“Promise me you won’t laugh at me.” I say in a very serious way. I watch as Aimee continues to paint her nails with such focus and patients. she dips the brush back into the bottle, still not looking at me.

“What is it Kara? Is this about that rash?” She lightly begins to blow on her pink nails.

I sigh. “God no! and that went away thank you.”

“Well get out.” Aimee shoos me towards the door.

“...

endless patterns, four choices, 15 different ways to fuck up.

the seat is cold

I hear the constant tapping of

Lead pencils from my peers. Papers turning like crashing waves;

the clock ticking, my heart

begins to Match the rhythm;

slow and steady, the palms of my hands creating small pools of sweat.

slippery skin unable to grasp what is asked of me. I begin to slip deep into my mind,

The ro...

“Penelope wait!”

“WHAT!” I shout

“Just listen to me please.”

My pace is still fast and steady, I can see my sticker filled bumper just a few feet away. I dig into my bag without looking and click my car keys. My car responds and I start to do a jog.

“Penelope STOP.”

“FUCK OFF VANESSA”

I can hear her footsteps getting close to mine, soon she grabs my wrist.

“Let go of me”

“Just fucking lis...

“1….2….3….4…5” I count quietly in my head tapping the table while i study for Mr.Green’s history exam. as I read over my notes, the intrusive number counting remains and my fingers move rhythmically.

“Penelope don’t slouch at the table, people will think you don’t care about yourself.”

I’m snapped out of my bubble and see my sister has joined me at the table. Her brown hair is curled, make up ...

It’s been almost six months since that horrific evening. Jason stands at the edge of the cliff taking in the sunset. the sky is painted A warm red as the sun lightly shines rays against the water. the breeze slowly begins to pick up, Jason’s eyes are locked on the spot where he last saw her.

“Jason please.” Her voice echos through his ears almost as if she’s still here. Jason takes a deep breathe...

My mother talks fondly about our black roots, She discusses the pain and what should’ve killed them. She talks about the inventions that we use everyday but take for granted. she emphasizes how we molded this country. I can hear the disgust in her voice as she talks about what the white people did to our people. stripped our kings and queens of their crowns, raped our women, and beat our childre...

I crave the warmth of his brown skin, I wish to trace his tattoos with my lips as place kisses all over him. I miss the gentle caress of his fingers as they travel deep inside of me. The focus in his eyes as he listens to each breath that pours out of me. I wish to feel his lips kissing down the nape of my spine as chills and heat of our bodies intertwine I am home and at peace. my mouth begins to...

“The day you’ve been waiting for has finally arrived aren’t you excited?” My mother says with such excitement.

“I’m scared”

“Don’t sweetheart, you’ve going to do fine, no one else did as great as you” my father chimes in.

Today is the day I get to walk the stage and receive my diploma. A piece of paper that says I’m qualified to construct business and help those with addiction. But how do I ...

A confession sets the guilty conscience free, leaving the other feeling hopeless.

You are set free of your crimes while I learn how to deal with the consequences. shattered by

the sentences you formed, the words spin on a broken record and replay a dark image within my head. My eyes cry real tears and become numb by words. I am numb to emotions, disconnected from those I try to let in. Scare ...

“Can I come out now?” Violet says excitedly from behind the curtain.

Her mother and I wait patiently babysitting the champagne flute the receptionist gave us.

“Yes Vi, we’re ready!” Her mother grabs my free hand and squeezes lightly.

the cream color curtains fly open and there she stands in a white ball gown. Her hair falls effortlessly over the sweetheart shape corset. As she steps towards us ...