Writing Prompt

“ATTENTION. ALL RESIDENTS MUST EVACUATE THE AREA IMMEDIATELY.”

The city was quiet except for that same instruction and the siren, blasting on repeat.

I sat inside the corner cafe, staring at the abandoned tables with food, drinks, and belongings strewn about them. I looked down at my own table, with a plate holding a half-eaten sandwich.

Outside was the same story. Someone had abandoned their g...

I slumped in my chair, I don’t understand how anyone could be comfortable in these iron seats. As I looked up at the white board I realized how much information I had missed. I’d run my hand through my hair as I attempted to jot down notes. “No no no” I muddered to myself as my teacher erased the work. I quickly glanced around trying to see if anyone got the notes. Turns out no one in my class act...

Grasping at the fountain,

His hand turns muddy brown.

His parents scold and punish him,

For touching the chocolate, running down.

They teach him to dip strawberries in,

And so he does likewise.

It tastes good, but it’s not a win;

There’s no fun in this given prize.

Spotting a girl, he hurries towards her,

And tells her she has ugly hair.

She cries, and his parents grab his shoulders,

And drag hi...

I opened my eyes to a blaring sound of beeps and loud noises. I tried to stand by felt as if I was ran over by a semi truck, tried speaking but my voice a whisper compared to the shouts happening around. I was still surrounded by darkness and focused on the light ahead. As I walked towards the light that was bright I thought I was in heaven but the scene that greeted me was anything but heavenly....

The ear-splitting alarm went off.

BEEP. BEEP. EVACUATE. Over and over again at 7:00am.

I thought the walls kept us safe.

Everyone exited their rooms at once and we ran, well… we tried. We were all huddled up like we were at one of those concerts, from the old days.

It all started over two years ago. September 24, 2040. The day I lost everything. My family and home. All my friends too, except...

the most terrifying thing, for me, is not any future event, tragedy, or disaster I can experience. it’s the idea of being stuck in my mind for the rest of my life. it’s quite terrifying, being afraid of the single thing you can never escape; as long as my heart is beating, my lungs are breathing, my mind is alive, I’m not safe. the first time I realized this, I was very young. I was in the midst o...

Five minutes left.

She was running out of time. The deadline coming closer and closer.

Her hands brushed across the keyboard not keeping up with her brain.

Almost there almost there-

Splash

Her elbow knocked her coffee over, slowly pooling over her desk.

No!

Four minutes left.

She grabbed her laptop and ran over to her kitchen counter.

Then she ran back with paper towels.

...

“-And that’s why I wanted Carol involved, if she were here, this would’ve never-“

“Right, right.”

Any moment now, he knew that, amidst the volley of airborne books, pillows and plants flying behind her head, the couch wouldn’t be far off.

“-she would’ve been on this waaaayy before it could even get close to this point, you know?”

An emphatic nod. A hum. Strong eye-contact.

Keep your eyes on ...

Imagine this many years ago the Licalzi family that consists of Molly Licalzi, Adriana Licalzi, Eddie Licalzi and me Cassandra Licalzi are at the JFK airport on Long Island headed to someplace tropical imagine having to switch planes and transport my mom left her purse on the last plane so she had to go back and get it we’re all sitting there waiting for her the next plane starts to board my mom i...

two lives intertwined

and it’s a curse

though the two would fall I love

the world fall into

the blue

it would be a mess

for them and all of the rest

j and s

forever gonna rest

Under…

Ground!...