“Lark, have you ever drank before?” The question comes out of nowhere, the two lying in the dark, Rhodey on the floor in a heap of plush blankets and pillows while Lark is curled up in her bed. He can see her figure turn over, presumably so she can squint down at him. “No. Why?” “I dunno.” He tips his head back and closes his eyes. “Just curious. You’re just always… so distant.” He softens his voice. “Lost in a world of your own. So I thought… what if?” “You know I wouldn’t drink.” “Well, I never thought I would, either.” A heavy pause. He sighs. “This is too dark, especially right before bed.” “We’re already in bed.” She rolls over onto her back, too; he can hear the sheets rustling. “At least I am. Sure you don’t wanna come up? Floor’s gotta be cold for you.” Her voice drawls with exhaustion. Actually, that’s just how she always sounds nowadays, day or night. But he laughs. “It’s okay.” I’m glad you haven’t completely lost your spunk. “What do you want to do in the future? You were a pretty good student last year, y’know.” “I dunno.” She sighs. “I can’t see anything in my future. Not after… that. I just dunno what to do. Nothing interests me anymore, not even painting or forensics or travel.” A pang strikes Rhodey in the heart. She… she loved those things just last year.“I know what happened weighs on you. I know telling you it wasn’t your fault won’t make a difference to you, but it really wasn’t, okay? Trust me. I… I know you. You’re the kindest person I know, Lark.” “...” “So… Once we get through high school--” “Will I get through high school?” Her voice, however soft, cuts through his train of thought like a knife. He pauses. “...okay. One step at a time, then. We’ll just think about getting past this year, alright? In the summertime, let’s go on trips around Europe, alright? I’ve got relatives there. It’ll be fun!” Despite himself, he feels a smile creeping across his face. “We can visit museums and look at old paintings, go to nice little cafés in Paris, maybe stay at one of my family mansions in Britain. I can take you wherever you want-- I honestly don’t know many places, but I know you’ve done your research and stuff, if you remember it all. I’m fluent enough in most of the languages, at least.” “...” For a moment, Rhodey thinks she actually fell asleep, which would be a miracle, considering it isn’t even two yet. Until she speaks. “...the Lipizzaner horses… in Vienna…” Her voice is soft; reminiscent, almost. “I’ve… always wanted to go. And… the Museum of Natural History.” “I think I’ve heard of those!” He’s so happy he just barely stops himself from sitting up in excitement. She… still remembers. A part of her that I know is still alive, if only just barely..! “They’re not that far away from each other, either, right?” “No, I don’t think so.” Her voice wavers, her tone changing as if broken by a smile, and he feels his heart stumble, half in surprise, half in ecstasy. “It feels more like… a fever dream, really. Imagining myself in Europe.” “Let’s make it a reality then!” He thinks his mind is just making this all up, too, but he’s not, and that’s what makes it all the better. “Let’s just first make it through the year, then, okay? One day at a time. You can’t give up with that prize at the end, can you?” “...if you say so.” But by morning, the part of her that came to life under starlight dies once more, and Rhodey wonders if the night was a dream after all.
