Uncategorized – Tyrek's Writing

Just a Dream

The television screen flickered wildly, as Ben scrolled haphazardly through streaming services. It was always hard to find a new show to watch, but he was determined to do just that. Camille never really liked the kinds of shows he watched. Pain filtered through his fingers as he stood flicking through sitcoms, dramas, and documentaries so fast his head began to spin, the colors blurring together in a tapestry of boredom and disappointment. He didn’t know what the shows were, but he knew none of them were right. Nothing was right.

“Just pick something already,” Camille chided from the couch, “You’re not getting any younger”

The flickering slowed as Ben landed on a sitcom. An old sitcom, about dating, break ups, love, and friendships. He hated those shows. They were fake. So painfully fake. Camille seemed delighted by the choice however, so reluctantly he pressed play.

A laugh track permeated the air as Ben sat next to Camille on the couch. They watched as the people on screen talked, and laughed. A chorus of laughter accompanied their every movement. The laughing was incessant, and Ben knew nothing could possibly be that funny. He sighed, at least Camille enjoyed it, he thought so anyway, she never spoke as he leaned his head to lay on her shoulder.

He was falling. He must have missed her shoulder, as the air streaming past, roared in his ears. The arm of the couch approached quickly, as his eyes widened in fear.

His head hit the side of the couch with a thud. Pain shaking his senses fully awake. Rubbing his neck he searched for Camille, but he knew he wouldn’t find her. She had left. Disappeared. Just like she did every night.

Why does this keep happening to me?

She would be back though, Ben knew. She always came back. Ben pulled his blanket close, and let the cold glare of the TV wash over him, as raucous laughter filled his empty apartment.

She’ll be back

Ben came home from work the same time he always did. At least he thought so, although he couldn’t really ever remember leaving. Did he even have a job anymore? He didn’t know.

Ben laid down on the bed, and stared at the ceiling, letting his eyes drift out of focus.

“You can’t keep doing this,”

Ben looked over to see Camille lying next to him.

The tinkering of a piano filled the room, as Ben walked into the living room, to see her, breathtaking and beautiful, standing on the stage.

The lights dimmed as a spotlight illuminated her glittery red dress. Like a scene from a movie. The kind of movie with cheap beer, and cigarettes. The kind with wanted heroes, and misunderstood villains.

Sunday is gloomy

My hours are slumberless

Dearest the shadows

I live with are numberless

The kind of movie where the good guys always win.

Little white flowers

Will never awaken you

Not where the black coach

Of sorrow has taken you

The kind where he always gets the girl.

Darling, I hope that my dream

Never haunted you

My heart is telling you

How much I wanted you

Gloomy Sunday

Ben walked swiftly unsure of where his legs were going. He exploded with longing, hypnotized and confused . He had to kiss her. He had to love her. He did love her, and he could never stop. He reached out toward her glittering form, ready to whisk her up and away.

Only air greeted his fingertips, the spotlight was gone and so was Camille.

“You can’t keep doing this, Ben”

Camille stood by the door, a suitcase in hand, and her winter coat held snug to her shoulder.

“I’m leaving y’know, I have a plane to catch.”

You can’t leave, did I do something wrong?

“I already left, seven years ago. It’s been seven years. You poor bastard. I really can’t stay Ben, my plane leaves in an hour”

But there will be plenty more planes, just stay a little longer, I can be better.

“Poor boy, it won’t make a difference, my plane has already left. It’s waiting for me, I really must be going”

Why are you leaving me?

“I don’t love you Ben, maybe I never did. Maybe I was just too young to know what love was? It hardly matters now. I could be anywhere in the world at this very moment. Seven years is a long time y’know”

…

Where are you going?

“Paris. There was never any room for me here anyway. Best to leave while I’m still young, and beautiful. He really is a good man, y’know. He’ll treat me well, and Paris is a lovely city”

…

But I love you

“No, Ben”

…

You’ll be back tomorrow, right? You always come back.

