanted but a marriage I must have. So, now here I am at an alter facing my future still hoping for a way out.

  I don't think I was meant to be this great hero but they won't stop staring at me with hope in their eyes so how can I tell them their expectations are weighing me down and the pressure might kill me before this great evil does. I don't think they will let me quit not until I solve their problems and I don't even know where to start, but I don't want to die and I think they will kill me if I try to leave so I suppose I just have to try.

  The heat has a weight I will no longer be able to bear without giving into the rage of a creature forged for the frozen air. As sweat begins to poor and blood starts to boil I long for the chilled days of autumn where even the hottest tempers turn mild.

  Genocide: The murder of many, similar to a massacre. So, is that what we call this  This mess of human bodies  That aren’t so human anymore  Just shells with lifeless eyes Like dolls that just stare Till the bystanders get scared  And the guilt threatens them  So they close the deceased eyes  The images forever haunting them Can we call this genocide? If they haven’t all died together  Or if we weren’t all dancing at the same party Or do we call this something else  And epidemic maybe  As we systematically decide who dies Or do we ignore this disaster  And count each body as a statistic  For whatever category of different they belong in.

 Make your own rules Let no one else dictate your life Be the center of your own universe Cast off those who would rise against you And the ones you don’t need While you’re at it Get rid of anyone who would dare harm you Or even think of crushing your dreams Live your life the way you want to Have dreams But make them your reality Control your world Make your own choices Live with your own regrets But don’t you dare blame anyone else for them.

  If we were soulmates I would tattoo your name onto my heart. But we aren't soulmates and this will not last. You will disappear into the world someday and I will be okay because there is bound to be another. Another body to share a bed with, another soul to share secrets with, but for now, I am here on this starry night wishing your name was tattooed on my heart and this night would never end.

  For God so loved the world? Nay, for so I loved you, this world shall not fall into ruin and the decay shall not happen. At least until tender love turns to passionate hatred.

  The cat got the mouse and devoured it whole but the rat tricked the cat and kept itself free. While the mouse kept up the charade and played her part well the rat learned to deceive and refused to take part in the play that keeps mice as prey.

  I would fight the Gods but I don't really like those odds So, I think I'll stay home instead and read about those who did It may not be as fun but I'm sure it beats dying in the sun.

  If in life not proud  Then in death be proud.  If in life beaten down Then in death take no beating.  If in life a peasant  Then in death a queen. If in life no money  Then in death be rich.  If in life an outcast  Then in death belonging. If in life act like heaven sent  Then in death raise a little hell.  If in life an angel Then in death a demon.

  Look at how human you are with all these questions and doubts. You lack surety. You always will. And isn't that sad? Going through life never knowing if it means anything. I could give you the answers, but I don't think that's a good idea. You might lose that spark of curiosity. You wouldn't be very human then, would you? I know you wouldn't want that, we both know what humans do to people who seem otherworldly. And in a way, I suppose you have found an answer. You can return home to the people who sent you here and tell them that there are no answers here. There never will be. But don't fret too much, I'm doing you a favor. At least now, you can keep learning.

 An old bookstore in the middle of nowhere almost burned down. Books no longer sat on the shelves. Cats and other strays were the only breathing visitors. Deterioration was evident in the floorboards and the walls. Eventually, the old book building would be talked about the way old abandoned houses are. Fairy tales and old folk stories about what happened would flood the streets for years to come. Ghosts of the past would tell the tales of a once grand palace of books. Homes filled with kids would be full of questions about the fire that almost killed literature.  Inside the old bookstore pages of classic novels would fly around trying to offer answers, that parents wouldn’t give. Just outside the store, there was a makeshift grave for a person no one remembered the name of. Kittens lay near the grave as if seeking comfort from the warm hand that had grown cold. Life still thrived at the old bookstore, even though no humans thought to visit. Maybe, the fact that man stopped vi...

  They said beware the Ides of March but Caesar is a stubborn man whose arrogance knows no bounds. I tried to warn him but Caesar does not listen to me so I suppose I must say goodbye. So farewell my love I wish you would have listened but I will survive this life without you even if I don't want to.

  The question here should not be of my morality but instead the question should be why should I forsake the morals of my foundation in order to survive. The question should not be will I survive the year or how will pay my bills when the ones in charge are only concerned on how to best fill their pockets with money they will never need to spend.

  I am not ready to leave the reality of my life and enter into this full time fairy tale on the chance that our dances mean you love me. So instead, I will leave an offering a shoe that I can't be seen wearing and a way for you to prove this is more than just lust. If you can find me and still want the cinder covered girl than I suppose I shall go with you and transform from maid to queen.

  I woke up and wanted to scream as something throbbed and burned around my knee. I woke up and wanted to scream but just rolled out of bed and started the day instead.

