Outstretched arms beckon

I fly to you blissfully

Falling to my death...

The sun’s fire was set free. Finally. The world would be consumed in a matter of seconds. I held my hands up greedily and welcomed the searing heat. It was the ultimate escape from all my problems.

The sun’s fire rained down on us. I wish I had more concrete last thoughts, but I was a coward. I ran and tried to hide. Like I could hide from the center of the galaxy collapsing. I was a coward in l...

Magnus pulled the coins out of his pocket and paid the peddler for the handful of flowers he had selected.

He grinned and told the old man, “They’re for Miss Ida.”

The old man smiled bittersweetly. "I remember Miss Ida when she was younger. Happiest creature the world ever saw.“ The man’s face suddenly darkened, "That dang boy has none of her and all of his father in him. She’s better off with...

The cold cuts at my exposed face and I pull my coat tighter towards me. The ice seems to be strong, but I still don’t trust the middle. At the edge of the lake I see my stump. Our secret little exchannge post.

Of course our families do not like each other, but he is the best man I have ever had the pleasure of not meeting. We are pen pals through this little stump, and I treasure his letters dear...

Does it really count as a whisper if I can hear them from across the room? I can feel their glances prick my skin.

“Poor, fragile little Odessa.”

The words stroke my ear. I know my stoic expressions unnerve them. They think I’m breaking on the inside, or maybe that I’m just holding the floodgates back.

Neither are true. I just need to be alone. The servants always have their eyes on me. Pity...

Some nights I lay silently on the grass and listen to the trees argue.

It is my one freedom in life, but freedom always has a costly price.

It’s only on the darkest nights, when the wind makes the old house creak. I slip out of my bed and place one foot silently in front of the other. I skip the third step because it always squeaks under my weight.

I stick to the shadows and hold my breath unt...

Finally, there he was.

No more games.

No more tricks.

Just me and him in the final confrontation we all knew was coming.

He may be lord of the skies, but I had the earth on my side. My face was stone, and my veins were steel. My eyes, fire and my heart, ice.

Auraceli looked up at me, and the storm flickered. His thunder softened into a silent rain. He opened his mouth, but no words fell out.

...

Duty bound

Honor driven

Here by choice

No freedom given

Lay down my life

Line by line

A soldier’s calling

Notice mine

Never sleeping

Always dreaming

Fear is leaking

Time is ticking

I would do anything for you

This in my soul, I hope is true...

He looked at her the way a thief looks at an unlocked safe. The way a starving man looks at food being wasted. His angry eyes were reaching into her soul.

The intensity of his attention burned his thoughts. He thought with the desperation of a drowning man craving air.

He kept his obsession to quiet coals on the outside. She never suspected the affliction her beautiful soul set off in his brok...

Laughter is the best medicine

On the stage 8-9

Cast your cares and sit about

I’ll make sure you have a good time...