Breaking Free

            I look over the side of the cliff and shake my head. I don’t know what I’m doing here. This isn’t where I had planned to end up. I’m not ready to make this choice. I’m too young to decide my fate. The voices of my past ride on the wind. They tell me I’m wrong. They tell me I’m throwing everything away. But this is supposed to make me happy, right? This is where we’re all supposed to go?

No. I’m not ready. I take a step back from the edge, but the rock crumbles. I fall off the cliff but catch onto the rim with one hand. My other hand reaches towards the black abyss for mere seconds before it joins the other, holding my weight as I hang on tightly to what the world tells me. I don’t want to let go of what the world tells me is true. I’m afraid of what lies below this small ledge. It’s a vast darkness. A deep unknown.

I look back to the others I had once believed. They sneered at me for even thinking of taking this chance. But that isn’t right… they’re my friends aren’t they? Shouldn’t they be there for me no matter what? All I’ve known is stress and pain in this life. I don’t want it. I don’t want any of it. Well, here goes nothing.

I take a slow breath and let go. I fall into the strangely familiar hole, the air caressing me with its cool fingers. I am finally giving m life to this one random chance. There is no going back. Darkness surrounds me, my hair whips back in the wind. Fear begins to creep into my system.

Suddenly, it’s all gone. I’m bathed in light. His never wavering, always forgiving love fills me. I look; around and see a path before me. It’s unlike any path before. The trail is smooth, well lain out, planned just for me. Other paths before have led me astray. They were laden with rocks, dips, and always caused me to stumble. Not this one.

I smile softly and step forward. My life, my trust, my love is now His. No more pain. No more sorrow. Only a never ending peace. My other life is behind me, forgotten and forgiven. Time to start anew.

The Ballad of Emmaline Pierce

 

1)She was born into a peaceful life,

   She was held and loved most every day.

   She knew the love of a father’s touch,

   She nearly had her every way.

 5)But then one quiet August night,

    Her lovely life turned upside-down.

    Her precious mother’s heart did stop,

    A death in an English town.

    With her mother’s life now gone forever,

10)Emmaline’s father began to mourn.

    He went to the pub ‘bout every night

    And returned in the early morn.

    The burning breath of alcohol,

    The choking stench of smoke

15)Surrounded Emmy and the house

     Whene’er her father woke.

     The love she’d known was now gone,

     Replaced by fear and pain.

     Poor Emmaline, she still stood strong,

20)Though her tears still fell like rain.

    Then came the day the walls broke down.

    She could not take it anymore.

    Her father chased her to her room,

    She slammed and locked the door.

25)His drunken voice, it filled her head,

     She cried and covered her ears.

     She made a plan to escape the pain,

     She was done with all her fears.

     In the heat of that summer night

30)Emmy quietly packed her things.

     She quickly made her way outside,

     And felt as though she had wings.

    As she boarded the midnight bus

    She heard a lovely sound.

35)Near the back, a boy and guitar

     Played for everyone around.

     She slowly walked in his direction.

     She watched his fingers go to work.

     He moved like a dream she’d forgotten

40)Back before her heart was broke.

    He looked at her, he smiled softly

    The smile cut through like broken glass.

    His Irish brogue stopped her breath and

    He said, “Where ye from little lass?”

45) “It don’ matter where I come from,”

    She said in a voice so sweet.

  “It only matters where I’m goin’.

    Just me and my two worn feet.”

    She looked at the man and he at her,

50)  Something sparked between the two.

     It seemed like love at first sight

     On the midnight bus to Liverpool.

Lonely Girl

Lonely girl,

Lost in the flood lights they call life,

You don't know where you're going.

You don't know how to get there.

All you know is what you're told.

You long for something new.

You yearn for someone to

Knock you out of the light.

All your life you've been blind.

Now, it’s time to see.

Why?

What have I become when my past 'friends' don't even acknowledge me anymore? What did I do to deserve to be ignored? I don't expect conversations. I stopped expecting those a long time ago. But I simple 'hello' or wave would be most welcome. They could at least wave back or smile at me when I see them... I'm afraid I’ve fallen into an ungodly state of loneliness and I don't know how to come back. After so much pain from people I once loved, i have forgotten how to love. Matt tries to pull me back but I only sink deeper. Is this what I’ve grown accustomed to? Wallowing in this damned self-hatred? I only ask for an old friend to come back. I only ask for forgiveness from those who believe me to have done them wrong. Please. Don't let me stay in my oblivious depression. Hold onto who I was. Try to bring her back. I miss her.

