Hello, fellow gifted writers!

I would like to let everyone know that my real name is Mariah. I had been using “Mazzy” as my username for quite some time, but no longer. It has lost a great deal of meaning over the years and as a result, it no longer suits me.

So, if you see me around, please know that it's still me <3

Affectionately,

Mariah,

the writer formerly known as Mazzy :)

I dreamt last night it was the year 2100.

The paradigm in medicine was that the human body is essentially a software program - the molecules comprising it are code. Every software program has bugs - elements of the code that result in the user experience not working as intended. "Disease," in this new paradigm, was simple a bug in the code. Every bug is fixable. For every problem there is an equal and opposite solution.

In this hyper-advanced, surprisingly utopian future, in which I found myself an "old" man, disease was a thing of the past - including the disease that we used to call "aging."

There were two things Vito Monti didn't believe in: love and by extention, being a touchy-feely guy.

When he saw Kevin Cleary for the first time, that all changed. Vito found himself falling. Hard.

If Vito had met him back in college, things would be different. Maybe they'd meet at a dorm party. Vito would speak with him, get to know him some before he welcomed Vito's touch. Vito would lean up and whisper into Kevin's ear, "Wanna go back to my room?"

Vito imagined the pale skin of Kevin's earlobe turning red. "Yes," Kevin would whisper back, his voice soft and breathless.

A shot of hot arousal would pass through his groin (much like it did just now). Vito would take him by the hand and lead him through the halls back to his dorm room. He'd press Kevin's skinny ('Maybe a bit too skinny,' he thought, concerned) body against the door. Vito would loop his fingers through the belt loops of Kevin's beige slacks and gaze through the lens of his black-rimmed, rectangular glasses and into his warm, hazel eyes. He'd call Kevin beautiful, tell him just how much he wants him.

"I want you, too." Kevin would say. "I want you so bad."

Vito would ask Kevin what he wanted, exactly. He'd do anything and everything Kevin wanted. All the while, Vito would reach up to play with his red necktie. Kevin would answer, then Vito would caress his narrow face and freckles before he leaned up, meeting Kevin halfway in a slow, passionate kiss. He'd finally get a taste of those plump, pink lips and run his hands through Kevin's curly, red hair.

Unfortunately, they weren't students in college. They were in a shared therapists' office. Kevin was one of the therapists. Vito was his client.

If it wasn’t so hard to be disengaged.

I’d find your purpose comically ironic.

But your owner left a daughter raged,

And her mother catatonic.

You're built to repair,

not tear things apart.

Yet your owner decided

He needed a fresh start.

Your useless self collects dust

In a busted piece of tin.

Is that how it works without a death?

Belongings still go to next of kin?

He hadn’t wanted you either,

Without your silvery shine.

You’re no good to him with all that rust.

I get why he left you behind.

Your cheap and simple,

Bunch of replacements around.

I wonder if he put a new crib together,

With his new rebound.

Maybe if you fit every nut and bolt,

You would’ve been enough.

He would only need you,

Forget the other stuff.

You only get one Phillips Head Screw,

Unless it’s a new case,

Then you get a new family, too.

Make the old version erase.

There won't be any rust or dust around.

Just a new screw,

In a new house,

In his fancy new town.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Author: Douglas Adams First Published: 1979

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy is a comedic science fiction series created by British author Douglas Adams. Originally a radio drama broadcast on BBC Radio 4 in 1978, the story was later adapted into a series of novels, a television series, a video game, and a feature film.

The narrative follows the misadventures of an unwitting human named Arthur Dent, who narrowly escapes the destruction of Earth by hitching a ride on a Vogon spaceship with his friend Ford Prefect, an alien who has been posing as a human while researching Earth for the eponymous guidebook. Together, they embark on a hilarious and absurd journey through space, encountering bizarre characters and situations along the way.

