March-April 2017
Midnight Writers
Table of Contents
Cover: “Pain is Halirous,” an illustration by
“Moving On,” an illustration by The Masked Lady
This Page: “What Happened To Alice?” an
“Chapel,” a photograph by Incandescence
The Masked Lady
illustration by The Masked Lady
Page 10:
Page 3:
“Closure,” a poem by Hestia “Invidia,” a poem by A.T. Pacem
Ask Aphro & Dite
“I’m so Purtty” an illustration by Technicolor Zebra
• Aphro and Dite help out Sally and Chester A Dose of Dawn • Dawn gives helpful tips Horoscopes
Page 11:
“Me, Myself, and I,” a story by Incandescence
Page 12:
• Horoscopes for this month
“Me, Myself, and I,” continues “Time is an Illusion,” an illustration by The
“Please Don’t Cry,” an illustration by The Masked Lady
Masked Lady
Page 4:
“Someone Else’s Wonderland,” a story by Eos
Page 5:
“ Someone Else’s Wonderland,” continues “Now I’m Haunted,” an illustration by The Masked Lady
Page 6:
“Seven Deadly Roomates,” a story by Janus
Page 7:
“Seven Deadly Roomates,” continues “Green With Envy,” a poem by Hestia “Feetz,” a photograph by Technicolor Zebra
Page 8:
“She Never Came Back,” a story by Janus “Who Is Falling?” a illustration by The Masked Lady
Page 9:
“Those Hands In Mine” a poem by Andromeda
Page 13:
“Orion,” a poem by A.T. Pacem “You Light Me Up,” a photograph by Lucifer “Personification, a poem by Technicolor Zebra
Page 14:
“Featherlight,” a poem by A.T. Pacem “I SEE YOU,” a photograph by Canada “Ira,” a poem by A.T. Pacem
Page 15:
“Superbia,” a poem by A.T. Pacem “ Solar Panel,” a photograph by Elaine Birnbaum “New Territory,” A story by Dawn
Page 16:
“New Territory,” continues
issuu.com/midnightwriters midnightwriters2017@gmail.com
Ask Aphro & Dite
Dear aphro, I want a prom date but I don’t know if I should I ask my prom date out? Thanks, Sally
A Dose of Dawn
As the end of the year dwells, not just any year, but my last year of high school, I’m constantly reminded of my last four years. I think I have changed a lot in so many ways. In particular, I have acquired a lot of wisdom. This is my definition of wisdom, which could be your Dear Sally, definition of trash. Though most of this you You have come to the right goddess. I have probably heard or read before, trust me, think that you need to make the first move applying it could make all the difference you in order to have your prom date. Take want to see in your life. initiative, be bold. Do NOT, under any circumstances, sit around and wait for 1. Focus on school. If college is your someone to ask you! Nothing could possiplanned destination after college, which bly go wrong and you will have a date to for most people here it is, pay attention the dance in no time. Good luck! to what you learn and your grades. With love, What may seem important at the moAphro ment isn’t always something that will bring you a longer lasting satisfaction. Dear Dite, 2. High school lasts only four years! It I met a girl named Alice at school today. may seem like a lot longer than that, She’s really nice but she tells me these but it’s really a pretty small part of your strange stories. She says that a rabbit hole life, so don’t waste it trying to impress leads to a place called wonderland, where someone you don’t really like. At the flowers and animals talk. And a queen end of high school, you won’t care who loves to chop off people’s heads. She about that stuff and you’ll realize you tells me that it’s all real and that I should never should have because you will come to wonderland with her sometime. probably never see these people again. Do you think Alice is lying or just crazy? 3. You don’t have to have everything figOr she is actually telling the truth? ured out in high school. Do what makes Sincerely, you happy and continue on the journey Chester in which you continue to find things that make you happy. Dear Chester, 4. Try new things and challenge yourAh yes, I remember visiting wonderland self! You are so young and this is the so long ago. It was lovely! But if you do time to give yourself a push in the right decide to go to wonderland, you must places. Take a second chance, too. If be prepared for the maddest things you something doesn’t work out the first will ever encounter. Animals who can be time, don’t write it off immediately, but strange and rather rude. But--- you must give yourself time and try it again! avoid the red queen! I have no doubt that 5. Be kind to others. Everyone, EVERYshe will try to take off your head. Once ONE, is going through what you are, you go into wonderland, however, it will or some form of it. You are never, ever not be so easy to get out. Ask Alice how alone. Don’t judge others, because you she did if you are so tempted to go. don’t know their full stories. Be nice With love, and you will stay safe. Dite
