Are you happy? You look happy. I'm glad.

I mean, it hurts a little deep inside because it used to be me that made you happy but still, I'm glad.

You deserve to be happy. You're wonderful.

I remember that I was happy during our short time together but…

Pyretta! Dear Pyretta, Sapphic Fire!

Of all the souls I've known, I love yours best--

Affection and compassion fill my breast

Whene'er we are together. I admire

.

Your courage, perseverance, and your power;

Your gentle reassurance when I'm stressed

And in…

She promised she'd meet me here. It was our favorite place in all the world and it had the benefit of being a place that no one would think to look for us: a small cafe named "Kis Nyúl" in the remote town of Zics, Hungary. Nothing about our separate and s…

In the white room, you are there. The light here should be blinding, but we can see so much. We can see our imperfections and we love them. They are what make us recognizable and relatable. In fact, I know how to heal your hurts and where you have darknes…

I drove 3 hours to find your boat pushing barges up the mighty Mississippi. You were not supposed to be on your phone, but you coordinated with me your location so I could stand on the bridge and wave.

The moment you passed, I smiled and waved like a mad…

She cried silently on the video chat, tears running down, sniffles, and gasps for air. "I... n..know. I can... do this."

"Listen, it's not personal. It's just that the last time this happened to me, I lost a friend. We used to be close and then it ended. …

Dana gasped as Don rose up off the floor, power and presence radiating from him like light from a sun. Despite all their efforts, the Azure was sill in him. Had the parasite fought off all the poisons that were now running through Don's veins? His right h…

I stepped of the Rail and dropped down to street level. Anticipation quickened my steps. My presence triggered storefronts auto-advertisements causing neon signs to pop into view. Swatting off a nude model offering discount massages, I crossed a street gr…

I breathed her in.

A storm of quicksilver lightning, and winds so cold they burned hot, rushed into me, consuming me. Trapped with pulsing, unchecked energy, I was helpless as a terrible violence expanded in my chest, rising to my head. This was her whir…

I loaded my bag into the car. My sons gave me hugs as if they'd never see me again. My husband stood sadly and worried. He held me for a long time.

Our argument over the past 24 hours lingered in my head. I was still going. This was the opportunity of a…

Stuck.

A blinking cursor mocked me from a blank screen. This writing thing wasn't going well. I wasn't ready to give up but the joy that once energized me was gone, replaced by a bitter numbness and a persistent sense of failure.

Motion at the door drew…

You know what? Don't speak to me. I'll only manipulate you and poison you with my words. My hurts fester and are infectious. They spew from me in fits of rage.

I can't let you in. What's lurking inside of me is the ugliest monster you've ever seen. It's …

She tenses, starts to pull away, then relaxes. I'm still holding the towel around her injured hand, but I feel her left hand on the back of my neck. I must be doing something right.

Suddenly, there's a soft, warm breeze. We pull back. "What the hell was …

"Before I say anything," she whispers, "how blunt can I be without you hating me?"

I don't think anything could surprise me any more than I already had been, so I say, "Say what you need to say. It's okay."

She turns to me, and, after a brief pause, tel…

It's the heart; the best part. I saved it for you.

I protected it, made sure it stayed whole and as innocent and full of light as possible. I used it only to build you up, to raise you from the darkness. I used it to praise you and to welcome you with op…

I wake up to my phone ringing. My first thought: Oh, hell! Am I late for work? Again?

The next sound I notice is the shower running. Good. If my wife, Mari, is in the shower, I'm in good shape. That bit of stress off my mind, I reach out from under the…

I closed my eyes, holding the image of his face in my mind. Breathing in deeply, I absorbed all the bittersweetness of the moment. Overwhelmed, tears began to leak out down my cheeks.

"Are you..crying?" I sensed him move closer to me to see my face.

My…

Wish you were here

In my shoes

In my heart

.

Wish you could feel

All the love

All the pain

.

Wish you understood

How I feel

How I ache

.

Wish you felt it, too.

Never have

Never will

"I know this sounds weird, but I really do love my husband."

"You love your best friend," the bartender argued. "There's some serious chemistry."

"Do you have children?" I asked her.

"Yeah. Two girls."

"Congrats. Do you love them both?"

"Yes, but kid…

The next time we'd scheduled a meet-up, my best friend's girl suddenly had a work emergency. She posted pics online of her out drinking with friends and my best friend, late, after work.

We rescheduled but I got sick, and while I got plenty of "that's to…

It was hard to swallow her pride and her real feelings. Seeing that huge smile and those two brown eyes so crinkly with joy warmed her heart. She loved Mr. Brown Eyes. Seeing the two blue eyes above two rosy cheeks and a line of baby teeth was supposed to…

Lenn hated the way her spasms, electrified her face in pain. “Oh my God, Liv.”

“It sounds worse than it is.” Liv said with a wan smile. Lovingly she scritched his thigh.

“I hope so.” Lenn unzipped the mouth of his backpack and fished out one of the ther…

The hallway wasn't long enough to break into a full run and Lenn barely registered the pictures of strangers that lined both walls as he went by. Guided by the only light coming out of one of the three doorways at the end of the hall, he felt like the cap…

Lurking in the corner of Michelle's basement, the partygoers gathered in groups all around me. My eyes followed him as he mingled.

"I love that dress!" he said to Sara.

"Hey, the pass you made was awesome, bro!" he called to the quarterback.

He chugge…

When dusk descends, the waves draw near,

And gravity holds sway.

I hold the moon within my eye;

I hope I'm drawn away.

I raise my hands

Above the sands

The moon commands me: Come without delay.

I joy! Her Majesty has heard!

I hasten to obey.

I wrap mys…