Notable characters in the series include Zaphod Beeblebrox, the eccentric two-headed, three-armed ex-President of the Galaxy; Trillian, the only other human survivor of Earth's destruction; and Marvin, the chronically depressed android. The story also prominently features the Babel fish, a tiny creature capable of instantaneously translating any language when placed in one's ear, and the Infinite Improbability Drive, a revolutionary form of space propulsion.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy series is celebrated for its witty humor, satirical take on science fiction, and unique blend of philosophy and absurdity. Adams' imaginative storytelling, memorable characters, and distinctive writing style have contributed to the series' enduring popularity and cultural impact.

Comprised of five novels, the series is often referred to as a "trilogy in five parts," a humorous nod to its unconventional structure. The novels include:

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy (1979)

The Restaurant at the End of the Universe (1980)

Life, the Universe and Everything (1982)

So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish (1984)

Mostly Harmless (1992)

After Adams' untimely death in 2001, a sixth book titled And Another Thing... was written by Eoin Colfer and published in 2009, with the blessing of Adams' estate. This novel aimed to provide a more satisfying conclusion to the series than the one offered by Mostly Harmless.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has been adapted into various media formats, including a 1981 TV series produced by the BBC, a text-based computer game released in 1984, and a 2005 feature film starring Martin Freeman, Sam Rockwell, Zooey Deschanel, and Alan Rickman. The story has also been adapted for stage and comic book formats.

Throughout its various iterations, The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy has maintained a devoted fan base and continues to captivate new generations of readers and audiences with its clever satire, thought-provoking themes, and delightfully absurd take on the cosmos.

Inside my mind,

I am trapped.

A labyrinth of voices,

Holding me back.

Silently, I scream,

As their grip tightens,

But every time I fight,

I fall farther from the light.

They say I hold the key,

To my own misery,

But I can't find the lock,

To free myself from the past.

A prison I am trapped in,

And it is built in my own mind.

I can break it down if I want,

But if I do, I'll be exposed.

My prison holds me back,

But my prison saves me, too.

And maybe safety is what I want,

For the outside world is gaunt.

Valentine's Day is coming up. That means I got a few Valentines themed challenges for everyone.

I didn't go to crazy with my themed challenges this time around, mainly because I just thought of this challenge half an hour ago. Regardless, I have eight new challenges for everyone to try out.

All challenges will end on February 28. Enter one, enter two, or enter in all of these fantastic and lovely theme challenges. If you have any questions about these challenges or what I may be looking for in these challenges, please feel free to send a message and ask me any time. And, of course, don't forget to tag me.

POETRY

Title: Love Poem

Description: Write a poem to your significant other. If you're single, write a poem to someone you are infatuated with.

Word Count: 15-250

Link: www.theprose.com/challenge/13676

ROMANCE/EROTICA

Title: Erotic Prose

Description: If this is your thing, write something erotic. Poetry or story. Any style or format welcome.

Word Count: No limit

Link: www.theprose.com/challenge/13675

NONFICTION

Title: Valentine's Day

Description: What's something you like to do on Valentine's Day, either with someone or by yourself?

Word Count: No limit

Link: www.theprose.com/challenge/13674

REVIEWS

Title: I Love This Movie

Description: What's your favorite romance film you enjoy watching on Valentine's Day? If you got more than one favorite, list them out.

Word Count: 15-300

Link: www.theprose.com/challenge/13673

LGBT

Title: Love is Love

Description: Write a poem or short story involving an LGBT couple.

Word Count: 15-2000

Link: www.theprose.com/challenge/13672

SCIENCE FICTION

Title: Love Across the Stars

Description: Write a short story or poem about a long-distance relationship across different planets or galaxies.

Word Count: 15-2000

Link: www.theprose.com/challenge/13671

HORROR

Title: My Bloody Valentine

Description: Write a short horror story set on Valentine's Day.

Word Count: 15-1500

Link: www.theprose.com/challenge/13670

COMEDY

Title: For All the Single Folks

Description: Being single can suck sometimes, but it doesn't have to be that way. Write a funny poem or story about being single on Valentine's Day.

Word Count: 15-500

Link: www.theprose.com/challenge/13669

#themechallenges #love #romance #ValentinesDay #fun #writing