Over the bowl,
I wretch.
Growing my soul,
I stretch.
Panic drives me
To relentlessly
Dispel this emptiness
Clawing and gnawing within.
There was so much that could’ve been done to prevent this.

Here I am; disappointed again.

There is nothing to heave;
For I have struggled to eat.
Nor is there anything to relieve
This incessant void in its attempt to devour me with jaws of defeat.

In this moment I am alone; Suffering in my torment, We cry out for our home, Our sanctuary When life is too terrible and scary, Who we lean on and carry, Who’s…

There is heat in freezing.
I used to think I was weak or depleting;
Too little to be worth greeting,
But it is not that I am not good enough to be heating.

I am the heat in freezing.
I am enough.
I am a scarce resource
That no extraction could force.
I am the barrier, buffer, and boundary
Between you
And absolute zero.
I am what I create in my foundry.
There is nothing you can do
To be my hero,
Because I am the heat in freezing. …

The ocean appears in many hues Sometimes varying shades of blues, Sometimes deep as wine, Oh, so divine. Sometimes green Like you have ever seen, Sometimes dazzling aquamarine, But today It is a warm gray. This deep, transparent charcoal Mesmerizing, hypnotizing, Has me under its control. Contrasted against the white Waves’ foam so bright, I just might Stay here all night. My spirit soars, Like the many-a birds taking flight. My mind adores The thrill when no land's in sight. The constant movement Beneath and all around me Is an improvement From the stagnation that used to surround me. There…

Squirrels bark a hazy, unintimidating growl,
While hummingbirds chitter merrily out of sight.
Late November is known for weather that is dreary and foul;
but today the sun shines warm and bright.
Animals are fluffing up for the winter:
Their dens, their fur, their wiggly body fat.
Those flocking South and settling down beginning to splinter
from one another, the birds, rodents, and neighborhood cats.

We humans are no different, Primping and prepping for the season- We are animals after all- Liking to think ourselves advanced in intelligence and temperament, Whilst verbally and emotionally assaulting one another over the “true”…

Disclaimer: This piece of fiction contains depictions of abuse, sexual assault, violence, and human trafficking. This could be potentially triggering and is not suitable for sensitive readers. This is a work of fiction, but if you are or know of someone who is being trafficked/suspect someone you know is being trafficked, please
Call: 1 (888) 373–7888
Text: 233733 (Text “HELP” or “INFO”)
If you are, know of, or suspect child abuse, please visit https://www.childwelfare.gov/topics/responding/reporting/how/ to learn how to easily report it.

A young woman in tight shorts and a low-cut tank top stuck out her thumb along the highway as…

My eyes drudge open, blinking several times before locking into unison. How am I here? When did I arrive at my ex’s apartment? I never felt safe here. I shiver, recalling memories of abuse; feeling them pass around and through me. But this is different… I sense immediate danger. Why do I feel like someone is watching me, following me? How do I know they are trying to kill me?

I walk out of the dining room and towards the living room when I notice… I don’t know whether to say it or him. It is an oddly proportioned humanoid…