Shadow Man By Alli Hagen
“I got one, in my hands, I got one!” Florence exclaimed, the firefly in her palm illuminating her smile, that stretched from ear to ear. “Let me have a look, Flossie. Give ‘em here. Give ‘em here!” Her sister, Marie, held her own hands out impatiently, excitedly bouncing up and down. Instead of handing the insect over to her sister, who had got frustrated with waiting, and moved on to trying to catch a firefly of her own, Florence sat in the soft grass, her pink chiffon dress lined with cream colored lace settling around her. The golden light from the abdomen of the firefly flicked on and off, waxing and waning. It danced inside the flesh cage of the girl’s hands, bouncing off each finger and shining through into the black canvas of night. With a gentle smile, Florence gingerly peeled her hands apart, and the bug flickered away to dance in the dark, the sky it’s stage. “Good luck finding your way back home, little lighting bug.” She whispered to her now empty palms. Brushing the specs of rich soil from the blush skirt of her dress, Florence stood. The fireflies still lit up the night sky, some flying way into the woods that emerged a few feet from where she stood in her backyard. “Have you gotten one yet, ‘Ria?” Florence called out to her sister, absent-mindedly still fluffing the dirt out from her clothes. After a moment of silence, she looked up, too see Marie standing at the edge of the wood. The moon has already started to emerge from the trees, waking up from it’s nocturnal cycle. The wood was dark, and only a few silhouettes stood out against the black of night. Florence edged closer to her sister, who merely just stood, staring into the depths of the trees. A chill shot through Florence’s spine as she now stood only a foot or two away from Marie, a blanket of ominosity now seeming to settle over the two. Suddenly, Marie turned to face Florence, skittering back from the trees. She was pale, and her eyes were wide as the full moon that now had taken its place in the sky. “Do you see it?” Marie breathed, standing still. “No, what are you talking about? Are you going mad?” There was a pause, and Marie turned to look back into the forest. “The Shadow, Florence. Just be quiet…watch.” The girls stood stock still, the only sound the gentle, controlled breathing that made white clouds against their rosey cheeks in the cold. A whistle of wind blew across the trees, and the silence consumed the night, until *snap*. The two girls jumped back, and hesitantly strolled towards the wood, until it’s gaping mouth consumed them. The sun rose over the horizon, a watercolor blend of pink and orange painting the sky. Shivering, sat a woman on her worn porch step. Her eyes wide and puffy, with a knit burgundy shawl loosely around her shoulders. A man approached her, his golden badge glinting a blinding reflection of the new morning sun. “No sign of ‘em yet, Ma’am. Looked in all the places you listed and drove ‘round town in circles till our heads were spinning, but nothing.” The woman nodded, and then looked back at the ground. “The woods, officer.” She whispered, the man turning back and peering over to look at the forest. “Yeah, that was the next place to look. They were playing near it, you said?” The woman nodded again, this time standing up. “It’s a big wood, and I want to help look.” She said with determination. “Ma’am, I don’t think that’s the best-” “I said that I want to go, please.” With a sigh and a nod to another officer that stood nearby, loosely listening in, the man walked off. Later, a party of 11 people, both officers and volunteers searched the wood. It didn’t take very long, about 10 minutes, to find what they’d all known they’d come across. Trudging through the wooded area, solemn faces searched for the inevitable. Then, a screm echoed throughout the forest. Lips blue and eyes glassy, Florence and Marie lay on the forest ground. A howl emerged from the woman, their mother, dropping her shawl onto the soil, that was now sticky with blood. After a moment, volenteers went off to go home, still in shock. Sobs racked the ground, the frantic mother’s wails heard from a mile away. She looked up, finally. New police searching the scene, EMT paramedics solemnly waiting to clean the area. And she couldn’t be sure, but as the mother got up, she could have sworn she’d seen somebody, no, not somebody, but their shadow.
