Story

He could barely stand Marin practically skipping through the halls after History was done. She bounded into the cafeteria, with him hot on her heels, Hot and blazing, burning, and he felt it in his chest, Snarling, and a line of smoke came wafting from his mouth. Marin had slipped through the food line before him. It was once again burrito day, a fact which brought him a certain amount of pleasure; the school cafeteria actually made pretty good burritos. He grabbed his stand

Terry awoke, a few days later, and yawned. It was Monday, actually. The clear, clean brilliance of the morning sun gleamed through his windows. It was time for school. Terry was somewhat proud of himself for training his body to wake up well in time to make the bus; this despite not really naturally being a morning person. But his internal clock had been properly set, and it clicked and chimed perfectly to wake him up at the right hour. He walked into the bathroom, wearing o

“So that was uneventful,” said Bellona as their self-driving car meandered through the quiet Atlanta streets, taking this turn and that back to their home. “I guess we could have got more testing,” said Marin, staring at her phone. “I’m willing to trust Doctor Crickson,” said Bellona. “If he says there’s no real point to getting more tests done, I am willing to believe that.” Marin was texting. >Done at the doctor. No health problems they could detect. They couldn’t expla

And Marin’s hair billowed and sank, as she sat there, in Dr. Crickson’s office three days later. Bellona sat next to her, wearing a beautiful cashmere pantsuit in deep purple. Marin herself was wearing a dress, and she seethed as she sat. She thought about her left eyebrow. They had been preparing, on this Thursday, to skip the school day and take her to the doctor. Marin had gotten dolled up; she did not typically wear makeup, but she had at least put on some blush, consid

Three periods later, they were at Lunch. “Uuuggghhhhh,” groaned Marin, slumping heavily into her seat with her tray. Her heavy red wool dress kept her warm in the slight chill of the cafeteria. She was also wearing green leggings. Actually, all of them had some green on, somewhere. In addition to Saera’s dark green pants, Ardo was wearing a henley with green sleeves and a gray body, atop some jeans. Terry, of course, had his usual green field jacket on, atop some heavy brown

School started on Monday, January 8th. So a day was bent, and posed, and Saera wandered around the house. She had felt weak when she had first recovered, after so many days being sick and fighting the sickness. But one day of good health and good food was enough to restore her stamina, and on the 7th of January, by midday, she had felt as good as new. She had thought of going to see Marin. But Marin had texted her curtly: >Not now And Saera had heard no more from her frie

“Gah!” barked Saera as she shot upward in bed. Bright white sunlight streamed into her windows. She sweated and she shuddered and she sighed and she… Felt better. Her silver eyes went wide. She breathed, and though some soreness lingered from the coughing she had done for days, the cough itself was completely gone. Her fever, her chills, her nausea and the urge to vomit—gone. She felt well, and healthy, and a surge of joy ran up her chest at the idea. But… something else. H

When on poetic venture one begins, When to a great endeavor one aspires; When to the earth a great new thing is born, When something mighty is in the attempt; When wielding water, fire, air, and earth, When knitting flesh and steel, circuit and bone; When dreaming plots, and vast conspiracy, When naming faction, tumult, strife, and war; When of heroes and villains one would speak; When speaking, too, of those who blur such lines; When dealing of great things, and small things

Marin was sitting on the couch, thumbs flicking idly over her phone screen. The doorbell rang, and her blue eyes glimmered in mirth. “I’ll get it!” she yelled. Vaulting from the couch, she ran through the halls to the front door, and threw it open. “Hey, guys!” “Yo,” said Ardo. “Hello!” said Saera. “Hey, Marin,” said Terry. “Oh, man, come in!” said Marin, throwing wide the door. She was wearing a wool dress in a dark green color. Saera was wearing corduroy pants and a blo

It was a cold December day, early December. Ardo turned to look at Saera. She smiled at him. He smiled at her. It was not so cold when they looked at each other. Ardo pointed. Saera looked. A glance, again, passed between them, and they moved, down into the concrete deeping that formed the drainage ditch. They were downtown. They had taken the bus; Saera had helped Ardo with the precise route. Slowly they wended their way down the heavy, dark gray slope of concrete. It was c