When I look in the mirror

I don’t see me

I see a beautiful girl

Staring back

But she’s not looking at me

She’s looking over my shoulder

Because that’s where she belongs

Behind me

Where my past should be

I must learn to live without her

And leave her behind

Because I am still that beautiful girl

Just not on the inside

Inside I am wrinkled

And have gray in my hair

I have distorted features

T...

He set me on this journey. The man with no face. He said “Go. You’ll know eventually.”

I don’t know what he was talking about, but I woke up on this strange path. There was orange tufts of grass surrounding me and the tiles almost looked like they were glowing.

I thought about what the man said. “Go.” I could feel something pulling me forward. Maybe this feeling was an entity, here to guide...

Day 1

I don’t know how I survived. Maybe God planned it or something. But as far as I know right now, it’s just me in the universe, nobody else.

The world ended yesterday, probably the way you thought it would. World War Three.

It could have at least been robots. That would’ve been pretty cool.

But that’s not what this story is about.

Today was worse than yesterday. Yesterday, ...

I woke up at 6:00 this morning.

It’s ChunkyChocco Day. Aka, my favorite day of the whole year.

It’s always on the same day every year: June 23rd.

On ChunkyChocco Day, me and my favorite person goes and does anything we want. We go to the mall, to the movies, to the park, and pretty much anything and anywhere else we want. We celebrate with food, drinks, and most importantly, pancakes.

...

I’m trapped.

Of course, that’s all I’ve ever known.

One room to another, over and over again.

Except, this time, there’s no light in this room. This time, it’s just me and the darkness alone. I make all the noise I can, because I know there’s people out there.

Out there.

Out there there’s noise and games and children.

“Where’s mine!?” They say, cheerful as can be.

I st...

“I am not a rat.”

My friend, Aster rolled her eyes at me. “Of course you’re not, Gracie. Cash was just playing when he called you that. Quit pacing.”

Cash was never “just playing.” I should know that. He’s always trying to provoke me. To make me mad. I know he likes to see my reaction.

He knew I would snap.

Someday, he knew I would snap.

He knew I was, in his words, “crazy” from t...

“It is easier to tell someone the truth when you can’t see their face.”

I was told

And it was never really relevant

Until I grew old

Now and then I can feel it

I’m slowly fading away

And I don’t know how to say it

“I’m ebbing away

Day by day.”

Now I understand how it feels

To be scared and afraid of

Someone

Anyone

Their shocked expression when they know

They will cry and sob

Or they wi...

How do you say goodbye?

That is the question isn’t it?

How do you leave the one person who you’ve ever loved more than yourself?

The angel herself skipped in, lighting up the whole room with her smile.

“Hey Daddy!”

I smiled, “Hey, sweetie.”

“I know you’re sad. And Mommy says you’re goin somewhere. Somewhere bad. Are you gonna be ok? Did I do somethin wrong?”

Of course her ...

(Note: this isn’t exactly what the prompt says, but same difference.)

My dog, Charlie brings me our town’s newspaper, The New News, (cheesy, right?) everyday. I wake up every morning with him slobbering all over it and my face, so I should know.

I know nobody reads newspapers anymore, but my friend writes for it, so I don’t get a choice, you know?

Also, I like to play games.

H...

I look up above

And what I see is a blinding light

Whites and grays mixed with pain

And unforgiving incompleteness

Who has come

And who has not returned?

Will I return?

Has this daring challenge cost me?

My family?

My friends?

I’ve climbed and fallen

Will I get up next time?

Or will I become one of the lost souls

Whispering to me

“Get out of here.”

I’ve seen leftovers of the sadness and dou...