  There is somewhere with a pulse where the night never ends and the day never starts. This place feels magical like time doesn't exist and there's no reason to leave. There are lots of books here too much about your home and no staff except the host. The doors are locked in this place the letters are already written and you don't think you'll escape.

  I walk into the Spirit Halloween and feel a sense of peace even among the giant monsters meant to scare us. I surround myself with the costumes the blood and gore and feel like I am home.             First Published on: August 16th, 2023

  "A home isn't always the house we live in. It's also the people we choose to surround ourselves with. You may not live on the island, but you can't tell me it's not your home. Your bubble, Mr. Baker. It's been popped. Why would you allow it to grow around you again?" (Klune, 281). The story is about Linus Baker as he goes from perfect DICOMY (Department in Charge of Magical Youth) caseworker into a man who starts having doubts and seeing the world in a new light. The writing itself is beautiful as Klune describes the island and the people who live on it. Klune is successful at crafting a world that takes the wonders of myths and supernatural creatures and melding them with the mundane of regular life and all of it's problems. The world is inviting and much like Linus the reader feels invited in to see the world Arthur Parnassus has created for the outcasts that the rest of the world fears. The characters are interesting and compelling, e...

  "I will be good. I will make them suffer. And I will take the Angel's greatest weapon and turn it against them. But I'm still terrified." (130). "It's harder for someone to pin you down as a girl when they need a moment to pin you down as human" (207-8). Content Warnings: Body horror, transphobia, Religious abuse/Christian terrorism, Emetophobia, and more listed here , and in more detail. The novel Hell Followed With US by Andrew Joseph White is about the end of the world and what comes after a group destroys the planet on purpose, and what happens when the next part of their plan is a person who runs away and finds a group that makes him want to fight back. At first glance, the story has a very simple premise that gets complicated as both the characters and readers learn more about the world and the people in it. The story is a grotesquely beautiful look at queer revenge and the way queer people always manage to survive. The character...

  Gentleman's Club by N.T. Herrgott is the first book in a series and manages to do a stand out job as setting up a series, while also writing a complete story. The writing is great, and sounds very up to date with the slang and memes. Writing in first person worked really well, and allowed the reader to stay engaged, and also makes sure the mysteries last until the end of the story. The chapter titles were also amusing and made the story even more fun. The characters were written wonderfully and felt like real people. Luka is realatable and entertaining. He gets in over his head, and can admit that, but still feels like he has to live up to something. All of the characters were written well, and even the ones in typical superhero positions manage to avoid the typical fates of them. In other words, the best friend and mentor are not put into the typical roles. The story itself both feels familer but is also refreshing enough to feel new. Herrgott is clearly an expert at...

 Thank you to Netgalley for giving me an ARC copy of this book, all opinions are my own. This book is an outstanding look at trans queerness and at helping young adults find a way to be sexy in a world that teaches them to be ashamed for being different. The book is a refreshing look at trans queerness and feels like it was written for us rather than about us. I enjoyed the formula that exists for most of the book, where Mx. Nillin Lore provides facts/history, before giving the reader an anecdote about their journey, and then proceeds to teach us how to do it ourselves. It is an effective way to teach and a smart way to blend memoir and self-help. Each chapter is well thought out and well-paced while being enjoyable to read. Lore manages the tonal shifts well, going from an educational. or serious tone to a more humorous and lighthearted one without feeling forced. The tonal shifts also help to stop the book from becoming either too dark or too frivolous. The book also teaches impo...

There is a ghost in the house at least that is what the strangers say as they walk around with cameras asking for a sign and for someone to answer I think they must be talking to me but no matter what I do I can't make them hear  I can't make them see so I wish they would just leave and let me fade away in peace.  Originally Posted: March 24, 2024 (minor edits made)

                                                                              Merlin                                                                   Awkward, powerful                    ...

  It was 1997 and early summer when I met you for the first time. It was the middle of a rainstorm and we were hiding underneath The red striped umbrella of a café. I got a phone call, you loved my ringtone And we’ve been friends ever since. It was 1999 and we were sick of the cold snow. So we packed up the car and left. We were headed for destinations of great warmth.  Stopping at random places and sleeping under the stars.  It was just the two of us and nothing else mattered.  Then it was spring we ran out of gas, And were slowly running out of money.  But you and I didn’t care  Because we’ve fought the world before and won.  It was 2001, our small apartment is nothing we wished for  But everything we’ve ever wanted.  It was 2003 and I’m standing in the middle of a rainstorm Holding a red striped umbrella and I haven’t seen you in a year.  My phone rings and my min...

  I see you one day and I realize something You are doing as you always do As am I I sit down with my mind turning  At this sudden realization We are not friends  We were once long ago  But now we are closer to strangers Although it feels  more like enemies We talk the same amount But I have distanced myself  Only talking about mundane things And I see you one day and I realize something About me and my feelings toward you  for some reason I still care about you And hope that you can be happy   But I truly honestly hate you.         Originally Posted: April 20, 2023