Horoscopes
Taurus:Senior slump is happening since 4th quarter has started. But you will find yourself to be more orginized. Gemini: Everyone is feeling down abou A.P exams. But your cheerfulness help them feel better. Go and smile! Cancer: You wont want to leave their house this month. But dont stay cooped up in your home. Leo: You might be suprised to recieve more friendly interactions from others. Virgo: You might find yourself in a problematic situations. But don’t worry! The problems seem to fix themselves. Libra: You might feel like you’re working too hard in comparison to others. But fear not! Your hard work will pay off soon. Scorpio: When you attempt to lead a discussion, it seems like people have a hard time understanding you. Take some time to slow down and ease into the rhythm. Sagittarius: You may be finding yourself stuck between two sides. Sometimes it’s best to stay out of certain conflicts. Capricorn: Lately, you’ve probably felt very motivated. However, keep the needs of others on your mind. Aquarius: You might be feeling helpless right now. In order to resolve conflict, use your honest and practical judgement. Pisces: It is a good time to recognize your honesty and good moral compass.Use your voice; it is a powerful tool. Special thanks to Sra. Steele, The Masked Lady, Hestia, Technicolor 3 Zebra, A.T. Pacem, and Dawn
“Please Don’t Cry,” an illustration by The Masked Lady
“You are not your wounds” - Charlotte Bronte Someone Else’s Wonderland
ity has taken a sharp right turn like
clone sits in front of me on the grass,
a roller-coaster. “Nice metaphor.
holding the fruit basket and eating
Although I would say our reality
my grapes. She starts talking before I
When I get home it’s about 6:30. I
has taken more of a plunge off of a
can even start, which might be a good
walk past my brother’s screams, past
cliff filled with snakes. For dramat-
thing. “Before you start asking bor-
my little sister huddled on the couch,
ic effect.” I scream and whip my
ing questions”- I raise an eyebrow at
past the TV, and swing the door to my
head around so fast I get whiplash.
the suggestion of ‘boring,’ which she
room shut. My science teacher last year
I turn around and see my clone
ignores. “I’ll just answer them all. This
told us that life could very well be an
in rabbit ears sitting on my chair
is your hidden reality. I’m you in this
illusion, and that the world presented to
and eating the grapes in the fruit
world, but to distinguish, you’re Alice
us by our perceptions is nothing like re-
basket. Literally. She looks just like
and I’m Alex.” She nods, then pro-
ality. At the time he said that, I was half-
me, wearing my clothes and my
ceeds to eat the grapes, satisfied with
asleep, but now I’m cursing my percep-
watch and eating my favorite fruit.
her explanation. I blink twice. “That
tions for presenting this world to me. I
Naturally, I faint and hit the floor.
probably only answered 2 out of my 2
place the food basket that Sarah’s mom
When I wake up, I’m surrounded
million questions right now! Why am I
gave me on my dresser -Sarah’s mom
in waves of color. Streaks of pink
here? Is it because I wished to be in
has always been like that-overly nice
and blue are slashed across the
a different reality because if so, can
to the point of food baskets brimming
sky like cotton candy, and playing
I just go back through a portal like in
with fruit. I’m not complaining though.
cards grow on the squat bush-
the movies?” Alex cringes at the men-
In January after what happened, she
es. At this point I’m too scared to
tion of a portal, bunny ears flopping
told me I could come over to their house
faint. I sit up carefully, eyeing this
over her frustrated face. “You’re here
anytime. They understand how my real-
bizarre new world. Yet again my
because I need you to see something
By Eos
4
to help you see - well you’ll see eventually. And I’m
now. “Alice, remember when your brother first started to walk
not even going to answer the portal question-it’s
after being in the hospital for so long? This illness has its dark
just a cliche from that stupid movie.” “Wait,” I say,
moments, but he will recover.” “Will he recover in this world?”
