Emmett slammed the bookstore’s door behind him just as the grey clouds let loose on the busy New York streets. His pear-green flannel stuck out like a cactus in this wasteland of a bookstore, with its peeling wallpaper, flickering light fixtures, and carpet that had seen better days. He strolled the lines of bookcases until he came upon both

My worn boots clomped to a halt as I stood still on the dock in awe. I tilted my head back to look at her. She was elegant, tall, and beautiful, causing me to fall in love with her in spite of my promise to never love her kind again. Her crisp, bright white sails were gathered neatly under the

I sat and watched a long black cat With eyes of smoldering gold She paced along a crumbling wall A restless hunter’s prowl. Then sprawled she in the sunlight’s warmth, Her tail and ears a-twitch. I saw inside her fiery eyes A goddess clothed in flame         Then lightly came a long white cat With grace in every step

I remember you. I remember how eagerly you listened to my heart and my secrets. I remember how you wiped my tears And made sure no sorrow was left.     I remember you. I remember how loudly you made me laugh with your wonderful wit. I remember how you squeezed my hands And told me never to surrender and quit.     I

You two asked me to come with you one Friday night, And I agreed.       We sat on the floor of an empty room of an art show With a piece showing rain falling in front of a window. I said we were in the stormy dark looking in And you both said we were on the inside looking out.     We

Music plays in perfect harmony, Colors line the stars in the deepest hues, Words take the breath from her heart, Clouds surpass all believability— Friends frame her heart in hope, Play the music side by side, Dance beneath the colors of the stars, Shout her words across the clouds, Existing not in number or in name, Not in hue or

Crimson and milk canopies frame her mind. Truth and belief stand as giants—doubt stretched between. Self clutches a staff of hope And walks, Ignores the faceless shouts from below—fear, misery, regret— And walks, Remembers she cannot look down nor can she stop, And walks. The line stretches past sight. Despair whirls ’round, threatening to cast Self into the

I sat at lunch across from my best friend. It was the first time we had chatted in a while, and she had a lot of hard things to share. She began to pour her heart out to me. As she spoke, it was as though I could feel the weight of her heart in my hands. The feelings of

Jay loosened his collar and gulped in the stale dusty air. Why did he have to be the one to do the rounds in this creepy old building? It’s because I’m the newbie. The Freshman. The one that gets to do the work no one else wants to do. Joseph is just a scaredy-cat is what he is.

I noticed the turquoise streak in her hair first, a streak of blue falling through blond hair like inverted lightning. She wore a choker made out of hemp. Silver rings cluttered her fingers—one, two, three, four…I stopped counting. “Hey,” she said. “I hear we’ll be working together.” Oh boy. I could read the rebel in her stance—

“I’m not good at remembering names, so I’ll go ahead and apologize in advance. But it’s nice to meet you.” How many times have you heard this phrase? You walk away from talking with a friend and wonder what you even talked about. You don’t know whom you can be around when you don’t feel

“No. Absolutely not.” “But Daaad.” Amberly’s shoulders drooped, and she frowned, her bottom lip jutting out. “No buts. We are not getting a dog.” Amberly’s dad, George, shook his newspaper from where he sat in his favorite recliner. “Why not? There were some puppies outside the grocery store today. They were free, Dad.” “I don’t care if