family
Family unites us; but it's also a challenge. All about fighting to stay together, and loving every moment of it.
Grief doesn’t always take
My uncle handed me a black notebook that could fit in my hands. His eyes were bloodshot and his face was red and swollen from crying. From alcohol. From everything. He started and restarted like the words hadn’t loaded correctly. Like his throat was too dry. Like he didn’t really want to say it.
By Ollie McLaughlin5 years ago in Humans
Life isn't about where you end up.
No more than eighty pages long, about a hand's length and thin enough to grasp between my thumb and index finger, there lay a black book. Labelled "Dream Notebook," this notebook once belonged to my mother, who I'd borrowed it from for some time. That is to say, it was handed down to me about 15 years ago, when I was 10. I was finally cleaning my room - like any typical mid 20's live-in child, my stagnant life had made me grow complacent with the state of my living area. Unfortunately, this clutter was rooted in a deeper issue, however.
By Zion Hines5 years ago in Humans
Good Hands
Michael is a soft-spoken half African American and Caucasian kid that looks no more than eighteen but is in his mid-twenties and well dressed for his age. His hair is well trimmed and is his most prominent feature. Everything else about him seems to be plain. Michael walks through the door of his small studio apartment a few miles away from Harvard University, where he is attending. As little as it may be, it's currently his home, and home is how it feels. Dark with soft washes of light coming from small lamps throughout his apartment. This is how he likes it. Quite chirps of local news are playing from a small flat screen on an end table next to Michaels's bed which also serves as his sofa and dining chair.
By W.C. Burge5 years ago in Humans
My Souls
I love you with everything that is inside of my soul! I have looked into your eyes so many times and seen the most beautiful human that I believe could have ever been created! When you smile for absolutely no reason or even at the silliest of things, I fall in love with you more and more! It has never taken much effort on your part to show me the whole and complete meaning of life and or what my purpose is for being on this planet.
By Dawn Irene Haschalk5 years ago in Humans
Finding Sophie
“He's gone,” I cry lying on the sand cold and wet, the first rays of sunshine peeking over the horizon. Pushing to my knees, I rip the little black book from my jacket pocket, shred it, and throw the pieces into the ocean while screaming at the top of my lungs. If only we'd never found that book, John would still be alive. Exhausted, I look around and see the reason I lost John. I get to my feet, stomp over to the briefcase and wrench it open to stare down at the stacks of money inside. Enraged, I kick the case over strewing its contents along the sand. I grab a couple stacks of money, intent on punting them into the ocean, when I spot something black. I drop the money and fall to my knees, mortified. “I just shredded this thing and threw it into the ocean!” I think aloud, grabbing the little black book from the sand. I open to the first page and realize it is a different book. I let the book fall to the ground and close my eyes, feeling overcome with exhaustion. “Come with me.” I open my eyes to a beautiful woman in a long white dress with brown hair and blue eyes reaching toward me. Knowing I can't stay here I try to stand but my body refuses. I feel her arms wrap around me as she guides me to the base of a nearby tree, away from the waters edge. I lie down and try but fail to convince my eyes to open again.
By Donna Harris5 years ago in Humans
The Cocoon of the Filter Free
“-32.7188332,152.1052945” Lexie came running to me brandishing her sketching journal. ‘Mum, I found these weird numbers in my notebook. It’s written with my pen but it’s not my writing’. She looked at me and asked, ‘ What do they mean?’
By Rachael Reynolds5 years ago in Humans
Dirty Underwear and Scarves from Elvis
My grandfather never told me how he came into possession of Elvis’ scarf. The pale blue scarf was in decent shape lying on the kitchen table next to a faded yellow advertisement of the 1975 New Year’s Eve show in Detroit, Michigan. Beside the scarf were two Hummel figures, a hiking boy and a girl sitting with an umbrella. Dan, my older brother, ate cereal against the counter with a smile on his face.
By Jason Wallace5 years ago in Humans
Night Light
The reflection in her grandfather's eyes of the night stars rippling across the sky. That was what she always thought of first when his memory came to her. Lying out Summer nights in the desert canyon near his small ranch, a warm, comforting breeze flowing slowly across the rocky plateau, filling the air with rich sage and earthy dust - as they'd stare out from the cliffs, grandpa spinning ancient tales of warriors and fantastical entities inhabiting the cosmos, imbuing the universe with riddles and metaphysical power-plays on a galactic scale.
By Transfixed Æ5 years ago in Humans
Why the Rush
Little Jack was in a hurry to get home today. As soon as that school bell rang, he was on his feet and out the door. Running as fast as his little feet would take him. His parents finally bought him the new game all his friends were playing, and he couldn’t wait to try it. Jack barely looked around at the traffic or other people as he would run across streets. He zigged, zagged, in, and out of people walking along. He was too excited, and in too much of a hurry. He came across an alley. Suddenly, CRASH!!! Another young man cam running out of the alley also not paying much attention. Slamming right into little Jack, the two of them tumbled into the street. Jack’s head thumped across the pavement. The young man rolled into the front end of an auto. Luckily, the driver was paying attention and stopped in time to lessen the blow he took. The collision caused the two of them to drop their bags. Seemingly unphased by what just happened the young man grabbed his bag and hurried off as if he couldn’t be bothered by this accident that he helped create. The driver, concerned about what happened, got out of his car to see the young man run off. Not able to get a good description he turned his attention to Jack to see if he was ok. Jack got the brunt of the impact. Trying to get up he felt dizzy, and his vision was blurry. “Kid are you ok?” The driver now knelling in front of Jack assessing the damage. “My head hurts, and I feel dizzy.” Jack replied. He looked around for his school bag, and then again attempted to stand up. Instantly falling back down to a sitting position. Jack realized he was not doing well. “Hang on kid, looks like you hit you head rather good. Just sit here and relax. I already called 911, help should be here soon. You got a pretty nasty cut there.” Jack can now feel something warm running down his face. He raised his hand to feel the cause of this warmth. When he looked at his hand, he could see the blood. A young woman came over from the nearby dinner to help and brought over a towel to place on his head. “Here’s something for you until medics arrive.” Jack thought she had a nice voice. More soothing than then the gentleman who helped him out. Jack was thankful he was not alone. “What’s your name Hun? Can I call your mom or dad for you?” The woman went to grab her phone.
By Shawn Ross5 years ago in Humans