“In this world, is he still..” “I can’t answer that,” Alex
I ask urgently. My dad nods, and it feels like something, some
says, looking away. “I have to take you to someone
layer I wasn’t aware of is peeled off of me. I’m lighter now. He
who can.” Which is how we end up in my dad’s tea
will recover. Just hearing this somehow makes me feel relieved.
shop. In a freaking parallel universe. When we walk
Somewhat predictably, I faint for the third time, and when I wake
in, he’s sitting there with some stupid hat on. Alex
up, I’m back in my room again. This world is one where pain
goes up behind him and hugs him, then sits down.
and recovery is intertwined like dark and light. I know now that
“Hello Alice,” he says, regarding me like a traveler
for my brother, the light wins. Maybe it can win for me too. The
from another world rather than his daughter. Which
chair where Alex sat is now littered with grapes, remnants from
I guess is technically true. He gestures for me to sit
someone else’s Wonderland.
down, and trembling, I sit in a large uncomfortable wooden chair. I decide to cut right to the chase. I must know. Before I can speak, Alternate-dad raises his hand in a pause gesture. Everyone in this world keeps interrupting me. “Remember when we went to the carnival when you were little? You and your siblings tried to force me to go in the dunk tank, but I said that I would only go in if one of you dragged me there?” I nod, and Alex nods too. Alternate-dad continues. “You were the only one able to drag me there, Alice. You were the strongest one.” This is a refrain I’ve been repeating to myself for the past few months, to keep myself from breaking while hearing him. While watching his pain. While pretending everything’s fine. I am the strongest one. I look up from my thoughts as a sign for him to keep going. “When your brother got sick, Alice, we thought he was going to die.Thank god he will recover completely. But as you know, recovery for his disease is not easy.” “His disease.” The letters seem so much less than what the illness is. The illness is pain in damaged nerves. The pain is seeing your 19-year old brother sad. I was supposed to be the strong one, but look at me
“Now I’m Haunted,” an illustration by The Masked Lady
5
Seven Deadly Roommates By Janus
So, you’ve finally graduated from high school! A new adventure is dawning for you at Pandemonium University, little devil. But there are a few bumps in the way to completing your major in Temptation Studies. Namely, roommates! Here are seven deadly roommates ranked from awful to terrifying. They will scar you for life and eat all your cereal! 7. Sloth She’s the stereotypical bad roommate. Sloth sleeps through the whole day, skips classes, and drinks your milk without asking. If you live with her, clothes will be strewn across the floor, until the floor is covered by sweaty fabric. Her side of the room is nest-like, as she burrows under blankets and forgotten assignments. Anime plays on her laptop at all times, and she doesn’t use headphones. Prepare to go to the library to study, because she’s always there. 6. Lust After moving from Sloth’s room, you find yourself with a nice, although dim, girl. Lust is not here for education, but to go to the hottest fraternity parties. Her Human Communications major is only an afterthought. “I’m probably rushing,” she says casually, while clinging to any sorority girl near her. Her desk is littered with sorority gear and expensive Sephora makeup. She spends several hours getting ready for class, eventually deciding on “casual” Uggs and black leggings. You don’t even want to know what she does each night, and you never ask. She comes back late at night, and slams the door so loud that you wake up from sleep.
5. Envy Okay, so your past few roommates have been annoying, but this girl seems nice enough. You immediately become friends with her. However, as months pass, she becomes a stage five clinger. Envy gloms onto your friends, and spends every moment of her day with you. She touches all of your stuff, and compliments you constantly. “I wish I had horns like yours,” she sighs, looking in the mirror at her perfect reflection. You reassure her that she is gorgeous too, but she ignores you. Envy slowly starts coming to every event with you. You try and tell her you need alone time, but she gets upset and throws a pillow at you. She posts angsty pictures on Crackchat all night long. A few days later, you find her setting your room on fire. 4. Gluttony Okay, maybe this guy will be tolerable. Gluttony is a cool dude, who helps you move in the charred remains of your possessions. He is freakishly skinny and clothes hang off him. He asks if he can use your mini fridge. You oblige, and he immediately stuffs it with hellhound jerky and energy drinks. Your cereal is shoved to the back. Only later do you realize he has a fridge of his own. Gluttony eats so much that you almost feel sick watching him. His mouth unhinges like a snake’s jaw as he eats the entire contents of the cafeteria. Pizza, soda, and cafeteria ladies disappear into his gullet. Other students run away screaming as he starts eating chairs and taking giant bites out of the wall. After the rampage
is over, Gluttony pats his stomach, now distended and swollen. You throw up in the trash can. Even worse, the room quickly becomes a mess. Gluttony leaves his garbage everywhere, and soon flies and cockroaches swarm on the floor. It smells like a sewer, and your stuff is quickly contaminated. You call the campus SWAT team after a few days of survival. They quickly quarantine the room and cart Gluttony off for questioning. Apparently, a new species of bacteria grew inside of your room. All your stuff must be destroyed to stop a new plague from decimating Hell. 3. Greed Next, you move in to a luxurious apartment, after Pandemonium University apologizes profusely for housing you with a biohazard. Its occupant is a rather disgruntled guy who complains about the new servant. You wait until he’s done ranting to mention that you’re his new roommate. Greed calms down and welcomes you to his humble abode. He has a whole tower to himself in the center of campus. In fact, he replaced all of your lost possessions. What a cool dude. You quickly get used to the good life in Greed’s apartment. There is a Jacuzzi, a fully functioning restaurant and even an underground labyrinthine shrine to the dark god Baal! Greed’s father paid for Pan University to be rebuilt after the Great Dragon Explosion of 2003. He’s a seventeenth-generation legacy, dating back to the Stygian Ages when a few demons crawled out of a smoldering wasteland and thought it was a good idea to build an educational center.
