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Amadeus (Director's Cut)
"The chief aim of philosophy would be to divine for man, that most unfortunate bipedal beast, the means by which he may discover the inscrutable and capricious ways by which Divine Providence means to enact His will, and so navigate his course thereby, to avoid the thorns and brambles of misfortune." Marquis de Sade, Justine (1791)
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I must have been staring at this blank computer screen for at least an hour with nothing to show for it. People write about writer’s block, which in is an oxymoron since they’re writing about it, but never experienced it until now. Bored, frustrated, and feeling useless, I did what anyone would do in this situation—I took a nap.
Mark GagnonPublished 8 months ago in WritersThe scream of the soul
It seems that the time has come to reveal my own journey. A journey I've been on for a little over three years now. My Twin Flame Journey. A journey towards Self, a journey to understanding one's own Being and diving into the depths of the soul mission. A journey into remembering and practicing Unconditional Love. A journey that, in short, has been like a journey through Hell, fighting my way out with gritted teeth. The only support being the absurd understanding that this is a journey of healing. And so, three times in a row.
Elle VihmanPublished 8 months ago in ChaptersThe Family
The picture quality on my outdated TV statics as the angry housewives of my favorite program argue about who did or didn’t do what. My living room is smothered in darkness. The only light in the room is from my TV’s screen. It’s Saturday night, which means the invisible cables from my body have thoroughly latched on to the couch, rendering me from movement. My finger, seemingly, electronically attached to my phone, scrolls through my Instagram while the commercials play out. The people I follow begin to flood my feed with pictures of their weekends so far. Brunches at fancy restaurants, clubbing with their girlfriends and taking scenic hikes though the mountains. Not me. I clock out at 6:30 P.M every Friday night, I grab takeout and I come home to sit on my couch until Sunday night, of course, apart from my obligations; cleaning, paying bills, buying the necessities, doing laundry. I’ve never understood how some people can go out and do fun things with their lives. I’ve never found the time. I work, come home, sleep and I'll do it all over again until I’m 62, then I can retire and do whatever I want. Until then, I’m a slave to my couch and these stupid reality TV programs.
Racheal LaPradePublished 8 months ago in FictionThe Death Chair
The Blackleach family is predominantly women, which is probably why everyone in town thought they were witches. Though, I suppose any highly intuitive, educated women who follow old family traditions would be accused of the same thing. It’s said that the men in the family all die young and that the women steal the men’s youth, but the truth is simply that they have terrible luck with the men they partner with. The men often end up leaving the women to raise their children alone or more unfortunately they end up having to flee from their abusive husbands. How ever the case may be, they are never truly alone, as the women have the support of their small, tight-knit family.
Racheal LaPradePublished 8 months ago in FictionBlack Heart
After leaving the doctor's cabin, Jamal was deeply perplexed about the motives behind the kidnapping. His mind raced, searching for answers. He entered the room where Zabel was admitted, finding her mother and Heral there. They inquired about the reports, and he quickly assured them that everything was fine. Gently kissing Zabel, who was still sleeping, he observed her peaceful slumber. Suddenly, the room's tranquility was disrupted by murmurs, and Zabel opened her eyes to see her father talking to a police officer who wanted her statement. Anxious, she asked Jamal what was happening. The police officer explained that he needed to ask questions to help find her abductor. Jamal reassured her and pledged to find the person responsible. She agreed to answer the questions. With the recorder on, Zabel began recounting her ordeal of being confined and drugged, describing the person who terrorized her using her weaknesses. Tearfully, she shared how he knew her vulnerabilities, including her fear of dogs and her poor eyesight. She revealed he forced her to eat crab, causing her to lose consciousness, during which he assaulted her. When the police officer referred to her medical report, stating she was not raped and still a virgin, Zabel was shocked. The officer explained that the abductor used psychological tactics to torment her. Asked about the second location, Zabel denied being moved, describing the elaborate illusions created to mislead the police. She detailed her attempts to escape and her captor's methods, including wearing grotesque masks and involving three unidentified individuals. Expressing her confusion over the abductor's motives, Zabel admitted feeling stripped of everything, including her dignity, hope, and love. The officer's question about her feelings towards her captor remained unanswered. Zabel recounted how, on the eighth day, she stopped eating and responding, almost giving up on life. She revealed the breaking point – seeing a picture of her fiancé with another girl. The officer decided to continue the conversation later and left the room, after which Jamal comforted Zabel, assuring her of her strength and his support. As she tearfully expressed her desire to find the abductor, Jamal shed a tear, feeling helpless.
Madiha MasoodPublished 8 months ago in ChaptersThe delicacy of His touch Claude Monet's Water Lilies 1915-1916
One of the most sensitive ones could capture the nature and start the life of an abstracted gestures of the brush You can feel the water and the nature from inside
Rich Men North of Richmond
Times must be tough in the music business South of Richmond. No competent guitarists, singers, or lyricists, no barber to trim an unkempt beard. Childish guitar, weak melody, nonsensical message. Candy-eating welfare recipients starve morally superior drinking southern workers? Really? Old soul? Hasn't learned much. Makes true conservatives seem ridiculous.
Paul MerkleyPublished 8 months ago in Critique