It was just another New Year’s Eve for Melody. Her thirteenth one to be exact and completely unremarkable. Her mother stuffed her into a dress two sizes too small, accompanied by the furrowed brows of disapproval and invasive pokes and prods over her tummy. “Have you been stealing chocolate from the candy jar again?” The accusation stung quick and sharp. Trying not to furrow her brows in anger in response, Melody sucked i...

Beyond the shore, the sun descendsand paints the sky in fuchsia blendswith passion fruit and tangerineand clouds a-blush with peachy sheenmagenta ribbons flirt with blueas day departs in royal adieua spectral thrall, a final boastto brush the warm Amalfi Coastthe spritely sea consumes the lightas waters burn for coming nightand sand glows rose in lovers’ heatthere on the beach, we take our seatI wrap her with a tender arm...

A haze of amber flecked with goldthe nightly spell of Rome takes holdits citrine light gleams from our hairand our footsteps float as if on airThe ancient mischief of ancient lanesdilates our eyes, infects our brainsthe domes and columns coalesceto wink us, nudge us, urge us, 'yes'With impish looks, our hands entwineour faces flushed with golden winecoy laughter rolls in rustic streetstill in our sight, the river greetsUp...

A thousand jewels in soft arraybrush moonlit waters in sweet balletvibrant lights from red to goldenchant the river of London oldThrough the night, St Paul's commandsa ship of white, atop the landscasting awe from bridge to hallsplashing life in silver thrallBlackfriars Bridge in calm reposeOxo Tower glows like a rosetwisting lamps climb from the standsThames Clippers sail in silky bandsBy the wall, a busker playspennies...

We huddle silentlyDraped in a quilt of innocent friendshipThe warmth of our arms minglingAs we sit side-by-side in the dark roomOur faces flicker with multi-colored splashesDolled out by my bulky old TVShowing our private 'movie-night' movieBathing us in translucent excusesShe's glowing tonightEven more so than usualHer clothes are a little tighterHer make-up more carefully attendedHer hair shimmering and smootherHer chee...

The oar blades dip into the dappled glass-like waterBeneath the sighs of weeping willows, the boat glides forwardSending gentle ripples fanning across the river, shorewardTo slosh softly against the bankAcross the boat, she looks back at meHer blonde hair dances with mottled golden raysAnd on her face, glows a smile that says,there's more than the sun's warmth between usI lean back and pull the oars through the dark liqui...

Old enough to drive. Old enough to own a car. Old enough to go steady. The first Saturday after Jake Terwilliger turned sixteen he went to the Department of Motor Vehicles to get his license. He struggled a little with the written test, but he passed the driving part with no problems. It was a sunny spring day in the Ozarks. They drove his family's old '52 Ford during the test. Jake was used to it by now.  Before that, he...

Brushing plants aside, Vera walked into the jungle. Away from the fire, the last lick of the sun made her skin glisten with sweat. She walked hunched in search for food as her mind traveled elsewhere.The first time she saw Kaiya was two earth years ago. Kaiya was strolling up and down aisles in the grocery store, food overflowing in her hands."She's supposed to help the Absolute War?" Vera thought to herself, her chin res...

It was the summer before her junior year in high school. Diana was unsure of what would happen. She was new here in this small town. Her parents had moved the family to this coastal area as soon as she and her brother had completed school. Now they were getting adjusted to living in a town that had the amount of people found on one block of her old home city. She still thought of her last home as her real home. Diana was...

Lying here hearing the sound of thunder coming from the front that rolled in during the night, and sometime during or after the midnight hour as I find myself drifting off to dream. Starting to begin the crossing of those blue hills on the border there, as I enter into the realm of Morpheus, the dream lord and finding myself drifting deeply and crossing the river. Knowing that you are also there in this plane of dreamscap...

Every day seeing those passing looking like a chain of fools, and looking up at those blue skies above knowing that those blue days have arrived with every day seeming the same right now, and all the people are the same.Knowing when those blue days descended when I woke up with that blue moon in my eyes just about the same time these days dropped those blues down here on us and they walked right on through. With me now wi...

The days leading up to Mother’s Day were miserable. I was about forty months pregnant, or that’s what it seemed like at least. It didn’t help that my ankles were the size of my head and that I ached everywhere. Combine that with the intense heat that Texas was already experiencing and you had the perfect recipe for an epic pity party. I missed my husband. Robert was with the Army’s 1 st Armored Division and stationed at F...

So here we go... to start off, I would like to let everyone know that these stories are the truth - the story of my life. It's taken me some time to actually get my full story off my chest; it's been a scary, sad and emotional ride. This post is for any one and every one of you out there who has gone through rough times or whatever experiences that have made you sad. If you have a story to share I would love to hear it to...

“What do you mean a hunch?” I asked skeptically. Daddy motioned me toward the couch. It was a black leather couch that I had known since childhood and despite the many trials of spills and scratches it had gone through it showed little to no wear. I sat down, Daddy following. “You know how Granny is always talking about our Egyptian ancestry?” he asked. “Yes, every chance she can get.” I looked around. Our house was fille...

I was standing alone at the school. The sun was setting, creating a rose like haze over the entire campus. I dug into my backpack for my phone. "7:14pm?" I said in a realm of confusion. 'Six missed calls' popped up on the screen. They were all from mama. I selected redial and pressed the phone to my ear. Not one ring later my mother answered frantically. "Hilary where are you?!" she said in a loud whisper. It's something...