Ry's Personal Space

 Bowing down before the shadow of the cold figure before me. Many prayers are given daily to this statue. How often do we worship the stone? Do their hard ears hear? Or do their cold hearts love? The Speakers say so. They say to watch and pray. They say to trust and endure. Why should I bow down to this shrine of lies? Why should I heed the words of the blind Speakers? This empty faith is suicide. Why should I follow their drum beat when the wind and the trees call my name? My heart yearns for the freedom of truth. Today, I venture outside the chapel. Today, I am free from prison.

I travel daily through the mighty wilderness with my brothers to collect food. We provide for our whole country. Day in and day out we search for, and bring back food for everyone as our Queen has commanded. When I find something worth bringing back, I call for my brothers, and we lift it on our shoulders and carry it back through the great streets of our powerful fortress. This impenetrable castle was built and paved by the best this country has to offer and is maintained beautifully! I'm proud to be a part of the largest nation in the wilderness. We are protected by the largest, bravest, and strongest of soldiers out there. No nation or rival power can stand up to us... Well, accept one. The giants... They are massive and terrible beings that could easily trample even the greatest of armies under their gargantuan feet. Their steps send shivers through the ground, and when they come through the best we can do is hide in the protective halls of our stronghold. They tend to leave us...

 What do we do when the flowers fade? Do we buy new ones? Grow more? Press them? Dry them? Flowers are beautiful but fleeting joys. Do we treasure these short-lived wonders? Hold onto them, take care of them, be gentle with them. Flowers can be vibrant and have such a sweet odor. Why don't you take better care of your flowers so that they last? Do you even care? Flowerbeds line the perimeter of the house. Each with their own charm and eccentricity. Deep sleep amongst the petals pointing towards the sky. My eyes are closed, and my body lays low beneath the blanket of roots. The flowers drink in the rays of sun, swallow the rain of water, and chew the rot of my body. I love to see them bloom so bright and joyful. Under these beds do I rest so that the flowers can wake every morning and sing to the sky. Oh, how I love my garden.

 Stepping into the room, colors shine, sun beams, angels sing. I try to catch my breath, but it's gone. The moment stretches on and on. My eyes are captured by your presence, and I cannot look away. You've taken my days, my dreams, my fears, and my aspirations. I can't help but fall deeper every moment I'm around you.  Your arms wrap me in a sweet embrace. I want to stay here forever. The words "I love you" linger on my tongue as the sweetest savor. Your voice soothes my aching heart, and your hands heal my broken body. There's no one like you, my dear. I'll never leave your side; your heart is my only home. You are my safe place, my comfort zone, and my thoughtless dance. Your cooling presence keeps me from burning up, and there is nowhere better for me then by your side.  Listless days, longing nights. You capture my attention and keep me grounded. Lying on my chest, near my beating heart. Let me be your warm embrace and your quickening spirit. Stay ...

Feb. 18th  The breeze blows through my hair as a smile stretches across my face. I've always wanted to surf the sea on a ship, and now this is my life. The movement of the ocean, splashing of the waves, cries from the birds above my head. THIS is the life!  Apr. 4th For my birthday the crew threw me a celebration. Arnold gave me his old deck of playing cards, Fredrick gave me a small chain necklace with the scales of many different fish on it, my buddy Paul gave me his favorite cloak for the cold since mine got torn last month, Philly shared his beer with me, and Johnson gave me an extra helpin of lobscouse. The captain even gave me a letter. His writing is too fancy to read but it still made me real happy! May 11th Our meals have been a little less of late. There is less meat and less flavor. I heard some of the boys up last night in their bunks talking about low food and hard days. I don't know why they are so scared, we only got a few more weeks before dock. I think I shoul...

 When growing up I couldn't wait to grow up. Be done with school, away from my parents, and free to make money. All I wanted was to get out of the pressure that was keeping me down. To be an adult was so simple and freeing. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but I knew I'd have a wife, we'd have each other, and we'd be okay. I wouldn't have to worry about all the problems these other people would have to deal with because I would do things the right way the first time. I was so confident and determined. But now, with adulthood looming large overhead, through many struggles and painful experiences brought on through my own stupid mistakes; I just don't know anymore. Everything is so much messier and more complex than I have ever imagined.  I think the lesson to be learned is that nothing is easy. So, stop expecting immediate perfection. Yes, things are messy. Yes, life is hard. But that's okay. That's just life and it's good that it's like that. If i...

 They make their way down the hallway. He shakes his head from side to side, frantically searching for any possible escape route. She is wiping the tears from her eyes, smudging her makeup.  A loud creak is heard and the two halt their slow march. His gaze follows the shaking direction given by her outstretched arm.  "W-was that door always open...?"  "Shhh. Don't be so loud." He says with a sharp tone. She nods in response before they both draw their focus back to the now open door. Tall, dark, and slender; it hangs half out of the doorway. It's crooked teeth forming a smile far too wide for its skull to hold. The three stand motionless, staring intently at each other.  "P-P-Party Games. Fun f-for the WHOLE FAMILY..." Booms out from between its unmoving jaw, sounding like a scratched record.  "RUN!" He screams as he spins in the opposite direction, dragging her by the hand behind him.  Tears stream down her face as she wails... "I w...