…

“No… It’s just a dream. Can’t you tell anymore? You poor, poor bastard.”

Ben had never been to the roof at night before. The stars twinkled, and danced as he sat watching. The sky looked so much closer from up here, a blanket of dark stretched over a broken city. He wondered if he could reach it.

Reaching a hand in the air he grasped for the abyssal fabric, ready to pull it in close to his chest. His fingers grasped desperately at empty air. Perhaps it was just a little higher. It couldn’t be more than a couple feet from his fingertips.

All he would have to do is jump.

Shimmering white caught his eye, as Camille strolled past onto the dance floor. Had she been invited? Had he? A hand lifted to gesture him over.

“Youre making a mistake, Ben. Go home”

May I have this dance?

Her white dress swayed in the wind as he approached. Her hair cascaded around her face, a white crown adorned her head. She lifted her arms, in saintly stature. It was an invitation.

“You can’t keep doing this, Ben”

Just one dance

“I’m probably landing in Paris right now, I can’t be here”

Just one dance

“This is stupid, GO HOME!”

Ben only smiled, offering a hand and a small bow.

May I?

…

“Of course, love”.

She reached out her hand, and was gone. The dance floor, melting into concrete. He watched as the sky seemed to grow closer and closer. He reached up for it,

He stretched, higher and higher until the tips of his feet were all that kept him down. He could almost feel it. The warmth of the void radiated through his fingertips.

Just a few more inches now.

All he had to do was jump.

“You bastard”

…

“You poor, poor bastard.”

Again

       “I don’t understand”, Travis said, head in hand, “Did I do something wrong”.
       Amanda sat down next to him, putting an arm on his back. “You didn’t do anything wrong, I just don’t think we want the same things.”
         “In what way?” Travis asked, his cheeks stained with tears
         “I always thought I would get married by now. It just doesn’t seem like a priority for you”, Amanda reasoned. “It is a priority for me though,”
        They sat together a little longer, but eventually Amanda got up and left.

          Travis sat alone in a basement. A strange console sat in front of him. Red lights blinked on and off. Travis stared at it with wonder, and with hatred. It was this machine that had taken his attention away from her, this machine was responsible for the heartbreak he felt, but it was a wonderous machine.
            He had tried to explain to her how important this console was, but she just wouldn’t listen. If only she knew, I was on the verge of the greatest scientific breakthrough of mankind, Travis thought.
       If only. With fresh tears staining his face, he left the basement, shutting off the lights, with a final thud. If only

       Break-ups really change your perspective of your house, and Travis was finding it out the hard way.
             The first thing that hits you is the silence, after sharing the space with another person for 2 yrs, you get used to the sound of someone else being there. You can turn on a TV, crank up the music, scream at the top of your lungs, but the silence remains. Reminding you of what you lost.
          The next thing that hits you, is the sheer enormity of your place of residence. Even the smallest apartment can feel enormous when you’re alone. You get used to walking around someone, bumping shoulder, even jumping over things to get around, but that’s no longer necessary. It’s just you, and you have all the space you need.
            The next thing you notice, is time. Time stretches on forever, and ever , and ever. Days are weeks long, and years are impossible to reach. It makes sense, you were splitting your time between two people, and now it’s all yours. And you’re desperate to fill that time with anything. Anything that will fill those empty moments. Anything that will help you forget the empty, enormous, eternal, silence, waiting for you.
            Travis sat at his workbench, Music loud in his earphones. He was usually a Frank Sinatra guy, but just for today, he was a metalhead. He tinkered with nuts and screws, played with dials and switches. He absentmindedly pulled levers, and when nothing happened he sighed. Travis trudged back up stairs, The blink red lights taunting him as he closed the door.
           Weeks passed before he saw any progress. He continued his tinkering, a soft melodic Frank Sinatra in the background, volume down so he could concentrate. Suddenly he sees one of the red lights turn green, before turning red again.
          Travis jumps, nervous and staring at the console. He reaches back for the dial he had been turning. Moving it slowly he watched as the light turned green again.
           One by one the red lights turned off. Leaving only a single green light in the center of the console. Travis yelped in excitement. He had accomplished the impossible. But he wasn’t done yet. He had to test it.
        Travis grabbed the machine and placed it on the floor. He didn’t know of any good ways to test this machine without using it himself, but he was sure it would work. Travis bent down, twisted a few dials, and flipped a switch.
           Reality contorted around him, as almost instantly he was standing on a cobbled road. Gas lamps dotted the road, and he watched as carriages passed through, drawn by horses. The streets were relatively empty but Travis had seen enough and he smiled a wide smile.

