family
THE DAY I REALIZED SHE'D GONE TO HEAVEN
As I lay here with my dark brown curls smushed beneath her golden furry paws that had grown to a dull shade. I cherish this moment. She sleeps by me, eyes shut closed filled with a light crust. No matter how much I wipe them, the crust grows. Her belly warmer then my heater fighting this September chill, and we sleep. Her tiredness was brought on by the sickness, and even though it made her sleep I enjoyed the time she got to spend in my room. We got the sleepovers I wished for. Days and Days spent where she'd rest on my pink rug, and I'd rest on the wooden floor next to it. I didn't feel sad knowing her days would come to an end soon, because I knew she was with me, and these ending days would last a lifetime.
By Essence lopez5 years ago in Fiction
Lost Owl in the Woods
It was around midnight and the Roberts family were preparing to go to sleep as they were camping. The mother and father were sleeping in their own tent and so did the three children. The youngest child, Wilma, could not sleep and felt like she was hearing things outside. Somehow it had no effect on her older siblings. The twelve year old had then exited the green tent and started slowly. While walking she still heard the noise and could not figure out what it was and where it was coming from. She kept walking in the left direction of the forest and stopped by a tree that overshadowed her five two frame. She could hear the noise being close and looked around in different directions. She then looked up at the tree she was next to and saw a gray owl sitting on a branch. She had figured out where the noise came from and what it was. Wilma waved at the owl as it hooed. The owl flew down slowly to the ground right by Wilma's feet. She kneel in front of the owl and noticed that its left wing was hurt. She figured that the owl must have hurt itself during a flight. But what was going through in her mind was what to do about the broken wing. She then carried the owl back to the area where her family's tents are. She quickly reached into a black duffle bag and took out a first aid kit. She tried not to make much noise to help heal the owl.
By Forest Green5 years ago in Fiction
The Gift
She was glistening, from sweat and from the afterglow. The wisp at her hairline that escaped her bun framing her face and shining in the stark light looked like a crown, or a halo. She was radiant. She was surprised that the experience wasn’t as painful as people made it seem. It was definitely intense, but not painful. It was her first time, and it really wasn’t that bad. She actually enjoyed this, she realized. She sat there, blissed out, feeling elated. Feeling proud, as her body settled and her senses returned to her.
By Pryia Blunt5 years ago in Fiction
Traces of a Life
Ilona arrived at the house closer to 8 pm., but thanks to the spectacular Finnish summer weather, it was still bright as day. The sun was high above the tall pines that lined the field behind the sauna and the barn, which was a good thing. There was barely any light this deep in the countryside, and the next-door neighbor was half a kilometer away. Getting inside the house with her bags would have been a pain in the dark.
By Taru Anniina Liikanen5 years ago in Fiction
Goodnight Guilt
“Thump, thump, thump…” The sound of her own heartbeat was so loud and strong it permeated all her senses. As soon as the light was out, her mind lit up with all sorts of thoughts. “Did I put the trash can at the street today? Did dinner get put in the fridge? What was that noise?” She realized she was holding her breath and focused on slowly breathing in and out. “What was the right way to do this? In through the nose and out through the mouth? Or is it in through the mouth and out through the nose?” She pushed the thought from her mind and rolled over, settling into a comfortable position. As she waited for sleep to find her, the thoughts came back. “Is it too cold in here? Maybe I should put on some socks. If I’m cold the children must be cold.” And so, she pulled herself out of bed, compelled to go check that everything was as it should be.
By Lori Cruz Pagan Lambert5 years ago in Fiction
Treasure Awaits
It is about 20 degrees outside and I hate going outside. Once I am home from work, that is it. Winter is not my thing. I tell myself every winter that I am going to leave Detroit and head down south to Florida, maybe the Keys. But I’m still here. Moving is not as easy at it sounds. Finding a new house, selling or renting out the one I have now, and let’s not even talk about finding a new job. But I keep dreaming and saying it every year.
By Ireland Lorelei 5 years ago in Fiction
Mama's Baby
I always hated that raspy, haunting cry outside my window. It started just a few weeks before school got out for summer vacation when I was in fifth grade. The first time I heard it, I ran screaming into Mom’s room, sure there was a ghost right outside my window. After a thorough investigation by Dad, the culprit was found, nestled in a little hole in the oak tree growing up beside our house. Despite our considerable distance from any barns, we had gained a new resident. A barn owl.
By Kristen Slade5 years ago in Fiction
Jude Breaks Free
If you scream and throw a bowl of pasta against the wall, but no one sees or hears you, does your outburst even count? I'm standing, looking at gross noodles and clumpy tomato sauce oozing down the wall. My chest rumbles and threatens to explode. The wall looks like a serial killer made his mark on my family. I think about the faux massacre and the future true crime specials focused on my “smile that could light up a room.” I’m shocked when tears stream for my fantasy death.
By Sarah Paris5 years ago in Fiction
Inner Light
The owl has a contradictory character in human history and Myth. Seen as evil, a harbinger of death and yet also a wise protector. Owls were the Goddess Athena's favorite bird. She believed they contained an inner light, which granted them sight, in the darkest of nights.
By Cassandra McElroen5 years ago in Fiction
Stella
I drove up the long drive to the old house. Light and shadows took turns on the windshield as the afternoon sun peeked through the leaves of the tall trees lining the drive. The speedometer needle was low, but a cloud of dust kicked up as gravel crunched under the tires. The weathered old house came into view. The parking spots closest to the house were empty, but I couldn’t bring myself to park there. Those spots belong to Grandmom and Pop. I pulled in a few feet away and turned off the car. I sat there for an extra moment allowing my eyes to take in the house and the yard, flashes of memories causing tears to well up in my eyes. I took a deep breath and got out of the car. Butterflies and bees were playing in the wildflowers and weeds that had grown in the yard. I pushed open the screen door with rusty hinges and watched my Chucks make light footprints in the dingy green turf rug of the little porch. I pushed open the heavy brown door and heard the smacking sound as the door separated from being stuck to the weather-stripping. I stepped onto the dirty linoleum and paused to let my eyes adjust from the bright sunlight to the dark closed-up house. It was silent in the house but echoes of memories filled my ears. My heart burned hot in my chest. Grandmom had passed away, but I could feel her here all around me. I made my way through the first floor toward the staircase. It was smaller than I remembered. In my youth it had seemed as sprawling as the staircase where Cinderella lost her glass slipper. I put my hand on the banister and climbed to the second floor with the wood creaking under each slow step.
By Kerri Hansell5 years ago in Fiction
Mind Over Madness
Moonlight madness, mind has gone awry. I take the time to dust off my life. I have been here for quite some time and now things have become quite tricky. I travel back to my calm estate of Sojourn whence my childhood rang true. I think some time off will allow myself a retreat from the busy hustle and bustle of city scapes and night life. No light pollution here, just calming absolution.
By Jason Bond5 years ago in Fiction
