I hold her hand tight, and tell her that I’ll never let go. She cries on my shoulder for a few more minutes before sniffing and saying “I just really love him. And to…well do what he did…” The reminder that he’s gone sents her into a fresh bout of tears. I hate to think about how it must have felt when her boyfriend of two years left in the middle in the night with nothing but a note saying that i...

It was just a friendly get-together. Nothing more. I kept saying the same words in my head over and over as I looked at her. _Eleanor_. Her long auburn curls draped over her shoulders perfectly. Her smile contagious, like some kind of disease where you just can’t look at her without smiling.

She looked beautiful today. Her yellow dress flowed down to her feet, with white flowers adorning the fabr...

_~Avery~_

Blood scattered across my clothes as I continued to hit at the creature. It screamed repeatedly, its horrible screeches making my body shake. How dare it scream like it deserves a chance to live?

It doesn’t.

I continue to beat it do death. I punched it over and over again before grabbing the knife off the counter. I should have done this earlier. Anya would never see it coming.

Oh, ...

My hand finds its way back to the shallow pocket in the front of my jeans, pulling out yet another lemon flavored coughdrop. As I remove it from its white and blue wrapper, my breath burns my throat.

The wrapper joins the accumulation of others in my back pocket as I pop the drop into my mouth. Walking down the street, I can’t tell if that bitter taste is from the candy or this sickening worry ...

I held her hand tight

And I wasn’t ever letting go

A dream long abandoned

Now becoming true

I am her’s

And she is mine

To face the world together

Always side by side...

I held her hand tight, and I wasn’t ever letting go, though it may mean my own demise. We walked together into the street, revealing our courtship which was scaldalous and all but forbidden, but we cared not. The heart, as they say, wants what it wants.

We received glares from passers by and let them roll off our backs as the rain does a duck’s. We only had eyes for each other and hardly notice...

I held her hand tight

And I wasn't ever letting go

Because last time I did

She left me without hope

Of a day when I could smile

And nod, and call her “my sister”

Of a day when I would proudly proclaim

That she was my father’s daughter

I held her hand tight

But through her skin I felt her spite

The internal sign

Of my love that she did not requite

I would give her the world

And part of heaven ...

He could make it, just a little more, just an inch. He winced at the pain the movement caused him. But she was there, just a reach away.

“Please” he begged his voice cracking, 

Rain poured from the sky, water mixing with blood. Just a bit more. Finally, His hand grasped hers, this time no matter what.

No matter what happened he would hold on to her like he hadn’t been brave enough to do before. ...

I held her hand tight, and I wasn't ever letting go. Because for the first time in my whole life, I felt seen by someone. I didn't feel used for my kindness.

No, Ella saw me for more than this. She understands the way my brain works, and my heart beats. She got me. Not Finn, the nice and friendly man. But the little boy trapped inside this grown-up body.

The boy who needs love and reassurance.

...

I held her hand tight, and I wasn’t ever letting go. I brushed my thumb against her callused hand. We were pushed up against a brick wall, my body covering hers. Tears escaped her beautiful brown eyes and trickled their way down her freckled face. I wondered how it is that she can look so breathtaking even through the midst of horror.

Another shot boomed in the distance and Jocey flinched...