             He had done the impossible. He was the first time traveler.
            Flipping the switch back, he was instantly back in his basement. He cheered and screamed, and ran around. Climbing the staircase three at a time, swinging open the door to find… Nothing. For a brief second he had forgotten Amanda, He had forgotten everything. But now the silence weighed heavy.
            If only she had waited just a few more weeks. Better yet, if only she had never entered his life. This moment had been perfect without her memory tainting it. If only he didn’t have them. If only their relationship never happened. If only he-
         Travis stopped, and smiled again. This time wider than before.
         If only I had a time machine.

         Travis bought a whiteboard. He didn’t need one, but all the movies on time travel he had seen had one, so it just seemed appropriate. The plan was simple though.
He would go back to their first date, and he would ruin it.
            With a few calculations, on the brand new whiteboard of course, he set the time machine to March 1, 2021, and flipped the switch.


             The restaurant had a bar, and Travis was more than happy to help himself to a few drinks while he waited. Right now I’m probably getting ready to leave my apartment, Travis thought. “Then we’ll arrive and sit over at that table right there”. He stared. The memories flooding back.
             It had taken him three days to ask her here, but he had wanted to on the first day they met. He picked her up from her apartment and they had shown up together, dressed nicely. Maybe it was a little formal for a first date, but they didn’t care. They had sat awkwardly for a few minutes. Neither one of them daring to break the silence first. That was until the menu came. It was here that he learned about her “aversion” to lobster. She absolutely hated lobster, and by the end of the night, she made sure that he knew it. Travis smiled, reminiscing.
            Until he remembered the knowledge was completely useless now. Amanda’s favorite color, her favorite food, favorite movie, or song, or show. It was all useless now.
         Travis checked his watch. He and Amanda should have shown up by now. He began to panic. By coming here, had he already changed the past so much, and if so what else had he changed. It was March 1st right? The day that they- Wait… March 1st wasn’t out first date. It’s the day we met. Travis facepalmed. He got the dates wrong.
           Although… maybe this was even better. If today was day one, he had two more days before he even asked Amanda out. This might work out after all. All he needed was a place to stay the night.

            Travis got in a cab, and headed for the hotel. The hotel looked familiar, and it was a minute before he remembered why. It was where he and Amanda had spent their first night together off campus.

             After they had been dating for a while, they realized that alone time was hard to find when you had roommates. Besides, always a scientist at heart, a trial run of cohabitating couldn’t hurt.
        More memories flooded in and he saw himself and Amanda checking into the hotel. She clung to his arm, as he checked them in.
         He remembered wondering what the receptionist thought of them. A young couple, giggling like children. Checking into a hotel. It was pretty obvious what the receptionist must be thinking, but he pushed through regardless. Amanda was by his side, giggling, as if they were getting away with something.
        It was so silly, so immature, and yet so lovely. It was perfect, and he wouldn’t change a thing. Not until tomorrow at least.

