The first time Nolan saw the girl in the abandoned art classroom, she wasn’t a ghost, but she might as well have been. She sat alone at the far easel, surrounded by scattered canvases and jars of old turpentine, painting with furious, claw-like strokes. Her dark hair fell around her face like a curtain, and she didn’t look up even when the door creaked behind him.

“This room’s off-limits,” Nolan...

Mary watched as her father poured himself another glass of ale to match his skin and eyes. The king of Fonsfield was once again drinking at his table to celebrate nothing with no one. Mary walked over, purposefully making her steps loud so he wouldn’t be startled by her.

“Father, how are you?” she said once she reached his side. He gently placed his ale on the table, closed his eyes, and leant ba...

Today I met a woman

As I was trying to catch the bus

Luckily it was just us

A woman and a man craving quiet in the city’s roar

Two strangers finding calm in the fuss

Holding Quiet conversation in the city’s chaos

What else could be so common?

Who’s a virgin?

She asked me

Someone who’s not had sex, is that it?

She smiled, a slow sad smile, carrying meaning that words never could

If reverse was th...

'Arent you sick of me yet?!', I cried, unknowing if my words would ever reach him.

He stared at me like his hate were between the lines of his jaded concern. He was trying to appear humble, confused, but I'd seen straight through his lies the day he stepped foot in my door. But he wouldn't leave.

'You know how much I care about you', he spoke lightly, careful not to sway his focus.

I paused. I di...

‘Hey,’ Casey said. ‘Who’s the guy doing the evil ASMR ritual?’

I was just about ready to elbow him in the ribs again when the boy turned his face towards us and my voice caught in my throat.

His messy black hair curled around his ears and his grey eyes were the colour of storm clouds. Dark, unpredictable, innocent at first. He had a smug little smile on his face like he was better than all of us a...

I want to be totally repulsive.

Can’t you see that?

Because your the one I can never love;

The one I can never hold.

I see you every day but I ignore you;

My eyes seek yours but I make my face blank.

I daydream about you but I never show it.

Your the one I can never love

Since she loves you instead.

And I’ll never betray her for you;

Because I see the way her face lights up when she spots ...

I want to be totally repulsive

Unloveable

Untouchable

My mind whispers to me

I want to be alone

Because what are the chances

That of all the people in the world

someone would choose me

shut up

Shut Up

SHUT UP

I tell my mind

I am worth the love

The sweat

The blood

The tears

But why would you want someone to sacrifice for you

_Why would you want somebody else to...

Medusa stood before the shattered columns of Athena’s temple, her breath ragged, her gown torn by salt and violence. The sacred pool behind her still rippled with the god’s vanishing presence, as if waves could mock a human heartbeat.

Athena descended like a blade of moonlight, her bronze sandals kissing the marble with a sound too soft for the fury in her eyes.

“Medusa,” she said, voice stead...

Tears run down her face as thoughts rang throughout my mind. Thoughts like “Why can’t you just be nice enough” or “why do you always have to be the problem”. Generic. Just like her. The heavy stream increased as she choked out her next words to James, the boy who had been so kind to her, who would willingly risk his own dreams to be with her. “I can’t.” Her sobs increased as she saw the broken loo...

Her knuckles blanch as she grasps the sink. The porcelain groans under the pressure, mildew-pink caulk curling away from the smoke-stained wall. Her gaze drifts to the grimoire that lies open on the tile floor, pages ripped and scattered around her feet. Sanguineous dirt cakes her nails as she clutches the basin harder, as if pressure alone could change the truth of this moment.

“This is all en...