And into the massive abyss

I fell.

A world within a mind,

a universe untouched.

Reality is all my own –

this is now a dream awakened.

Those men come marching –

their faces of ticking clocks,

though backwards with time,

spinning wildly.

They open their mouths to me.

And, like fireworks,

out erupts a flock of songbirds,

carrying with them a tune that ignites the magic from within my soul.

A serenade for me.

Then –

the great eagle descends.

Watch how the oaks bear their arms

for his perch.

And I revel in this mastery,

this mystery.

The giant bird sits –

he watches my pondering,

and stares at my thoughts.

The limbs of those trees

extend far beyond their own capabilities now

as they strip me bare

to this fantastic, colorful land.

A liveliness in nature.

A parade of faceless images appear –

and under the ashen smoke, the navigate their dance so precisely.

So uniquely. The intrigue stroking at my sanity.

The luminescent soldiers come forward now,

touching me.

But what a wondrous surprise in their cuff to my flesh!

Making me quiver

in only what I could imagine a great holiness to be.

A metallic, 4-dimensional rainbow bursts alive –

oh, how it streaks about so confidently

along the innocent blue skies.

Its glowing spirit of essence

illuminating the mossy earth below my feet.

I feel it awaken -

a childhood memory to everything the universe has eyed upon,

all it had ever felt,

and it covers me.

A warm, safe blanket.

Security. Peace.

I am not afraid,

sheathed in a gloss of an ever-living dream.

And, oh, how so tenderly it cradles me in its arms –

I can taste upon the breast,

and of the life inside,

as those distant, soothing melodies venture towards my ears.

I can feel the swell

of a new evolution begin.

A renewal.

A birth.

The wings of the eagle spread –

and how exquisitely they are seen,

displayed bravely,

as they shine of a peacock’s dandy nature.

I see.

Falling down upon me,

twirled sensually in an emotional vision,

is a dimly lit brightness lost in the freedom of a feather’s flutter.

Painted.

Artistically captured

though its intensity to never be shown face.

It surely is a vision to behold!

I stand,

and with newfound eyes I see,

the beauty in me.

As the festive dance of a perfect season’s day expands,

and ever so cheerfully,

a bewilderment that lays in the anarchy of happiness reincarnates –

and how that old and mutated cocoon shed itself

from the pricks of my skin!

For I now have wings!

The eagle calls to me –

I follow.

This place is now my own;

a belonging.

"The Unraveling of Society: A Tale of Disillusionment and Change"

As I gazed upon the sight before me, a deep sense of sadness and disappointment washed over me. It was as if the very fabric of my being was being torn apart by the sheer magnitude of what I was witnessing. Perhaps, it was my own conservative way of thinking that was causing me to feel this way, but I couldn't help but feel that something was fundamentally wrong with the world we live in today.

It's no secret that we live in a society that is constantly changing and evolving. New ideas and ways of thinking are being introduced every day, and it can be difficult to keep up with all of them. But, as I looked upon the scene before me, I couldn't help but feel that some of these new ideas were taking things too far.

I couldn't help but wonder if the world had lost its way. Had we become so consumed with our own desires and pleasures that we had forgotten what was truly important? It was a sobering thought, but one that I couldn't shake.

And then, as if to confirm my worst fears, I remembered that Satan is the god of this world. It all started to make sense. The darkness and evil that I was witnessing was a direct result of his influence. But, I knew that I was not a child of this world. I was a child of God, and my place was in Heaven, serving the Lord for all eternity.

As I stood there, lost in thought, I couldn't help but feel a sense of peace wash over me. Despite all the chaos and confusion in the world, I knew that I had a purpose. I was here to serve God and to spread His message of love and hope to those around me. And, with that thought in mind, I knew that I could face whatever challenges lay ahead.

As individuals, we must prioritize our decisions and choices in life in accordance with God's laws, rather than those of mankind. This is made abundantly clear throughout the scriptures, and particularly within The Ten Commandments. It is imperative that we adhere to these laws, as they serve as a guide for leading a righteous and fulfilling life.

Unfortunately, this generation seems to lack the ability to think beyond the present moment. People do not stop to consider the long-term effects of their choices made while on this earth. It is crucial that we take a step back and reflect on the impact of our actions, not just on ourselves, but on those around us and on society as a whole. Only then can we hope to make decisions that are in line with God's laws and that will lead to a better future.

When we come to the end of our lives, it is only God's opinions and judgements that truly matter. It is His judgment that will determine whether we will spend eternity with Him in Heaven or be forever damned in Hell. As Good Christians, we must be aware of these things and strive to live our lives in accordance with God's laws. We must also be willing to give judgement where proper judgement is needed, but always in accordance with God's laws and not mankind's. It is only through following God's laws that we can hope to achieve eternal salvation and avoid the eternal damnation of Hell.