         Travis went to his room. He wasn’t at all surprised that the silence had followed him. He had distracted himself from it as long as he could, but in the hotel room he couldn’t run any longer.
        The bed was noticeably too big for one person. When he turned off the shower, the silence that followed was almost deafening, and when he laid down, the coldness of the sheets reminded him of Amanda’s warmth, something he’d just as soon forget
        One more day, Travis thought, but he didn’t smile. He couldn’t. The silence was just too heavy. Instead he turned over on his side and slept. A deep, dark, dreamless sleep.

         Travis had to buy a new whiteboard, and with this new board he made a new plan.
        Travis and Amanda had met in college. They sat right next to each other. The memories started flowing in again, and Travis saw himself sitting awkwardly next to this girl he had just met. He hadn’t even known her name yet. He remembered the lights were slightly dimmer in that moment, as he extended his hand.
           “My name is Travis, you don’t mind if I sit here do you?”.
           “I’m Amanda, and not at all”, Amanda had said with a smile.
           It was very smooth, direct, but not too forward. He was killing it, and knew it.
           With his newfound confidence, he kept the conversation going. He learned a lot about her that day. He couldn’t even remember what the lesson had been about. He only remembered her. For Now.
           The plan was simple, he had to make himself leave the room. Easiest way to do this would be to pull the fire alarm. With a plan in place Travis left the hotel

          Getting onto campus was easy, but that was expected. He was technically a student there, and it was doubtful they had protocol to ward against time travelers, although it would be cool if they did.

            He arrived just in time to see himself walking into class. You’d think it would be weird seeing yourself in third person but to Travis’s surprise, it was just like watching any other person. Like watching a stranger
            Travis walked in behind the Young Travis, and sat in the back. He watched as Travis approached the girl sitting in the middle of the room.
            As the girl turned her head, Future Travis’s heart dropped. It was Amanda, and she was exactly as he remembered. She was perfect, a glow emanated from her skin. Her hair cascaded like silk curtains, and when she smiled, Travis had to look down at his feet.
         He hadn’t seen her in weeks, and seeing her now tore at his heart. Every memory came flooding back to him all at once. Every good time. Every bad time. The first kiss, the first fight. A new house, turned into an empty void.

          Travis heard papers rustling and looked up to see himself fumbling with a journal, as papers slipped from his grasp. He managed to not drop any, and he sat down awkwardly next to Amanda
          He quickly reached out a hand to her, before dropping the hand immediately to stop the papers from falling from his lap. Once he was situated, he extended the hand again, this time long enough to shake. With a shaky voice he said
          “Y- You don’t mind if I sit here do you. I can move”
         “No, it’s okay. You can sit. “, she reached out shook his hand. “My name is Amanda”.
         Young Travis smiled, before saying ” My name is Tra-”
        The papers fell again, and Travis scrambled to gather them. Amanda giggled.
        The giggle cut through the room, and from the back Travis smiled. The moment was so ridiculous. The laugh had stung, for sure, but all of it was just so comical he couldn’t help but laugh.

          Travis watched the moment unfold and It was magical. The two lovers were the only two in the room, besides everyone that was watching them, but they didn’t notice. They didn’t care.
          This was the start of something beautiful. The start of something perfect… Something that he was planning to take away from them. Travis looked down in shame. What had he been thinking?
          Who was he to stop something so beautiful? Why would he want to prevent the best years of his life? All because he was heartbroken. He knew he couldn’t do it. He had to leave.
          He held the console in his lap. He flipped the switch, and found himself once more in the empty, silence of his basement, but he smiled. The memories of his past no longer haunted him. They were beautiful, and he loved and cherished every one of them
        Even the new one, where he saw just how badly that interaction had actually gone. She must have really liked me, Travis thought, like a lot, especially after that trainwreck.
        Tomorrow Young Travis will ask her on a date, and inexplicably she’ll say yes. The date will be a little formal to be sure, but, as Travis now knew, he definitely wasn’t a dating expert. Then from that day on many more memories will be made, and Travis was ok with that.
          Then one day it will end, and Travis was ok with that too. Music played quietly in the background. He must have left the radio on, but he didn’t care. He couldn’t help but listen to the lyrics of the song.