Unforseen

Darkness slowly fell over the forest. Soft footsteps padded through the trees. Glowing yellow eyes shone out of the black night. A dark graceful form stepped out of the bushes. It slowly walked into a pool of light. Thick ebony fur glistened as muscles ripples. Large ears carefully listening to the night around him, the wolf walked over to the bubbling stream.

In the pale moonlight, he studied his reflection. Gleaming white fangs seemed to glow in the night as he smiled slightly. Crouching slowly, his long dark muzzle touched the water. His soft ears twitched as he lapped the cool liquid in silence.

Footsteps suddenly broke the quiet of the night.

A rustling to the left caused him to tense. A young girl stumbled out from the trees,

falling to her hands and knees. A deep rumbling rolled through his chest and her head snapped up at the sound. Terror coursed through her veins and screamed at her to move but she was frozen, trapped by his bright yellow eyes.

            The wolf’s red tongue slashed out across his teeth as though he could taste the fear radiating from her. His ears twitched as he listened to her frantic heartbeat. Hackles raised, he slowly paced over the young girl, taking in her appearance.

            She wore faded blue jeans and a torn, ragged red tee shirt. Her hair was a wild nest of tangles and had a few stray leaves and twigs caught in it. Dirt covered from head to toe. As he circled her, growling deeply, she started breathing faster and quivered with fear. This only enticed the wolf more and he stopped circling to look at the girl more fully.

            Almost defiantly, her deep green eyes bore into his. Faltering, the wolf stopped growling. He cocked his head to one side before stepping back to his original position and crouching down to drink once more.

                He heard the girl let out a breath of air and whisper softly, though what she said, he did not understand. Then, she had her own taste of the clear water and vanished once again into the trees, leaving the wolf to his own thoughts.

Facing the Inevitable

Shining forest green eyes pierce my heart. Thick ebony fur bristles and a deep warning growl vibrates from the animal’s chest. I step closer still. The growl increases in volume and his lips pull back to reveal gleaming white teeth and a blood red tongue lashes across them as if tasting my preordained death.

My mind screams at me to run but my body’s only response is to step closer. I know it doesn’t make sense but I feel no fear, even as the blood lust settles into the creature’s eyes. The wolf’s muscles tense as he prepares to spring and I close my eyes. With one last step, I move forward to finally end all the pain.

The Worst Prison of All

There are no walls.

There are no chains.

No boundaries or

Physical restraints.

No one holds her back.

No one cares either way.

And yet there is something

That keeps her hidden.

She is trapped, bound

Inside her very own mind.

The confines don’t exist.

She only thinks they do.

She tries to escape

But it only engulfs her further.

They try to pull her back.

They tell her they love her.

He says he wants her heart.

But she can’t pull out…

A metaphor to drown all truth.

She’s imprisoned inside her mind.

This One's for the Janitors

I have a story behind this one if ya'll would be interested.

I feel for you.

I really do.

You have to clean up after

All those high school students.

They don’t care about the mess.

They didn’t think about

Who it would affect.

They only think of themselves.

Time and time again,

You pick up their trash

And wash off the windows.

You do your best

And they don’t care.

Did they think about you

As they graffitied that wall?

No.

They pass you over.

They don’t even know who you are.

Who are they to do that?

Who are they to cause trouble?

They are nobody.

To the high school janitor

Scrubbing paint off the wall,

I know who you are.

And I apologize.

Just a little preview

This is actually the opening to my book. I have yet to title it so don't ask. I am hoping that I'll be looking for plublishers by the end of the month. Give me you're honest opinion on this. Do you like it?

                Wind blew through Kari Jakobson’s short purple hair as she ran, whipping it back and forth over her pale face. Trees flew by and time seemed to stand still. Campers sat around bright orange fires, oblivious as her sleek form flashed past in the dark night. Sweat beaded on her skin, her heart pounded in her chest, and her bones had begun to ache. It was almost time. The cool scent of water reached her and she stopped at a slowly drifting river. Shivers crawled up her spine and the sweet pain kicked in.

