"Soundless as a Shadow I stay in my room all evening.Drawing any sort of attentionto myself would be an enormousmistake. Shh! Turn off the music.Ever now and again, Daddy leaves his own room, on a Turkeyhunt. Staccato footsteps accompanyhis muttered threats and pleas. You can't leave me. I won'tlet you. I'm not a little boyanymore. I'll go after you.Please. Don't leave me!I keep the bedside lampvery low. It sheds a pale, ...

I remember it like it happened yesterday even though it actually happened 8 years ago. I was 10 years old--almost--and I was scared. It had been almost 2 years since the Zoo and Stepmonster was having fun reliving that fateful day. I waited until I knew he was asleep, and then pulled out the duffel I had slowly been packing for the past month, stealing chips, bread and unopened Peanut Butter. I'd even managed a couple qua...

I lay on my bed, still in my back-from-the-hospital garb. Doc Davies' instructions were "no strenuous or overly stressful activity for a few weeks, okay Missy?" I just kind of nodded and kept my snarky (and honestly rather bitchy considering how kind he's been) reply to myself, walking out into the (not-so-) welcoming arms of Mother. She played the role of Mommy very well until we got into the car. Now she's Mother again...

Ah, what is that bright light? …Where am I?  My eyes open to white walls and Mother staring down at me. Her eyes are cold, like always, but as my eyes flutter open she puts on a forced cheerful smile—showing me there’s someone else in the room and that I should put on my I love you, Mommy act. “Philena… gave us quite a scare, you did.” She brushes my hair back and for a second, I let myself relax at her caring hand on my...

“Thank you.” It’s a whisper and from right behind me. I turn to find Evangeline walking away from the kid whose locker is to my left. Adam… And he was talking to Ange? Why? “Philena—” I shut my locker and turn to him. My eyes, though dull in color, burn with an emotion I shall label as fury. “Don’t. Whatever she told you, it was probably a lie. We’re exes and exes lie. So shut up and leave it alone.” I try to stalk off pi...

I don’t head home; I just head to another park. This one’s even farther from where Evangeline lives, so there’s no way she’ll follow me here and, even if this park is closer to home, there’s no way my “parents” will find me… it’s the weekend, they never leave the house on the weekend. Unless, of course, they run out of their stash. But that doesn't happen often, so I’m not all that worried. I sit myself down on a swing, m...

Ange kisses up my neck, nibbling a little as she does so, and I know she feels me squirm. “Why what, Phi-Phi?” “Please don’t call me that. Just call me Philena.” We walk over to the table I was at and sit down next to each other. I set down the painting I’ve just finished and I hear her gasp. “Why did you leave? Why did you bully me? Why are you coming back?” I blink quickly and look up at her to see her staring at the pa...

Weekends at the house aren’t normal weekends where the teenager sleeps in and the parents leave her alone, then tease her with, “Oh my gosh, it’s alive!” when she finally wakes up around noon or one in the afternoon. No, weekends here I get up at about 7:30 in the morning, take a quick shower, get dressed in cover-ups and start walking. I don’t exactly walk anywhere in particular, but I bring my backpack with food (a coup...

Reader discretion advised.  The story you are about to read contains content that some readers may find offensive. By choosing to read this piece, you agree that you are older than 18 and do not object to reading content that may be disturbing to sensitive readers. Please note that the views and opinions expressed in this story are those of the fictional characters portrayed in the story and do not reflect the views and o...

Lying in bed tonight, I pull my sketchbook out from under the bed and open it to a blank page. I have to be real sure that He’s not going to come anywhere near here that way He won’t know I’m drawing—or He’ll both take everything away and garbage my work and punish me before Mother wakes up. But He’s asleep right now, so I’m safe. I just have to listen for Him. My hands finish the strokes across the paper and I look down...

I enter the doors to my high school, a senior. First day back to school and apparently I'm supposed to be shrieking and crying like an idiot, going, "Oh my God I haven't seen you since... two days ago!" to all my friends... wait, what friends? But instead of being stupid and wasting my time, I run off to my assigned locker and empty the stuff I don't need into it- the binders and shit for my last three periods will be pic...

You joined Alexa for a while. I saw you in the halls with the Pinheaded football players we used to laugh about. You mostly ignored me the first half of sophomore year, and, surprisingly, so did the Blonde Squad. That all changed right around finals time though. I was absent for two days and when I came back, I was ghost-like and shaky. I was the frail girl we used to joke about - the one I never thought I'd be. I actuall...

pouty lips twinkling eyes years ago you gave me butterflies... You walked up to me at out middle school. I'd had quite a crush on you since a couple years before. Your lips were peachy pink, moist because you'd just licked them nervously. Your eyes were smiling at me even if your teeth were biting your bottom lip. You open your mouth, with those perfect teeth, and spoke to me- me. I looked around a bit, wondering if you w...

"Everything wasn't okay..." -Losing Grip by Avril LavigneI walked into the room and you walked out. I hugged you and you stiffened, I kissed you and your lips were frozen. It was like when you were on that one assignment for months and we couldn't be seen together, only worse because I know your assignment now is nothing like that. Why won't you hold me? Why won't you talk to me? Why won't you kiss me? I miss you! You wer...

I've walked past this dining room many times. When I was seven, I walked past it, out the door and to the car. We were headed to the hospital to see my Daddy. Mother didn't say at the time, but I know now that he was dying and I was leaving to say goodbye. I remember the passage through the room being a happy one, because we were visiting Daddy, but now, looking back, it has a very morbid, depressing tone to it. I got my...