Greed gets anything he wants, fast cars, chicks, even his own human country to control! He is an Investment Banking major, and intends to be even richer than his father. He starts by charging you rent to live there. You oblige, only because it starts out cheap at first. Soon the interest piles on. Apparently, his buying you entirely new possessions wasn’t out of the kindness of his heart. Greed angrily demands to be repaid. You’re a poor college student, how are you supposed to pay that? He storms out of the room, muttering about calling his lawyer. Late at night, you wake up to excruciating pain. Two masked demons are carving your kidney out. One hospital visit later, you are told that thugs were sent by Greed to take a kidney as payment. You never talk to Greed again, and shake your fist at the golden tower whenever you go by it on campus. 2. Wrath She narrows her eyes as you enter her room. She threatens you until you say that you’re her new roommate. Wrath is a muscled attractive woman, who glares at you if you even go close to her. She’s a talented athlete, and is the starring player of the Pan lacrosse team. You’ve been to a few of her games before, and the opposing team often leaves in gurneys. She’s part of ROTC and studies Criminal Justice, she says proudly. You are slightly terrified of her becoming a soldier. Wrath is prone to acts of violence. When she failed her Human Culture final, she destroyed the entire building. Everyone is slightly proud/terrified of her, so she only gets a warning. Wrath gets up early in the morning for ROTC and gym, and gets back late at night, covered in blood. She mutters something about purging the blasphemers before collapsing into bed. After telling your friends this, they are terrified and ask how you are still alive.
6
One night, Wrath returns early from lacrosse practice. You look up from your laptop to see her advancing towards you. She brandishes her lacrosse stick menacingly, and whacks you across the head. You wake up in a dusty arena. Devils chant “Fight, fight, fight,” in the dim light. Wrath hovers nearby, wearing golden armor. But instead of a lacrosse stick, she holds a flaming sword. On the wall is a banner that says, “PAN U FIGHT CLUB”. You finally realize what Wrath’s late night extracurricular is. After a long night, you stumble to the infirmary, clutching your wounds. You are promptly removed from Wrath’s room. 1. Pride You hope this is the last roommate before freshman year is over. With an array of terrible roommates, your grades have suffered, you gained physical and
emotional scars, and you can’t look at lacrosse sticks without screaming. Pride greets you, smiling broadly. He is incredibly handsome, and looks more like an angel than a devil. He’s the SGA president, flying team captain, and the top student in Temptation Studies. You sigh with relief as he is utterly normal. Pride doesn’t stay out too late, set the room on fire, or beat you with sports equipment! Sure, he may be full of himself, but at least he keeps the room tidy. You become good friends with him and commiserate about the difficulty of Temptation Studies classes. Soon enough it was the end of the second semester. Congratulations, you survived freshman year at Pan U! You plan to celebrate with Pride after your last final
Green with Envy
ends. But when you look for him in your dorm, he is missing. You shrug and go to the cafeteria to get pizza. As you step outside, the campus explodes in a burst of flames. You fly to cover in the nearest bush. The very ground opens and dark shadowy beasts rise from the cracks. They howl with bloodlust and attack nearby students. Fire rains from the sky, and blood fills the water fountains. Greed’s mighty tower topples and the sports field where Wrath is practicing vaporizes. Unholy beasts from the bowels of Hell stalk the campus, their very forms too hideous to describe. Fire pits pool in the ground. Sirens fill the air as the fire is desperately fought. More monsters escape the campus and start ravaging downtown Pandemonium city.
Pride helps you up from the bush. His khakis and buttoned shirt are pristine despite the apocalypse occurring. “You did this,” you say with horror. Pride smirked. His eyes were cold and empty. He says, “Pan U bores me. I’d rather take over Hell and become a ruthless dictator. I’m sure you understand.” You can’t say you understand, but you nod anyway and hope he doesn’t kill you. Pride flies away, a horde of slavering monsters at his command. You huddle in the smoldering remains of Pan U, thinking of how excited you were for university. How foolish that was. Survivors stumble around, dazed from the attack. Pandemonium burns under the onslaught of several dragons. As the wails of the damned intensify, you wish you took a gap year.
