Mike picked up a photograph from his memory box. Summer of ‘88 was written on the back, in big swirly letters (his mothers handwriting). In the photograph, his family was smiling. He was smiling. And yet, as he focused more, his eyes looked dead, as if the joy had been sucked out of them, and it had taken every painstaking ounce of energy still left in his soul to smile for that photo.

He though...

They say forgiveness is a virtue, but I’d rather keep my anger.

The only point in forgiving is to avoid falling into danger.

But when there’s no chance to forgive for the lies you told,

Or the actions you took to make against me to make you bold.

Really, I can’t take it anymore, because every night and day

It feels like a aerated knife against my heart, slowly peeled away.

So why should I care...

She was beautiful. The most gorgeous woman I had ever seen. She could have been a goddess, honestly. Her clear ivory skin and green eyes were all too striking for me to look away.

She was talking to a group of guys, her head thrown back in laughter about something they were discussing. Oh, how I wish I could have been closer to hear what it was that made her laugh like that.

However, I could n...

She was the first thing I thought about in the morning; the last thing I thought about before I went to sleep. She was my everything, my whole world. I needed to show her that.

Of course, life would often get in the way of me showing her. Work was a priority, keeping a stable income and providing for the life I had built. Still, she was always on my mind, and I felt so guilty that I didn’t prior...

It was on the porch when I came down the stairs. A box, tightly wrapped in paper. A ribbon hugged it tightly, and a bow on top accentuated the gift that was waiting inside.

I lifted it carefully, the morning coffee already kicking in. It wasn’t my birthday, nor was it Christmas or any other gift-giving holiday. Something sinister lay in this gift, I figured, as I tried to wrap my sleep deprived ...

To whoever finds this after I’m gone,

The day I’ve been waiting for has finally arrived. Sitting in this cold, damp cell for fifteen years, I should be glad that I could at least get some fresh air. Yet, I’m not. I’m frightened.

Anxiety has been eating me up all night. Every guard that walked past my cell could have been the person taking me to my final resting place. All I wanted to do was cry...

There had been few occasions in which he had been so certain he was about to die. Laying there, he could feel the life drain out of him.

He had been in bed sick for days now. He had barely eaten anything, other than the food his wife had made him. That was barely any real sustenance compared to the mountains of food he was normally greeted with.

He wasn’t sure if the illness would kill him off...

The dimly lit tent of the fortune teller was something that intrigued her. It was lit up outside with a single candle, that made her feel safe in this festival of fools.

She entered, and squinted at the dim lights on the inside. Outside was bright from the midday sun, but the inside made it feel like evening already.

“Hello, Veronica,” a voice called from the distance.

Veronica stopped dead ...

TW: self harm, anorexia, mental health issues

She was the most beautiful girl in the room, able to enchant any man she desired. Men drooled helplessly for her, like puppies. Even the girls all wanted to be friends with her, in the hopes that they could some day be like her.

She moved suggestively down corridors and hallways, her curves moving up and down in the most elegant fashion.

Everyone ...

Bala Lake stretched out for miles around. It held beauty, happiness and mystery within its depths, like a siren calling to those who wanted to explore it.

To look over the surface of it, there was an amazing view, with mountains up over in the background and the glittering surface reflecting the suns rays. Even on cloudy days, the lake sparkled like the angels has blessed it.

Below the surface...