         “For when this never happens again,
We’ll have this moment forever
But never never again”

    As Doris Day continued to sing, Travis walked back up the stairs, console in hand, the flashing red lights guiding him once more into the silence, and he realized it wasn’t so quiet after all.

“We’ll have this moment forever
But never never again”

The Faerie

The forest behind the abandoned church was my happy place. Everyday after school I would run there, and stay until the sun went down. Something about the leaves crunching, and the whistling breeze, put my entire body at ease.
A river ran through the forest, and right beside it was where I kept my fortress. It was well built for a 16 yr old. I had been building it since I was 8, and 8 years later. I was confident in my handiwork.
If you were to go inside the fortress you would see a makeshift bookshelf, and a rocking chair I found in a dumpster. The chair didn’t rock anymore, but, with a few adjustments, it was still usable as a chair.
And In that chair, you might see a pale skinned boy, with dusty, brown hair, and almond colored eyes. Me.
I leaned back in the chair. The chair may not rock, but if I put my feet against the wall I could rock it manually. I had fallen a number of times, but I was still young. Lessons were meant to be ignored.
In my lap was a book. It was closed now. My head was leaned back and my eyes were closed as I rocked back and forth.
I had a peculiar way of reading books. Every now and again, I would close my eyes, and just visualize the story in my head.
In my mind’s eye, I saw a Faerie woman named Aileen. She walked with confidence through the jungle. The animals cowered and slunk away from her as she walked, and she took pleasure in their fear.
She came to the bridge, where a goblin man stood. According to the rules of this world, one needed to pay a toll to cross the bridge, or face the mighty troll who lay under it.
Aileen didn’t play by the rules though, with a flick of her sword the goblin was disposed of. The ground rumbled as the troll awoke and attacked. Within moments Aileen walked down the bridge, a smile on her face and a troll head attached to her belt.
I kept my eyes closed for a little while longer, soaking in the story. Feeling the jungle heat on my skin, feeling foliage crumble under foot. Feeling my sword severing the heads of monsters, a shower of blood arcing into the air

My thoughts were interrupted by a voice. A female voice.
“Did you build this yourself?”, she said

With a start my eyes flew open, as the world began to tilt rapidly. The back of the chair hit the ground with a thud, as I spilled off onto the floor.

The girl giggled as her vibrant face came into view. A wide smile brightened her face, and her emerald green eyes pierced straight into my heart. She bent down to help me up, and a curtain of bright red hair framed her face.
“I didn’t mean to startle you”, she said with a giggle, “ My names Jessica, what’s yours”
” Calvin,” I said, cheeks reddening with embarrassment. “ I did build it myself, by the way ” , I say, facing the ground in an effort to hide my cheeks
Jessica looked around, “It’s pretty impressive, how long have you lived out here?”
The question took me by surprise. ” I don’t live out here, I live up the road with my dad. I just came out here to read. “. I point to the book on the floor
Jessica’s eyes lit up. “ I love stories, What’s the book about?” , she asked excitedly. I picked up the book and explained the plot. My eyes saw Aileen in battle with an Elf and with a dwarf. She was ruthless in battle and fought with the confidence that she had already won.
“How does it end?” Jessica said, her eyes burning into the side of my face.

“ I haven’t gotten that far yet.”, I said, just as the alarm clock against the wall began to ring. It was 7:00. Time to go home.
I waved goodbye to Jessica, and jogged home. My house was at the end of the street, perpendicular to the church parking lot. The backdoor was always unlocked, because I left it unlocked. My dad slept on the couch, probably still drunk from the afternoon binge he always had.
I had made a habit of getting home after 7, and leaving the house by 6, in order to make sure he never saw me. Most days I worry about what would happen if he found me, other days I wonder if he even knows he has a son.