The Couple's Fate By Fatima Yossif
(It is late at night. ANDREW and his wife are laying down in their bedroom. She is sleeping. The room has a dim light on. Her vanity is topped with their belongings like jewelry, makeup, photos, and more. ANDREW is anticipating opening himself up. )
ANDREW: Honey…I’ve been yearning to get something off of my chest (He glances at her, holding her arm). Perhaps I should say it now. It’s not the most conventional way of telling but I think it would be the best for us. These past few years of us have had its ups and downs. You’ve supported my work, a career in research that asks for all of my time. (He pauses and glances at his books).You have never complained or shown the slightest of objection with my career (He gets up and walks to different areas of the room). You’ve promoted traveling, something we do to bond. I’ll never forget the trips we’ve had throughout the world, honey (He pauses and looks at his photo album). This photo, oh I love it so much. This is actually one of the best trips I’ve experienced. And god, your smile is unforgettable. Do you remember how milkish white the Arabian horses were? They were astonishing. (He pauses for a moment in remembrance of the trip) But what you don’t know is that our bonding, our relationship, (He holds a piece of her jewelry)is not something I intend on lasting forever (He sets down the jewelry). I think this is more of the right person and wrong time predicament. A moment that can tear apart people, and make them question themselves as a person. It’s the life-changing struggles of facing grief; I’m sure you remember us talking about this. It was a vulnerable moment in our relationship. You know it shapes how I am, and how we are as one. (He gets back on the bed. Stroking the blanket on her body while talking). What I’m saying is, this says so much about you. You were brave enough, strong enough to pursue a relationship with me despite my past, but I don’t think I have been able to get over it yet (He sighs and looks over). The sharp feeling of needles all over your body, but also a feeling of numbness from time to time (He pauses). And I’ve been meaning to apologize, for so long. It seems as though I’ve wasted your time, but I didn’t think this is how everything would have played out (He pauses while starting to cry). You, yourself would have handled a predicament like this with so much ease. You have always been the resilient one in our relationship. The healer, the cure, and the stars. You’ve given me love I haven’t received in ages. I thought connecting with someone else may revive the happiness in me, and it’s not that it completely hasn’t, but I’m doubting if it’s right to heal from grief by having another relationship (He takes a deep breath). Even though we’ve had such supportive times with each other, I can’t help but still feel guilty given my situation. And despite how resilient, wise, and experienced you are, I don’t think this is something I can do with someone (He shakes his head while facing the floor). I have to heal alone. And now I’m left to feel guilty about the fate of our relationship as well. I’m not trying to indicate by any means that we are detrimental to each other in any way, I’m just saying I need to handle things differently right now. In retrospect, this is something I should have mentioned sooner. However, I only started feeling this way these past few months. Then again, holding this in should have never been an option, and I take full responsibility for it, honey. I wholeheartedly believe you deserve to be with someone who is at the same stage in life as you, and not in a predicament like mine. (He gazes around while stroking their blanket)It doesn’t mean I don’t love you, it definitely doesn’t mean I don’t love you, honey. It’s just the wrong time for me (There’s a long pause). I’m too deep into a hole to stay any longer, and you are far on the bright side of life. So, I'm forced to make a change right now. But nothing will bring me to be able to say it… (He looks around the room, searching for an answer).
(ANDREW GRABS A PEN AND PAPER, COMPOSES A LETTER WHERE HE POURS HIS HEART OUT AND SETS IT ON THEIR DRESSER. THEN, GRABS THE PHOTO OF THEM TOGETHER ON A TRIP, WALKS TOWARDS THE DOOR, AND TAKES A FINAL GLANCE BEFORE EXITING OUT WITH TEARS HOLDING BACK) THE END
A Requiem for a Soulmate By S. P. M.
A teenage girl walks up to a fresh grave, flowers in hand. She stops in front of the grave and stands there for a moment. The sky is grey and dark, and the air is dense. I didn’t think I was going to come. She stops, looks at the flowers, and then focuses her attention back on the grave.I’m still not sure why I did. Her hands fiddle with the plastic wrapping up the bouquet.I guess I just kept waiting--hoping--that you were going to show up at my house and say, “Got you!” and it would all go back to the way it was before. She leans toward the grave stone and dusts off some grass bits. Before… all the time (Starts to sit down, criss-cross)we spent pranking and joking around instead of doing our homework. And then your mom would catch us goofing off and she’d put us in different rooms. Smiles to herself, and then starts picking at the grass. I haven’t been over yet. I know Dasher must miss me,--he's such a good boy--but I can’t face your house. Everything there is you. You know, I didn’t even realise you had a smell--I guess I had gotten so used to it--but one of your sweatshirts is still at my house. Starts to get choked up, but clears throat and looks at the flowers already at the grave, left by others, and then to the bouquet she brought.I don’t know why I brought you flowers. You don’t even like flowers and you