Love Triangle

The foggy glass window shows a blurred image of a snowy mountain landscape. The train whistle blew twice indicating that a station was coming up.

Dean drags his fingers across the glass spelling out the name Lily. She would’ve come on the ride with him but couldn’t leave her sick mother for too long.

Dean lets out a deep breath and stares down at his phone checking the time. It was 4:15 pm and he should arrive at his stop at 5:00 pm. He sees he has three missed calls from his Uncle John and immediately calls him back. 

“Hello?” said his uncle 

“I should be there by 5, it’s a little slower than I remember.”

“It’s always been slow, you just were younger last time and thought it was going fast.”

Dean smiled

“Yes well, are you going to pick me up?”

“I’m already here waiting”

“Oh great”

“Yea, see you in a bit”

Uncle John hung up quickly as if the conversation made him uncomfortable. 

Dean realized that he wasn’t thrilled to have him come move in but he figured it wouldn’t be too awkward since Dean was old enough to basically take care of himself. After all, he had to come to live there; seeing that John was his only living family member. Being underage he couldn’t be fully responsible for himself by law he needed a guardian. 

Three more stops passed and six passengers got off and two got on. He noticed one of the passengers that got on was a girl about his age wearing a bright green jacket ripped jeans and old beat-up sneakers. Her outfit confused him. 

His curiosity led him to start watching her every move as she put her bags down try to find a slot to put them in. Eventually, she noticed and walked over and sat in the seat next to him. 

“Confused?”

Dean jumped out of his daze and immediately blurted out gibberish.

“So you're either not a talker or you are mentally impaired”

“No… I’m… I’m Dean”

“Okay Dean” she giggles

“I’m Alyssa, nice to meet you”

New York Life

A small whiff of cheese hits the nose of every person that walks by the small store labeled 99 cent pizza in bright red and yellow lights. People push past each other; most of them with coffee mugs in their hands, in hopes of getting where they need to be on time. The streets are filled with cars; all of them in each other way causing traffic. Hot dog vendors on each corner with their giant signs that let you know you can get a free drink with your order. The loud rattling coming from underground means a train is either pulling in the station or out. As you look up you see skyscraper buildings that appear to be touching clouds. Street performers showing off their dancing skills for the public to see, leave a hat on the ground for tips. Many people come to take pictures on the red steps on Times Square. Giant store signs that always let you know you can spend your money here if you need something; clothing stores especially. When people stop in a clothing store, you can always count on leaving with something regardless if you came only to look. So busy, always crowded; you’re never alone when you live in the city that never sleeps. 

Take a tour bus to see all the big apple has to offer. Locals stare at visitors in annoyance only because they are strung out on coffee and hardworking never sleep jobs. On holidays nyc is the place to be for celebrities like no other. Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s are the big three. Every year soon as December hits, a huge christmas tree is displayed and decorated. People come from all over to see it light up. It feels magical to witness such a heartwarming moment as people crowd around and admire it. Smiles, laughs, cameras flashing, and people singing; truly a joyful moment. New years is a time to write down your resolutions and kiss your partner at 12. There is this well lit ball that slides down a pole slowly while people count down to the new year. People stand outside in the cold for hours just to witness ‘the ball drop’.

Lavender Fields Park

The smell of fresh lavender fills the air and gentle laughter echoes through the park. People with strong allergies are warned to enter at their own risk; especially during the spring. The park reopens every year on spring equinox. Over the winter most of the park is protected by a dome. 

You can see bright flashes constantly, people from all over the world come just to take pictures. The lavender scent is strong but not overbearing.

The sun shines bright on Lavender Fields Lake, the glistening shine appears magical. The swans sit gracefully on the water as if they were dancing without moving. Small children point and stare in awe as the fountain shoots mesmerizing waterworks in the air. Some people can’t help and touch the fresh lavender, even with a giant sign saying not to. It lures them in and the gentle touch of lavender on their skin gives them comfort and at the same time excitement.  

When Lavender Fields Park is empty and the employees tend to the flowers and feed the swans. Overtime Lavender Fields Park created a name for itself. People are using the park to propose to their partners, giving it the name of the most romantic place in Oakwood. The park just started serving food because of complaints of people being hungry after spending hours at a time there.  

Awkward Interactions

It’s 9:32 am in a small coffee shop in the city that never sleeps. Amy rushes inside holding exactly 2.35 in one hand and her laptop in another. She slaps the hand with the money on the counter and says

“Small, french vanilla, two sugars, almond milk”

The cashier takes her money and goes to put the order in. Amy starts to tug on her sweater , pulling the loose strings dangling off the end. About 10 minutes later the barista says 

“Small french vanilla with two sugars and almond milk”

Amy walks over to the counter to get her order but knocks into a man standing close by.

All his books in his hands fall on the floor and he immediately gets upset. He takes a deep breath in and bends down to pick up the books. She tries to help but he snatches all the books up and walks away.

Amy shouts

“I’m sorry sir I didn’t mean to” 

He doesn’t acknowledge her speaking to him and disappears in the crowd of people that just walked in.

Amy finds a table in the back to sit and work on her novel. She starts to type and she gets lost in her written world. When Amy finally looks up she notices the same man she bumped into earlier staring at her.

She tries to hide by sinking in her chair behind her laptop. She waves at him hoping he’ll stop staring, he doesn’t. Instead of continuing to write she starts to pull at her sweater again adjusting it and tugging at the loose strings. 