“Feetz,” a photograph by Technicolor Zebra
By Hestia
Green is the color of life, Of energy, growth, and prosperity. Does it make sense, To be green, with envy?
I can’t help but look at you, and wonder what you even had to lose, When you throw around careless, thoughtless words, Inconsiderate, Yet you have the crowd roaring, Claps and the stage to yourself. My hands shake with contained fury, You complain about trivial things, While others live vicariously through your success. You made it, What else is there? I can’t stand the sight of it, Wondering after all these years, Why I bothered to handle everything with such fragility, Consideration, When you tear everything and everyone with your bare hands, And they all do, Is keep coming back for more.
7
She Never Came Back By Janus
I still feel responsible for Alice going missing. She was my sister. I was responsible for her, yet I failed. I won’t ever forgive myself. On a spring day, we sat under an oak tree in the yard. I read my book, there. Alice fidgeted, adjusting her pinafore, making a daisy chain crown, and even climbing the tree. “That isn’t very ladylike, Alice. Come down,” I said. My sister stuck out her tongue. She jumped from a branch and landed in the grass beside me. “I want to go inside now,” she whined. “We’re having a fine time out here,” I said. “You can read my book with me.” Alice squinted at its pages. “There aren’t any pictures.” “Adult books don’t have any,” I said, concentrating on the page. I didn’t even notice that she disappeared. I looked up from my book, to see her gone. “Alice?” I said. There was only the sounds of birds chirping. I didn’t think much of it originally. She must have run off to play by the river. Only when afternoon faded to evening did I worry. Where did she go? Did she get lost in the woods? Did somebody take her? “Alice!” I called, stamping through the forest. My book lay long forgotten under the tree. “Where are you?” There was no answer. Fear welled up inside of me. She couldn’t be that far. Right? She never came back. We looked for Alice throughout the spring. Searching for a rag, or her shoe, or something. But by summer, we gave up. Any signs of her were long gone. Guilt racked my body, and I could hardly sleep. Mother was inconsolable, and stayed in her chambers for most of the days. I didn’t go near the oak tree anymore. It was painful, seeing where Alice and I once sat. Where she disappeared forever. I returned only once, when the summer was almost over. A chill filled the air, and my petticoats shivered in the wind. A rabbit scurried across the field, its red eyes glowing in the fading light. Dead leaves already dropped from the tree, littering the ground. I headed toward it reluctantly. Suddenly, the ground gave way, and my foot became stuck in a hole. I shrieked and tumbled to the ground. My ankle twisted with the fall. A groan fell from my lips. Carefully, I pulled out my leg, but the shoe had fallen inside. Upon closer inspection, the hole appeared to be an animal’s burrow. It was
abandoned, no creature within it. I could see my shoe glittering in the dark. I reached out for it, sticking my hand into the hole. It almost was in my grasp… Instead I grabbed a piece of fabric. What was that doing there? Carefully I pulled it out. The cloth was a crumpled pinafore, once white. It was creased and streaked with dirt and… blood! Was it hers? The pocket bulged oddly. Hands trembling, I spilled out the contents. A pile of playing cards fluttered to the ground, diamonds and spades, red and black. One card was covered with bloody fingerprints. The Queen of Hearts. Tears fell down my cheeks, as I held back a sob. Someone did this to her, to send a message. What if Alice was still alive? She had to be. I couldn’t accept anything else. Carefully, I pocketed the card and slipped into the hole. It was cramped and filled with dead leaves. A tunnel lay ahead, pitch black. Just as I thought. Fear filled my heart, but I pushed it away. Alice was alive, her pinafore was a sign from her. I didn’t even care that my skirts were ripped and muddy. I was going to see her again! I crept into the tunnel, leaving my shoe behind. I will find Alice, and bring her home.
“Who is Falling?” an illustration by The Masked Lady
8
Those Hands In Mine By Andromeda
I remember now that sweet smooth scent And Mothers wrinkled kisses on my cheek Her hand enveloping mine As we flew through fields of feathery grass Soaring on the wings of our imagination I recall the first time my heart skipped a beat His large warm hand in mine And that feeling of breathlessness As we gazed up at the endless starry sky Stretching farther than the farthest sea The truth is in all my years And after all this time I have never felt more loved Then when those hands held mine
“Moving On,� an illustration by The Masked Lady
9
Closure
By Hestia Every storm eventually passes, And the sun, Has a chance to shine again. It’s been awhile, Since I could close my eyes, And have no fears, Of peeking at the world in front of me, The fresh spring blossoms fill the gardens around me, Isn’t it refreshing, To be filled with life again?