already have so many. I tried to explain that to my mom, but she insisted. Picks up a dead bouquet and moves it aside.You probably like that everyone is fussing over you. All the flowers, the attention, I know you do. Starts to get back up again. Why do you need so many flowers? You don’t even like them. You’re being selfish. You left me and I’m the one who has to bring you flowers? You quit on me. You left me behind. So why am I the one being sad over you? Why should I have to lay around being sad because you left me? Tears in her eyes, clinging flowers close to chest.Why’d you leave me? Pauses, looks at the flowers in her arms and then back to the headstone. I’d do anything for you. I’d let you skip running with me. I’d let you pick the movie, what we eat for dinner, I’d let you hold Dasher’s leash on every walk. I’ll even clean Feather’s cage everyday. Isn’t that enough? Aren’t I enough? Tears in her eyes, she kneels to the ground and starts tracing the engraving on the headstone with her finger. I really miss you. Sniffs.I miss hanging out with you. Patty and I don’t know what to do anymore. There are these long pauses in our conversations because you aren’t there to fill the gap. I never knew silence could be so loud. Scratches some dirt off of the tombstone. The air seems heavier, too. World’s colors seem less bright. I guess it misses your bright colored, crazy patterned leggings. Smiles at the thought, stops kneeling and sits next to the grave stone. The flowers are rested on her knee and she is holding onto them less tightly. I already know what you’d tell me to do, “move on; be happy, make new friends, keep on living.” But you’re not here, and I’m not ready, so I think for now I’ll just sit here. Just sit here and think. Just sit here and not say all the things I can’t say because I can’t say them. I can barely think them. Picks up a piece of litter--a gum wrapper--left behind by someone. The clouds are dark today. Fitting, I guess. Remember when it was pouring rain and we got out the speaker and danced until our feet hurt? That will forever be one of my happiest moments. It will always belong to me and you. Stops to pull a weed growing behind the grave. Remember when we pulled an all-nighter the last night at the lake house so we could watch the sunrise? Remember when we(laughs a little) used to bake and would put blue food dye in everything? Remember those summer days spent tanning and swimming? We used to go on walks and bike rides everyday. Remember prepping your kitchen for the remodel and making TikToks in Lowes? When we would have week-long sleepovers and wake up at 6AM to go rollerblading. Remember when you, Patty, and me watched the sunset over the cornfield while sitting on top of the jeep?Smiles even bigger, mindlessly picks at her shoe. It was only a little illegal, I mean, Patty almost had her license at that point. Phone dings, she checks it and then looks back at the grave.I have to go. My mom is here. Starts to get up. Sarah, I… I’m glad I came. I love you. Carefully lays down flowers at the base of the tombstone and walks away.
Little Owl By Ben Jacobs
All around was the bustling, in the shade of strategically planted trees, to and from events, showing off the skill of actors and shops selling recreations of artisanship from another time. A reconstruction of life in the Renaissance. An inaccurate and biased recreation, though a fun time for all involved. At this fair I met a variety of people but one stood out. She had this incredibly interesting costume on with a mask which I later knew (after asking her) was an owl mask. The mask had little feathers at the corners next to her eyes in the same way as some owls like the Eurasian Eagle Owl and the rest of her costume was like a mage or sorceress from a fantasy series. Around her neck was a cute green hood that she wore lowered. I was quite outclassed by her costume; my costume consisted of a pair of shorts and a shirt. Nothing medieval. She had a gleam in her eyes that betrayed a zest for life; I enjoyed talking to her. A pang of sadness was the knowledge that we had driven two hours east coming here and she might have driven two hours west. Becoming friends with this individual for half a day was great, I wanted her to be a greater part of my world. But the day had to end and so we had one final moment. We didn’t talk, we just sat on a bench overlooking the field of arms where the joust had taken place and felt the wind pass by and looked out at the rolling hills surrounding us. There weren’t words to describe the beauty and the melancholy nature of it to each other. I remember when we left the image of her fading from view dipping below the curve of a hill until just the tips of the feathers on her mask were visible. I’ll never know her. Even if I lived for two hundred years. That moment is all I get to know of her. Similar to so many others in our lives. You will never know the person standing next to you, walking by you, or sharing the odd comment with you. Not truly. We remember their faces and our dreams would be empty if not for the remembrance of them: the people we meet in the margins of our lives. I have seen her face half obscured once in a dream, I think but can’t remember when. If I did have this dream it was of her in the Owl Mask fading from view first to a glowing halo like the sun then to a point of light as bright as a star. What are stars except for suns you will never know? What are these people in the margins except for friends never made? I pondered. It is not sad to have known people little; it is sad to forget what little you did know. I shouted as she faded, “It is not sad to be a star, little owl, you light up my skies!”