In the society we find ourselves in today, it is quite disheartening to observe that a vast majority of individuals are opting to go "with the crowd" and be mere "followers" of man, instead of choosing to be followers of Christ. This trend is quite absurd, to say the least. It is important to note that living a life that is solely focused on worshiping people is not only futile but also detrimental to one's spiritual growth. 

It is imperative to understand that when our time on earth comes to an end, and we are standing before our Creator, those people we chose to worship and follow blindly will not be there to intercede on our behalf. Therefore, it is crucial to make a conscious decision to follow Christ and live a life that is pleasing to Him. This way, we can be assured of eternal life in His kingdom.

The prophecies that were written in The Book of Revelation are becoming a reality at an alarming rate. The world is changing rapidly, and it is evident that Jesus' return is imminent. It is important to remember that Jesus loves each and every one of us more than anything in this world. Therefore, we must not forget to express our love for Him every night before we go to sleep. 

Furthermore, we must also remember to pray for our leaders and those who have lost their way. It is our duty to spread the gospel of God in these perilous times. As the clock ticks, we must do everything in our power to save as many souls as possible. Time is running out, and we must act fast. Let us not forget that we are all children of God, and it is our responsibility to do what we can to make this world a better place.

With the bronze illumination of the setting sun flowing in through the rear window, I turned slowly onto Clark Street. The wheels of my car had traversed this same turn thousands of times, with little to no variation. Creeping along past the rows of cute, Virginian homes, I noticed a few familiar figures. There solemnly stood Mr. and Mrs. Maddox, Mr. Franklin, and Ms. Harriet, all conversing quietly in front of my quaint abode. Mr. Maddox, known to neighbors as Pete, noticed me soon after. Motioning to the others, he scuttled out of the drive and into the street. The rest followed. The sound of the squeaky brakes rose, and so did my curiosity. I was half surprised to see Pete walk up the open door of my car with a soft look on his face, for once.

"Evenin' Sean. Did'ya hear 'bout that odd fellow Darren down the street?" There was a slight chuckle before he continued in a more serious tone. "They say he's been charged with a double-homicide of some girls from Culpeper. Poor thangs." He gestured towards the undercover police vehicles parked a few houses down.

It was clear that the scruffy man had expected more of a reaction out of me, or some sort of surprised gasp. The truth was, I wasn't the least surprised.

"Awe, well, I's sure you has. It's spread all over the damn town in 'bout an hour" he said in a matter-of-fact voice. It was then that petite Ms. Harriet noticed Pete and I, and made her way over in a nervous waddle.

"He was such a quiet man." she said upon arriving, "Didn't expect nothing like this at all! He only seemed a little different, don't you think, Sean?" There was a touch of pity in her words, which was clearly to Pete's chagrin. He rolled his eyes.

It was only now that I realized I hadn't said a word since arriving on this worried scene. I was deep in thought, juggling ideas and memories inside my head. So deep was my thinking, in fact, that I ignored the commotion which ensued at the sight of the convicted neighbor Darren being dragged out in handcuffs. I only looked up in time to see the crazed face of that stranger-turned-murderer, and the uninterested look painted on it. I shuddered.

I knew from the day he moved in that something was different about this character. He had ignored my knocking on his door, when I planned to give him a warm welcome to Clark Street. From that moment on, I kept a particularly keen eye on him. That was when things got weird. When I finally heard his voice for the first time, I wished immediately I had never. The slight stutter, the strangely-placed emphasis, and the uncanny charisma which inevitably drew you in. Everything he said was in a slow, smooth, and deliberate fashion, always with some hidden purpose or agenda. Every word twisted, molded into some creation of evil intent. It was clear to me how some clueless girls could fall into the traps of his dialect.

His slicked-back hair, with long, greasy locks, made him appear neat, yet maniacal. There was some eerie aura around his dark, beady eyes and cleanly shaven face. The way he conversed with the unsuspecting mail-lady gave me uncomfortable feelings and judgement for him rose up within me. I suspected some villain-like intention behind everything he did, yet my good-nature did not let the words of allegation ever leave my mouth. I accused him secretly, reported him silently, but never had the guts to publicly raise a red flag.

So, as my eyes followed the police vehicles containing that murderous lunatic, rolling down the avenue, I felt some semblance of guilt. My brain made me believe there was some way to blame myself for the death of two innocent girls. Yet I knew there wasn't.