Invidia
“Chapel,” a photograph by Incandescence
By A.T. Pacem By the way she steps in place and curls her hair I know she is ready, green vines snake around her ankles, the flowers wilt and break off as she walks towards where the church bells weep and hide in the shadows of a light so bright sunlight looks darker than charcoal. Her gaze begs her pardon, her voice says otherwise.
After years that seem like a blur, I can breathe. It’s the first breath of many to come, A soft, deep inhale of pure relief, Whatever hectic, tumultuous experience from the past, Forget it. It’s over. It’s finally Over.
“I’m so Purtty,” an illustration by Technicolor Zebra
10
Me, Myself,
words. “What...what are
egg omelettes. They’ll be ready
are you doing here? This
soon.” And with that, she walks
sounded very familiar. She
shouldn’t be possible. This
out briskly.
By Incandescence
turned to the right and was
can’t be possible”
Just like every other day, Lissa
met with a young girl. She
“Nothing that can’t be
is in her bedroom, hunched over
had a slight build and dark
explained later, kiddo. Go
But-but, I’ve-this is- what is
a pile of notes and textbooks. She
hair and eyes.
back to sleep.”
going on?!”
and I
rubs her bloodshot eyes and darts
asked. Lissa froze. The voice
The girl spoke again. “I’m
a glance towards the glowing red
Lissa. I’m six and I like
numbers on her nightstand; it’s
lions.”
2:27 AM, and she needs to be up
Lissa picked her jaw back
Not really knowing why, Lissa does. In the morning, Lissa’s
Lissa looks flabbergasted. “What?! You know my mom?
The girl pipes up. “ I don’t know, I just blinked, and I showed up here. Same with Mel.
mom comes in to see what’s
And she’s not your mom, she’s my mom.”
again for the next day of school
up and stammered, “Well,
taking so long. She sees the
at 6:20.
uh, that’s actually my name
three of them sprawled on
too.”
either the bed or the leather
in the right place, so you’ve got
couch in the corner.
to do whatever you’ve got to do
Her panic renewed, Lissa flips faster through her book and
The girl brightened.
jumps from one paper to the next,
“Cool! So we’re friends
trying to cram everything in. Her
now. Is this your room?”
vision blurs; the diagrams and
A young woman, also with
After waking all of them up, she smiles and hugs
Mel adds on, “ I know I’m not
and get me and Elle back.” Lissa blinks. “But I don’t know
the little girl. “Why, I see
why you guys are here! I didn’t
words all blend together into one
dark hair and eyes, stepped
you’re still here! You were
ask for anything or wish for any-
giant mess. Biting her lip, she re-
into Lissa’s line of sight and
always so sweet.” The girl
thing! And, Elle?”
sists the urge to scream. Without
answered for her. “Yup. It’s
giggles and holds tightly to
her permission, her eyelids close,
quite boring, isn’t it?”
Lissa’s mom.
both are called Lissa, it’d get
and her neck bends until her face
Lissa screamed.
rests on her arms. Immediately,
The woman looked
she is sucked into the dangerous
amused. Inspecting the
too. “I always knew you
“Whatever! It just-- it’s impossi-
cocoon of sleep.
desk, she spoke. “Oh, I
would turn out to be a won-
ble to teleport!”
remember now. It’s this
derful, beautiful person.”
and shake her. Lissa immediately
part. I was so glad when it
Just like the little girl did,
eyes. “I’d say it’s also pretty
jerks awake, horrified. She had
passed.”
Mel hugs her back firmly.
impossible for the 6, 16, and 26
Small hands grasp her shoulders
fallen asleep! So much time had been wasted! The same hand poked her right shoulder. “Um, excuse me. Who are you?” a high pitched voice
Next, her mother turns
Mel smiles. “Well, since you
to the woman and hugs her
pretty confusing.” Lissa gets up and paces.
Mel looks right into Lissa’s
Then, directly to Lissa,
“Well, I guess since this
she added. “I have a feeling
is a special occasion, Lissa,
person to exist in the same place
you already know who I am.
you can take the day off. I’ll
at the same time, but it’s clearly
Call me Mel.”
call the school and tell them
happening now.”