                The air sounded with pops and cracks as Kari’s bones broke and reformed, distorting her slender figure for a split second. Kari laughed with pleasure as fur sprouted from every pour on her skin. The laugh slowly turned into a rasp and a growl ripped its way up from her chest. Her gums tingled as her teeth lengthened and sharpened. She threw back her head and howled at the moon, sharing her joy with the world.

                The massive wolf stretched out her lean body, the transformation now complete. Thick ebony fur covered her muscular frame. Glowing sapphire eyes radiated pure bliss as she turned back towards the forest and ran, enjoying her freedom.

                As Kari weaved between the thick trees, she caught a familiar scent. The musky aftershave was one she would never forget. Taking a sharp left, towards the smell, she slowed to a jog.

                Soon enough, she came upon a small campsite. A black tent stood five feet from a steady fire and a young man at on a tree stump next to it. Kari stopped moving, her mouth salivating slightly but not from hunger.

                The boy’s black hair hung down just below his ears in a messy style. The thick locks hung over his face and sea-green eyes watched the flames. Jarrod Pierce. He was the new kid in school and Kari had instantly fallen for him. She wasn’t sure if it was because of the gorgeous eyes, the tanned muscles, or the heart melting smile. All she knew was that he was a hunk.

                An untimely whimper escaped from her jaws and Jarrod’s head whipped towards the sound. His eyes locked on her massive shape in the trees and a wary look crossed his face. He didn’t know what was out there but he knew it was huge. Grabbing his dad’s rifle out of the tent, he slowly walked in Kari’s direction.

                She knew she should have been running but she was locked in place. Jarrod pushed aside the brush and stopped in his tracks. He was face to face with the biggest wolf he had ever seen. He couldn’t look away from the eyes; eyes no normal wolf should have. The sapphire color jogged his memory but he couldn’t place it. Kari stepped backwards and broke the spell.

                Jarrod gasped and fell to the ground as she jumped in the air, clearing both him and the fire five feet behind him. Without a glance backwards, she ran from the place. She knew she shouldn’t have let him see her but, for the first time, he had seen her.

Broken

Lyndsy forces her eyes from her forearms and looks at the girl before her. She doesn’t even know who she is anymore. Dark circles surround the girl’s bloodshot eyes. Her plain brown hair is a mess of knots. Just looking at her repulses Lyndsy. She’s so stupid, so ugly,  and so completely and utterly useless. The clothes she wears do nothing to hide that ghastly body of hers. Red drips off her fingers as blood oozes from the fresh cuts. Waves of emotions wash over Lyndsy’s mind. Sadness, despair, and jealousy course through her body, only to disappear the next second, pushed out of the way by anger. She grits her teeth and reaches for the nearest object, her bloodied knife. Using all her strength, she hurls it at the girl before before. The blade strikes true and sticks in the wall. Glass cracks and falls to the floor, taking the image with it. Tears flow down Lyndsy’s face. She falls to the ground, sinking slowly into oblivion.

Summer Storm

The clash of thunder,

The flash of lightning,

The sweet sorrowful sound

Of rain pouring down.

The joy I feel,

The shiver of excitement

With each roar.

The beating of my heart

Matching the pounding of the rain.

I close my eyes in anticipation,

Smile at the sky,

And feel all my worries and fears

Wash down the storm drain.

A1*18

“Ha-ha. Steak sauce 18.”

I remember the first time

I said that to you.

The van rumbled down the road.

Tavis bragged about the band.

Momo and I made fun of you both.

You shook your head and made

That adorable angry face.

“A1. Not steak sauce,”

You replied. I laughed.

Ever since then, I’ve

Teased you about everything.

I know it embarrasses you.

But I love the pink flush

That spreads beneath your freckles.

I adore the angry twinkle

In your hazel eyes.

It’s the one that lets me know

You instantly forgive me.

I will tease you for the rest of our lives

About being “ambidextrous”

And being able to stretch really far.

I’ll tease you for the way you squeak

When you laugh really hard

And I know you’ll let me.

That’s what friends are for.