I climbed into bed, and dreamed. Aileen’s sword dancing through my field of vision. The brave warrior danced but something was off about her. Remorselessly she struck down her foe, an elf woman wielding a longsword. Then quickly her bright eyes found mine. A bright emerald green. She lifted up her sword, and lunged.

I awoke with a whimper, and I hated myself for it. Aileen wouldn’t have whimpered. Ashamed I got up and headed out to school.

Jessica and I hung out everyday. She was the closest friend I had. She was a little strange, but I overlooked that. I was a little strange too.
Jessica helped fortify the fortress, fitting stronger beams in place of the weak ones. She was abnormally strong for a 16 yr old, I was very impressed.
Jessica loved stories , but strangely enough, she couldn’t read. I tried to loan her a book, but she refused.
“I can never understand those things, ” she said, “ Read it to me”
Happily I obliged. She smiled as I read. At that moment I realized I would do anything for that smile. I lived for that smile. I would die for that smile.
We sat there for hours, just reading books. I wanted to teach her how to read but she tells me her family doesn’t read.
“We’re just supposed to observe, we aren’t allowed to get involved.” She would say.
Even as I, so clearly, fell for Jessica the weirdness began to add up. I had never seen Jessica go home, she didn’t have a last name, if I asked where she’s from she would say “Here”, with no further explanation. Not to mention she couldn’t read, or write, although I mostly chalk that up for some weird religious thing. I assumed she must have grown up on a farm or something. It would explain her super strength.
We sat by the river and talked. I was explaining to her one of the books I had read in recent years. A book about a man buried alive, in a coffin . It was a terrifying book . Jessica interrupted me though.
“Why do you spend so much time out here?” She asked, wearing her signature smile. “ Don’t you have a family? They probably worry about you” .
I hesitate before answering ” No, it’s just my Dad. My mom died when I was six, and he’s been unbearable since then. I try to avoid him”.
“ But isn’t he sad? Maybe he needs help too,” she said sympathetically

“ I guess that’s what the drinking is for, but you don’t want to be around when he drinks. He gets mean. He tried to hit me once, but he was too drunk. He missed and that’s when I started coming out here. Are you okay? “
Jessica’s eyes got dark and for the first time she frowned.
” He shouldn’t hit you, Calvin”, she said, almost in a whisper.
For the first time I saw darkness emanate from her, and in that moment I was scared.
” He didn’t, he was just having a bad day, I guess. I don’t think he meant to do it”, I didn’t know if that was the truth but it worked on Jessica.
Once again she smiled, but it lost its brightness now. It looked dull. Jessica stepped
“I just don’t want you to get hurt, because I love you” , she never hesitated for a second before saying it, or before leaning forward and firmly placing her lips on mine.
I had dreamed of her kiss before, but In those dreams, I never thought it would be so terrifying. Behind us in the fortress the alarm rang. I rushed over to turn it off. Turning around, I came face to face with Jessica.
“Gone so soon?” She said with a smile that never touched her eyes
“ Yea, I should get home before my dad wakes up.”, I stammered.
Her face darkened and I stammered to reassure her.
“I just don’t want to disturb him,” I said. I waved goodbye and she watched me leave. Emerald eyes burning me with every step.
In my dream that night I saw a giant impaled on a massive sword. His body arching high into the air. Aileen laughed violently as blood poured over her. Turning her golden brown hair a bright red. Suddenly her piercing green eyes were on me.
“ Don’t you love me too, Calvin,” Aileen said. She cackled with laughter, blood filling her mouth as she tilted her head toward the sky, but the laughing only got louder.

I woke up sweating.

I didn’t go to school that day. I went straight to the forest. I stayed in the churchyard this time though and watched. I knew I was being silly. Everybody gets angry sometimes, it’s normal. It wasn’t just anger though. I had felt a deep rage, burning hatred and malice , and an overwhelming sense of danger in that moment.
It’s hard to explain,but I would give her the benefit of the doubt. I’ve always been a little jumpy, so it’s probably nothing.
I sat and waited for Jessica. I wanted to see what direction she came from, at least then I could be sure she was human. I know that’s silly, but I read a lot of fantasy novels then.
Unexpectedly I saw her walking across the treeline. A bright smile across her face. Had she slept in the forest? I went to approach her but then I had thought. I should follow her. What was she doing in the forest anyway.