Lissa was at a loss for
you’re sick. Breakfast is
year old versions of the same
“This is so cool! It’s like an
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adventure! Will there be dragons too? I want to ride one!” shouted Elle. Lissa broke from her stunned daze. “What? No dragons! You and Mel need to go home! I need to study for my physics test!” Elle, visibly crestfallen, grumbled “You’re so uptight. Don’t you ever take a break? Or have fun?” “Seriously, Lissa” chipped in Mel. “You’re running yourself ragged.”
Lissa sat down on the bed heavily. Her head ached. It was still only morning, but day had never seemed quite so long. ¨I...I don’t know. But it seems so important now.¨ Mel added, ¨Everyone can go to college…. But even if you don’t, it’s not the end of the world. Stop stressing! Another version of yourself is telling you that it all turns out okay! And I don’t know if you’ll still turn out like me, but whatever happens, I know you, and you’ll be fine. I promise.¨ There was silence in the room for a long time.
“I can’t I can’t I can’t! I have to maintain my straight
Finally, Lissa stands up. She walks out the room and goes
A’s! Otherwise I’ll never go to college and I’ll be misera-
downstairs to breakfast, her other selves following right after.
ble the rest of my life! Do you have any idea how import-
Students are pressured to uphold academic success to the point
ant this is to me?” screamed Lissa.
that they may forget what is more important- keeping your
Elle seemed taken aback from the loud sound. “Well,
dreams alive and maintaining a sense of well-being.
I’m not going to be like that when I grow up. I’m going to be an astronaut.” Lissa flinched. Mel sighed softly. “You seem pretty miserable now. When’s the last time you slept? Or did anything just for you and not for college applications? Lissa turned away from Mel. “I...I do plenty of things outside of school. Really. It’s just that--that school takes up so much time, and I have to do well and if I don’t then-then everyone will think I’m a loser and I’ll end up on the streets.” Mel chuckled. “I’m telling you, school is not the most important thing. Your life doesn’t end at college,” she pointed out. Elle stood up on the bed and began to bounce. “Are you sure that you need to do that to become a dinosaur doctor? That’s what I’m going to be.” “Don’t forget about what you dreamed about when you were younger,” reminded Mel.
“Time is an Illusion,”an illustration by The Masked Lady
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Orion
thought itto be true.
Who we love indefinitely describes who we are, beyond the books and blankets and dying fireplaces, we are the people who we love, and the people who love us beyond what we can imagine and yes we’ve all heard the different ways to tell someone you love them.
We still carry out the legacy of the stars, violently, with a rage that does rage against the dying of light and forces itself to be heard and felt between the veins of each one of us sitting here, wondering when I’m going to shut up and sit down and step off a soap box I don’t think I deserve or will deserve and as you can see the dying stars in me are speaking, because they still glimmer with hope even though in hours, days, millenium—they will die.
by A.T. Pacem
It’s hugging for a second longer or laughing for a moment too long for the joke to catch up, or crying when you’re not supposed to. We are made of supernovas, of destruction and heat and fires so lethal we could evaporate on the spot with nothing left to mark our legacies besides the books we busy ourselves with writing, and the dead peoples’ names, and the demonization of one person rather than the hearts of a people who just thought what they were doing was right, was justified, was rooted in a hate so deep they
But they will die against a backdrop of life full of blinding light, full of hope, full of something bigger than themselves and that itself is beautiful. We are the people we love because we see the stars in their skin and hands and eyes. We see life, and beauty, and supernovas. We see them, and they see us not as human but as the stars against the deep blue of a beautiful, human midnight.
Personification By Technicolor Zebra Things coming to life Human characteristics In a moral tale Abstract ideas Cunning, sly, and trickery Only not human
“You Light Me Up,” A Photograph by Lucifer
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Featherlight by A.T. Pacem
Breathe in, and out. In, out, in. out. Step by step, gentle dance moves against a pine wood floor that leaves splinters, and leaves the ghosts of the winter forest breathing softer, and softer, until springtime laughter fades into nothing and we’re left all alone. Can you hear the wind as she whispers her way through the leaves of the trees and the stones at the bottom of the pond as they skitter downstream and disrupt the salmon struggling upstream? Can you hear the way the woodpecker tapstapstapstapstaps until he stops, finds a dent in the way the tree twists and dances mid step until he flies away, afraid? Breathe in, and out, in, out, in. out. Step by step, gentle dance moves against the fine grains of sand and the wild tendrils of the waves as they crash and swell, finishing their breaths in the embrace of the trees. Can you see where the horizon stops, where the sunset can’t reach in fear of losing herself? Where the ghosts of the winter forest are born and the woodpecker falls asleep inside his home? That’s where i am, and where you’ll find me. Where you’ll find me. if you can.