The Abrupt Absence By Mariel Gousios
(May and Aaron have been dating for over two years. They are standing in front of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. May is about to walk in and get on her flight. She talks fast and her eyes move from place to place while she looks visibly upset)
May: Aaron, you can’t follow me into the airport. I know what you’re doing but I won’t let you become one of those cliches in a movie where you follow me into the airport and tell me not to go. Instead, let me be the cliche and tell you exactly why I have to leave. I’m going to New York City, but I want it to be on better terms. And I know, I know. I should’ve told you I was moving earlier... I just didn’t know how to tell you.
(May sighs. Aaron looks around getting impatient, slightly turned away from May) May: I hate doing this to you, and I know you think that I’m doing this for the wrong reasons, but that’s not it. Even if you want to talk, I need you to listen while I clear this up. (May stops pacing and slows her speech. Aaron focuses on her) May: I’m not moving for you. It’s just...There’s nothing left for me in Seattle-- I don’t talk to my parents anymore, my coworkers get annoyed with me everytime I talk to them. Even my sister moved away from Washington. I tried. I mean, should I have told you about this sooner? Well, yeah probably. But I’m trying my best. I’ve stayed here for months longer than I thought I would. The only thing that kept me from moving sooner was you. (May looks at her watch and picks up her speed while talking) May: I never told you, but I applied for a job a while back. I got tired of going to work everyday and being the only one who cared about the wellbeing of the company. No one else was nearly as motivated as me. After my first boss retired, it was never the same. I figured I would only leave the job if I knew I could work with a great company, and this new company is. But, of course, it’s in New York. I talked to my sister Kara and she’ll let me live with her in her apartment while I look for a new place to live. I’ll be okay. (People bump into them while walking into the airport. Aaron watches them go by as May quickly glances at her watch) May: I know that might not be enough for you to accept me moving, but I need you to remember that it’s not because of you. You always cared so much about me, even to a fault. But it’ll be okay. I’ll be fine, I promise. I wouldn’t leave Seattle if Seattle wasn’t already done with me. But as I said, I’ve outgrown almost every part of it. Even as a kid I needed to move around. I can’t stay in the same place unless something new is always happening. (May laughs a little bit, while Aaron keeps a somber face) May: We even met because I’ve always been this way. Remember when we went to college together? I got up in the middle of the night during midterms. I couldn’t sleep and drove to the beach on a whim. That’s when I ran into you. For some reason your car broke down or something, and I stayed with you until your car got taken care of and gave you a ride home. (Both May and Aaron are now smiling) May: I’m not moving because of you. It’s never been about you. As much as I care about you, I can’t let you be the focus of my own life. I would’ve stayed, but I just can’t keep on working at a job that is going downhill… I did do some research, though. (May starts playing with her necklace and looks down. More people pass by them but neither May or Aaron notice. Aaron moves towards May, listening more attentively) May: I was looking at job opportunities for you, so that you can move to New York City too. You’ve never mentioned wanting a change, and you frequently like things to stay the same, but I figured it would make it easier for me to leave if you could move there later. The job is a reach, but I’m sure you’ll get it. There’s an interview in a couple weeks that you can do in Seattle, and then move to New York City if you get hired. Sorry, I mean when you get hired. (May laughs shortly) It might be a long shot but it’s better than nothing… Right? (May pauses and looks at Aaron while an alarm goes off on her phone. Aaron stays still, his jaw dropping slightly) May: Shoot! Okay, I’ve really got to go. The alarm was supposed to be the latest that I could check in without missing my flight. I know it’s a lot, but think about it, okay? And don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine. Alright bye! (May and Aaron quickly hug and then May grabs her bags and runs into the airport, after she takes a couple steps she looks back ) May: Seriously, I’ll be okay! (Aaron starts to smile as she slowly fades in with the crowd)