As the last sliver of the golden star slipped behind the horizon, I drew in a deep breath. Along with the rest of Clark Street, I would eventually forget the murder, and the story of the two victims would be lost to time. But I wasn't convinced that the memory of such a deranged, demented human could ever leave my mind.

Now from this cold cell I write.

I write so that I do not forget my dearest neighbor, Sean. The only one who knew, the only one who could have made a difference. Of all the stupid people I found on that doleful street, he was the least stupid.

But alas, he was just not brave enough. I imagine he is sitting now, feeling that beautiful mountain of guilt. If only he would have told someone, and warned them about me. Rising suspicion would have brought about caution. Maybe, just maybe, the lives of those two lovely ladies would have been saved.

But probably not...

Darren S. Leonard, #2334.

Central Virginia Correctional Unit, Cell 38B, 2/23/21.

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow.

If I were free, what would I do tomorrow?

A conundrum, to be sure.

Would I rest?

Perhaps I would rest.

Perhaps I would stay in bed and order food and lounge in a way I've never been able to accomplish in my short life. Perhaps I would go to a spa, get a haircut, paint my nails-- do all of those things neglected in the name of paying the bills-- neglected in the prison that is paycheck to paycheck.

For surely, I am in that prison now... but what if tomorrow really were different? What then? Would I waste even one more day shunning my heart's desires? What if tomorrow, I could go to the grocery store without accounting for every apple? Without putting back the healthy food and replacing it with cheap cereal? Am I thinking too small? I suppose I am.

But.

It's hard to imagine a life free of such petty strife.

But tomorrow, if I were truly free, what would I do?

Would I rest?

No.

I would not rest. I would not.

I would live.

I would live dangerously well.

Most probably, tomorrow, I would give my house away. I would give away the meaningless things collected in a quest of owning. I would pay off the debt. I would buy ten thousand acres of land and give it back to the people. I would build that sanctuary for single mothers I always talked about. I would plant wildflowers and evergreens and potatoes. I would commission artwork to decorate the walls of my life. I would stay up late talking with the friends I have neglected in the name of getting by. I would fund a volunteer fire department. I would sit with my grandmother. I would write the story of her life, as I've always promised to do.

I would finally, finally, make good on everything I ever said I would do.

I would unbreak the little lies that I never meant to utter.

I would live.

And then, I would journey. I would see cathedrals and mountaintops and chase waterfalls until my feet were sore from clambering over slippery stones. I would learn French and German and Chinese. I would go to South America and polish up my Spanish. I would speak to people a world away from me in their own languages. I would immerse myself in cultures separate from my own.

I would read everything.

I would write.

And write.

And write.

I would go horseback riding with my daughters and dig up dinosaur bones with my son. I would lay languid, awash in sunset beams alongside my husband.

I would eat. I want to taste the world.

I would swim with dolphins.

I would run.

I would feel the wind in my hair.

I would laugh.

And maybe, perhaps, I would be happy. Truly happy. Truly myself for the first time ever.

I would give because doing so wouldn't chip away at the heart of me. I would give and give and give because I wouldn't have to make sure that some was left over for me anymore.

I could be enough.

There would be enough-- for everyone-- if only tomorrow would come.

But, when you're barely surviving from moment to moment...there is no tomorrow.

Hello, Writers and Dear Readers.

First off, let me say to the winning entry for last week: I did a long deep-dive into your profile after the narration and congratulations, then my entire setup crashed, rebooted just fine, but trashed a large chunk of the edited video. We'll make it up to you soon with a feature, stand on us. And: Congrats!!!! You wrote one hell of a story.

Also featured is a poem by one of our veteran writers, and it put the staff in a good and somber mood, in all the best ways. See all of this and the new Challenge of the Week just below this sentence.

https://youtu.be/lVdq_kwxGm4

https://theprose.com/challenge/14067

And.

As Always.

Thank you for being here.

-The Prose. team

I'm missing audio.

Still, twisting silences.

Ears bleeding memories,

My moments transparent.

It's about believing

in moments unrealized.

I cannot recreate

this dying sentiment.

She awakes magical

like daylight transcending.

I whisper gratitude,

lost between syllables.

For a syllable challenge. 3 word lines. One then two then three syllables.

From deep within

this fiery light

Shadows dance

throughout the night

Embers burn

glowing red

demons whirling

in my head

Peer inside

unstable mind

golden thoughts

treasured find

Body found

inside the crate

conjured scene

hopeless fate

Shameless crime

caustic smirk

normal soul

gone berserk

Killing more

human waste

body parts

got the taste

Embrace death

bloody reign

holy man

gone insane

Endless sins

deadly intercession

all is forgiven

inside confession