“Amy hey Amy!” A familiar voice calls out 

Then Amy feels the chair on the other side on the table being pulled out.

“Hey Amy?”

Amy closes her laptop and see’s Grace.

“Hey, what are you doing here?”

“Just checking in to make sure you don’t overdose on coffee”

“Overdose is an exaggeration … It’s not a drug”

“You use coffee to write … I get that but you know coffee speeds up your heart rate.. I don’t think you should be drinking so much”

“I’m fine, nothing is going to go wrong”

“Okay… I’m just worried about you. 

Grace reaches out and grabs Amy’s hand 

Amy moves her hand away and grabs her laptop.

“I’m not your helpless baby sister anyways Grace I don’t need you to baby me!”

Cold Feeling

The grandfather clock strikes 12, the old creaky house is scarier at night. The house has cracks in the walls, a breeze blows through making every room feel like the inside of a deep freezer. The furnace is on the fritz but a dimly lit fire in the fireplace keeps the living room comfortable. 

She sits on the old beat-up couch that resembles a patchwork quilt. Rubbing her hands together she wishes she knew how to fix the furnace. If her daughter Amy was here she would bang and knock it about and like magic it would work. Her husband called a mechanic to come and fix it but with a storm outside she doubted anybody would come. She doesn’t agree with letting Amy run off with the billionaire she met in Paris. 

In the kitchen, she tried to make tea but her hands were shaking. For some reason, the house felt colder than usual. She shivered then tears started to fall; she threw the nearby mug at the wall and let out a gentle yet painful scream. Her husband came running to her in shock when he saw the mess she made. He tried to comfort her that Amy would be okay, but she tuned him out. All day she’s been trying to distract herself but without any luck. While her husband was holding her tight she was trying to reach the landline to call Amy but he stopped her.

Death In The Family

At 9 pm in Stonebridge, the fog covering the downhill homes suggests it will rain soon. The small town was built near a lake but on the top of the hill there was a huge estate; called the Allen Estate.

In the living room sat Elizabeth, her mascara running; holding a handkerchief tightly.

She started to hear footsteps approach the living room.

“Liz, you can’t cry forever… It's been three weeks.”

Elizabeth sniffles and looks up.

“How can you be so… okay by this?”

“I’m not, I just don’t choose to cry everyday she asked us to be strong; I gave my word.”

Elizabeth gave her brother a blank expression. She couldn’t believe he was implying that she wasn’t being strong like she promised.

“I am being strong! You are being heartless!” Elizabeth snapped

Eric walked over and tried to hug her but she pushed him away.

“She was your mother too! You should be heartbroken!”

“Liz-”

“Oh, Eric stop you didn’t even cry at the funeral. Dad is inconsolable, Ethan doesn’t speak, Elena is having nightmares and nobody knows where grandpa is or if he’s okay and I’m a wreck. Then there’s you … just calm like you never loved her!”

Elizabeth raising her voice caused their Aunt Donna to check in on them.

“Is everything alright in here?”

“Yes… Elizabeth just doesn’t understand my form of grieving.”

“Grieving! Oh no you are not grieving, you are emotionless!”

“Liz honey calm down your brother is dealing with Esther’s death in his own way. Please do not be upset with him.”

Aunt Donna walks over to Elizabeth and sits in between the two of them. She rests Elizabeth’s head on her chest and rubs her back.

“It’s okay to miss her Lizzie, I miss her too. She was my only sibling.”

More footsteps approach the living room but they seem fant as if somebody was trying to sneak past. Elizabeth lifts her head.

“Dad?”

No one answers. Lizzie walks over to the open hallway; looking to the left and to the right and there was no dad in sight.

She looked back at Donna and Eric who was curious to know if he finally left his room.

“I don’t see him”

They all looked concerned.

“That’s okay honey, maybe he’s still not ready to talk.”

Elizabeth sat down back on the couch. Silence echoes through the rooms for a brief minute then a loud knock at the door.

“I’ll get it, Liz can stay with you” said Eric.

Eric walked over to the door and opened it. The old door struggled to open quietly and let out a slow piercing creaking noise.

“Oh… hello Sheriff Marks”

“Hello Eric, is your dad home?”

“Yes, but he still isn’t leaving his room. I’m handling things for now.”

“Very well, I know your aunt mentioned your grandfather was missing”

“Yes, have you found him?”

“No, but I found this by Stonebridge park”

Sheriff Marks hands Eric a small gold pocket watch with the initials JM carved into it. It had tiny spots that looked like mud on it.

“Grandfather’s pocket watch, yes this is his.”

“I thought I would ask your dad what he would doing about there all by himself..”

“I’m pretty sure my dad wouldn’t know… they don’t really get along.”

“Yes, I see. Okay well…when I find anything I’ll let you know”

“Thank you Sheriff”

Sheriff Marks nods and leaves.

Poem: Rage

Raging fire

Hear her roar

As she destroys

Watch her

Turn everything

You love

Into ashes

Watch everything

Burn and crumble

Spreading across

Your forest

Filled gems

Diamonds & gold

Your precious

Everything & anything

Ruined

Flames over

Your special

Roses and tulips

Demolition & destruction

She is

You lit

The match

Igniting her

Fear her

Run & hide

Wild fire

Destroy everything