I watched from a distance and as she drew further away. I followed her into the woods. This was insane. I should just confront her. I watched as she walked further into the woods.
Jessica began whistling, as she bent down to pick up a stick. It was a hefty branch but Jessica handled it easily
She didn’t whistle anything specific, she just whistled, and unexpectedly a bird joined in. The song is haunting and beautiful. I can almost see their voices weaving in and out as harmonies emerge and sink with the flow of the music. Jessica and the bird were face to face. Almost as if they were…talking? Then suddenly the stick swung out at the bird, the crack was audible and the song ceased immediately.
A gasp escaped my lip, I covered my mouth quickly, but her eyes darted in my direction immediately. She hadn’t seen me yet.
I’ve gotten pretty good at walking silently over the years, I focused on that as I slowly backed away. I couldn’t help but think about the animals, cowering away from Aileen. She relished in their fear. A wide smile split Jessica’s face. An unsettling, terrible smile.

The sun set slowly as I ran to my house. The time got away from me as I tried to find my way back out of the forest, I silently hoped I wasn’t too late.
I opened the backdoor to see my Dad sitting up in his chair. The beer bottle crashed against the wall beside me as he threw it.
“ Why is the school calling me and telling me you weren’t there, Calvin? What did I tell you about skipping school?” My dad yelled.
He hadn’t told me anything about skipping school. He hadn’t talked to me in over a year. I didn’t tell him this. I kept my mouth shut. The second beer bottle didn’t miss me, crashing against my shoulder. I felt the pain of the impact as the glass shards powdered my neck and face. My dad continued to yell. He got up closer, grabbing hold of my shirt.
His fist went up, but it wasn’t his fist that hurt me. It was the fear. It pierced into my heart like a spear, twisting into my chest, wrenching at my heart. He used to be a good father. Now he was a Beast. My face was bruised, and bloodied, and the fear continued to stab at my chest. The beast that was once my father, lunged forward again, knocking over beer cans and bottles and garbage. The doorknob found my hand, and I ran. The Beast followed, but he was hardly in any shape to run. I lost him almost immediately, but found myself with no place to go.
Except for the fortress. I ran quickly and quietly through the woods. My father had never been to the fortress, I wonder if he would have been proud of it. I pushed that thought away entering the doorway quickly, only to find myself greeted with bright emerald eyes. Her smile warped her features. She looked so happy, and yet I knew better.
“You’ve been avoiding me, Calvin.” Jessica said, “ I’ve scared you, but I just want to explain, and I’ll leave you alone”.
” I watched you kill that bird, today. You lured it out with your singing and then killed it”, I blurted it out before I could think. I waited for the sting of another attack, but Jessica only laughed.
“ I didn’t kill a bird, I killed a monster, Calvin. That’s what I do, I kill monsters. But you shouldn’t be afraid of me. I would never hurt you. I love you, Calvin”, Jessica said, closing the distance between us.
I thought back to the song, the magic in the harmonies… maybe it was a monster. I wasn’t sure who I could trust at that moment, but she had never hurt me before.

“CALVIN, I SWEAR TO GOD WHEN I FIND YOU BOY,”, My dad’s yelling got louder as he got closer.

“Who’s that?” Jessica asked.

I thought for only a second before saying,…. “A monster.”

In my mind’s eye, Jessica approached the bridge. The bird asked for its fare, but was disposed of quickly. The Beast took notice of Jessica, and the ground rumbled as he attacked. Moments later, Jessica approached. A smile adorning her face, and the head of the Beast adorning her belt.

This time, I smiled back.