“I SEE YOU,” a photograph by Canada
Ira
by A.T. Pacem By the way her knuckles come back bleeding and she spits i know she is ready, eyes redder than the blood across her skin, the shards of glass littered around her feet like snow on watery lashes as she runs towards misery, teeth bared and hands and nails open wide to turn the sea red. Her eyes bleed, but her stare says otherwise.
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New Territory Superbia
by A.T. Pacem By the way her voice claws the air and calls herself the “anti-god”, i know she is ready, veins poke out from where her hands choke faith, the soft call of happiness and pity, until lips turn blue and she kisses what futile life they have left under the thoughtful gaze of the stars, who weep as they shine. Her voice pierces, but her soul says otherwise.
By Dawn
The sun was quickly setting and the sky was a gallery filled with pink, blue, and orange. I had finished lunch and taken a nap afterwards. Our vast backyard looked like a field of shimmering grass as seen in a portrait, and it really looked straight out of a painting. On one side of the yard was a large pool, which was waiting to be opened up. A huge tube slide spilled into it. Everything felt perfect but a type of different perfect. It felt movie-perfect. As I sat there on the bench by a miniature pond, I took in my perfect, or imperfectly perfect, surroundings. It felt like a summer night, peaceful and pleasant, and silent. The occasional breeze swept by me causing me to feel like maybe this wouldn’t be a terrible home after all. I could hear the nearby birds chirping their good-evenings to each other and the flutter of their wings flying away. “Well, this is turning out pretty okay,” I said aloud to nobody. Then I smoothed out my chiffon shirt once more and walked across the bridge one more time before walking back into the house. I decided to explore more of my new house before I turned in for the night but just as I began walking away; Dad said to me, “So how do you like the backyard?” “It’s actually really nice,” I replied reluctantly, not wanting to really love this place. “It’s called the White Forest!” I heard Dad call after me. I wasn’t sure what that meant, but for now I was assuming it was the name of the house. I began to make my way back upstairs and explore some more of my new house but thought better of it when the name “The White Forest” reentered my mind. That sounds interesting, I remember thinking. Suddenly, I was turning around and had decided to leave through the front door and loop around the house again to the back. The woods that enclosed the far end of my backyard hadn’t really caught my attention before then. They seemed like a backdrop for my picturesque new yard but now that I looked at it, the woods seemed to be the focal attraction. They really were beautiful. The trees were tall and healthy looking, standing tall with an air of impor-
“ Solar Panel,” a photograph by Elaine Birnbaum
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tance and wisdom over everything else. The greenery of the whole location made the whole place seem like it was part of an acclaimed national park that people from all over the world visited. The shimmery grass appeared to continue growing in chunks here and there amongst the trees, enticing me to explore the unseen territory. But why was it called The White Forest?
I screamed internally because I was too shocked to make any sound. There was someone sitting at the edge of the pond with their back turned to me. It appeared as though the person had his or her feet in the water. I crept up a little closer to observe and noticed it was a boy. Not a young boy. He seemed older than elementary school. Well, how much could I tell from just the back of him? A lot, actually. His hair wasn’t perfectly straight and it wasn’t extremely curly. I had to know more. Who could be here at this hour in my backyard? I must’ve started walking with less caution because suddenly I saw his back straighten and with the agility of a gymnast, he had whipped his head around and was looking me straight in the face.
I approached as closely as I could to the wooded area before I decided I would have to find out why it was called “white.” I noted it wasn’t even pitch dark yet and I would only step in for a few seconds before I came back out, because I wasn’t really the type of girl who created mischief. The woods were actually quite lovely. It wasn’t a word I used very often but it was the perfect one to describe the new land I had entered. It felt like a new land. As soon as I walked in amongst the tall trees I felt like I had steeped into a whole new world apart from the one that kept me still in my backyard. The woods seemed to go on forever and though they were supposed to be scary like in the fairytales I read when I was younger, I decided that they were actually a really beautiful place to be before sundown. After a few minutes of slow walking and observing the serenity of the place, I decided to turn back. Just as I was turning around to make my way back, I noticed something shiny. No, not shiny. Yes, it was shiny at first but then I realized I was looking at a glistening pond. I gasped. I thought places like that only existed in movies. It was a little ways off but I could tell it was as big as a swimming pool. Then “ Bench,” a photograph by Elaine Birnbaum
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