Melissa sat straight up in bed breathing fast, her heart pounding and her arms still tense from holding the bat that had been there only a few moments before; she could still hear the shattering glass as the bat came down on the SUVs windows, and could still feel how the tension had left her shoulders with every swing. The last few days had been hard, but the heartbreak felt a little less aggressive today. she got out of bed and made her way to the kitchen thankful for a moment of peace, and completely overlooking the disfigured bat leaning against her bedroom door.

She thought it funny how walking down the side of the road was her first taste of freedom, the weight of responsibility and expectations eased with every step she took; The smell of lemon grass filling her nose and clearing her senses, replenishing the energy she had given to the road for the last two hours. She looked to the fields she walked beside and was amazed at how the pigments of morning light bounced off the morning dew just forming on the grass, this to her served as a sign that she had made the right decision.

Her liberation had come two days and probably around 200 miles back; on her 18th birthday she was presented with an option, she could either straighten up, as her father put it, get a job and start pulling her weight, or get out; she had looked to her mother for support willing her to speak up but she only sat there twiddling with the strings on her apron and avoiding her daughters eyes and pleas. The apron her mother wore was pink with lace on the edges and a black ribbon that tied around the back, to Sarah this piece of cloth represented the inequalities of America and served as a slavery icon meant for women. She made her choice with the setting sun that night knowing she was meant for more than just the kitchen.

With her past behind her, kept herself entertained with the possibilities of the future, dreams of blue water, warmer climate and stardom filled her vision, so it was no surprise when she almost didn’t notice the car slowing down to catch up with her. She was awoken from her daydream with a simple, HI! She looked to the left to see a yellowish bug stop beside her, she stooped her head down and came face to face with a beautiful stranger who’s eyes went from blue to grey with just the smallest hint of light. After the initial conversation about destinations and the should and shouldn’t tug war in her brain, she threw caution to the wind and climbed inside. After negotiating Florida, they headed on their way. “I’m Sarah by the way” she says, holding her hand out for a formal shake, and with a beautiful smile her knight in shining armor takes her hand in his and says “nice to meet you I’m Theodore Bundy, but you can call me ted for short”. Sarah returned his smile and settled in for the ride envisioning her future and wondering what kind of splash she might make out in the real world.

Attention!!

This is a public service announcement: A man has confessed to tainting beef where he works with H.I.V infected blood, as the company is a national distributor within the united states; we highly recommend anyone who has ingested a beef sandwich, including from restaurants, in the last 6 months get tested immediately.

Day six of the quarentine and we are barely surviving, the sun outside mocks us with long overdue beauty and warmth that cannot be enjoyed; the wifi, once noble and reliable has lost its strenth with so much burden to bare. As all of our resources for fun become more and more distant, the need for comforting food and snacks overtake us, however

lizzy has eaten the last slice of pizza, and I fear the time to cook is upon me.

Our spirits are as low as out toilet paper rations, we were too slow for the crowds and now the stores have denied access to the isle of tissue, we may perrish. the brita filter is getting old and we are running out of the refreshment of pure better tasting liquidation, forced to fill our glasses with the great value brand that flows through rusty pipes underneath our feet.

With our sanity and endurace giving out we lock ourselves to the television in hopes to distract ourselves from the unforgiving boredom that has taken up permanent residency in our household. if you are reading this please send wifi passwords and toilet paper, may god be with us all.

She reads, not to educate herslef about the past preseant or future,

not to research a paper or pretend she knows anything more or less than you,

but to experience something she has never know before, a person, a place, anything to take her mind off of all the thing she may never get the chance to do, something shes never heard before, something new.

She writes, not so you can be awed by the words swirling in her head, not to aquire any money or notoriety, not to push upon her view or opinion, but maybe to create a place where she is the hero and not the villain.

She lives, not because she wants to, not because shes afraid of what may happen if shes gone, just to make sure they dont ever have to write to feel like someone somewhere might be listening, so they dont ever have to feel like they're all alone

Why do you do this stupid shit?

What is wrong with you?

Dont you see what its doing to your family?

Do you even care?

What do I have to do to make you see?

Your a miserable, selfish person; you destroy everything you touch and im done with you.

The mirror only reflects the discust on her face, mocking her as the tears catch the light from the dim bulbs above.

She turns away from the mirror, wipes the tears away and walks into the kitchen to finish molding the raw cookie dough she left on the counter; with any luck she can create for her children the happiness she has searched after for so long,

He looked up to see her hair a mess, loose strands hung in front of her flustered face catching the beads of sweat that threatened to fall. Her breath was fast and hot, her hands keeping beat with every inhale and exhale.

She was turning him on.

As he watched the color of her eyes go from dull Brown to a light honey color he had never seen before; he realized that he loved this woman. She looked up from her handiwork to see him watching her and with one look they knew they had just said those three terrifying words without uttering a single sound. He reached over and took the knife out of her hand, unaware of the coordination displayed as it grabbed the kitchen wall behind him. He leaned in mesmerized by the intensity and laid his lips upon hers; At that moment nothing else mattered, not to do lists that may never get done, not the bills that may never get paid, not even the body on the floor between them.

I’m sorry I woke up late I’m doing my best,

but please get out of bed brush your hair and get dressed.

I know it’s my fault so I’m trying not to get mad,

because when certain words are said both of us feel sad.

This is the third time I’ve come to your door, I’m trying to keep my voice low,

But it makes being late so much worse when you deliberately move slow.

Where are the snacks? where are the book bags? where are the shoes and socks.

Hurry hurry hurry out the door, we need to kick rocks.

10 minutes and they act like it’s a crime,

but here I am late again for the umpteenth time.

I kiss you on the forehead, your day is ruined no doubt,

my goodness theses mornings stress me out.