Mindworks 2020

The writing in this anthology dates from BC: Before Covid. Thus you may feel a sense of nostalgia when reading poetry and prose that make no mention of social distancing, wearing or not wearing masks. I can imagine the coming year’s submissions will look a bit different. Nevertheless, the pieces herein reflect themes that will always be with us: identity, loss, time, fear, love, vulnerability, uncertainty. The tension between what has happened and what could have happened...or what should have happened. Your words are vital. They can hurt or heal, oppress or empower, obscure or reveal; they can squash hope or spark a movement. Here’s hoping our words build humanity. Thank you to everyone who took the time to write and submit! -Ms. Deborah Martin, Mindworks Advisor

Mindworks Members:

Angelina Emmons, Editor Adriana Gonzalez-Zambrana Jessica Green Katherine Miner Connor Nogle Alyssa Swan Kathryn Yurek

Special thanks to:

Mr. Joseph Spero Mr. Louis Cercone Mr. Stephen Jarosch Mrs. Patricia Quast Mrs. Heather Bitka

Thank you to Jessica Green for providing her painting for the magazine cover.

2 Table of Contents a summer hymn by Jessica Green 5 ​ The Tusk Stretched down to the Puddled Pit by Jeremy Stoddard 6 ​ I Woke Up Today, the Sun Kissed My Face by Eliza Church 7 ​ The Rehabilitation of Arsene by Brent Getz 8 ​ Suburbia by Angelina Emmons 9 ​ Nightwalk by Ari Johnson 10 ​ For Crying Out Loud by Autumn Cercone 11 ​ They’ll Never Know by Katherine Miner 11 ​ Down in the Forest by Ella Booth 12 ​ Love Imagined by Bella Pfohl 12 ​ The World Is Gone but Do Not Fear by Damelis Gonzalez-Zambrana 13 ​ Disney Movies, Such a Cliché by Kyleea Lewis 14 It’s Baffling by Terrial Soulvie 15 ​ Memories by Kalyn Reabold 16 ​ I See You, and You See Me by Kathryn Yurek 17 ​ To Those that Could Have Been by Sara McIntyre 18 ​ An Ode to Mashed Potatoes by Katherine Miner 19 ​ A Mental Storm by Heather Chatt 20 ​ Flying Saucers by Amy Lawton 20 ​ I Wanted to Tell You Lots of Things by Luca Grandinetti 21 ​ The Lights Have All Been Taken Down by Athena Walker 21 ​ You Are My Music by Ava Carr 22 ​ Science is Everywhere by Robert Homewood-McKenzie 23 ​ Horse Girl by Autumn Cercone 24 ​ With Streamers in Hand by Jacob Minnick 25 ​ Ready for Takeoff by Alyssa Cline 26 ​ Windows by Julia Monteferrante 26 ​ Prometheus by Shauna Ramos 27 ​ Tempus Fugit ad Astra by Ari Johnson 28 ​ Child of the Night by Angelina Emmons 29 ​ The Kingdom by Alyssa Swan 30 ​ Take Aim by Evan Wirth 30 ​ He’s Always Right by Adriana Gonzalez-Zambrana 31 ​ The Night Holds Monsters by Ella Booth 32 ​ It Was Dark for ‘twas Midnight by Kyleea Lewis 32 ​ JFK by Sara McIntyre 33 ​ Creation by Brent Getz 34 ​ It’s Ok by Courtney Carnes 34 ​ 3 Sweet Life by Jeremy Stoddard 35 ​ Echoes of Agony by Ava Carr 35 ​ Monday Morning by Heather Chatt 36 ​ The Place I Love by Arriana Chastain 37 ​ Dreams and Nightmares by Aidan Sosa 37 ​ Mr. Dunkin by Amy Lawton 38 ​ Stairway in the Clouds by Tatum Green 39 ​ The Break-In by Jacob Minnick 39 ​ Mama by Luca Grandinetti 40 ​ The Legacy of Sacrifice by Robert Homewood-McKenzie 41 ​ Red Light Love by Alyssa Cline 42 ​ What Next? by Kahniya James 42 ​ Homesick by Joseph Porth 43 ​ My Shoes by Julia Monteferrante 44 ​ Congratulations Class of 2020! by Shauna Ramos 44 ​ Pink Plastic Lawn Chairs by Jessica Green 45 ​

4 First Place Poetry Winner

a summer hymn by Jessica Green

i am of the same pink walls since the cradle and flowered wallpaper, peeling remnants of decades past from midday light pouring through plastic sealed windows i am raised of vhs and tube tv peanut butter toast for breakfast, mac and cheese for lunch i am of september sunsets and midnight summer storms metered crickets, headlights cutting thick fog i am of the backyard pond and cherry trees i am of little blue baby’s breath peeking from the rocks i am the cherry tree on a bitter august night

5 Second Place Poetry Winner

The Tusk Stretched down to the Puddled Pit by Jeremy Stoddard

The tusk stretched down to the puddled pit, teeming with the peace of winged creatures, and the threat of the monster’s engines. Only 100 acres remained - the barons robbed the gentle giants.

Pillaging and plundering with their Jeeps and knives, the hunt has long since commenced. Firing their guns and sparking territorial acquisitions, the elephant longs for the time prior to Enlightenment.

Yet, waddling through the sparse grass and sandy sediment, the gray mass feels no revenge. She has accepted her fate, Living in the oblivion of the horrendous nature of humanity.

6 Third Place Poetry Winner

I Woke Up Today, the Sun Kissed My Face by Eliza Church

I woke up today, the Sun kissed my face, Birds chirped, spiders spun cobwebs of lace. Breakfast-oatmeal, toast, and eggs...I said morning grace Why such a thing?

Does everyone witness the songs being sung? Or do they sit there and make fun? I don’t know if it’s just me but let’s see, Welcome to the crazy world made just for you and me. There are creatures here, there, and everywhere some bring feelings of fear, while others won’t harm a hair

Sit back and listen to the sounds of nature before they vanish If not managed beauty would perish From Australia to the Amazon too, save the world and it might just save you.

7 Honorable Mention Poetry Winner

The Rehabilitation of Arsene By Brent Getz

The art of thievery is common, Androgyny. I am no different than a common poor man Or wealthy man. I am the empathy of man and shredder of life.

I ruin lives just as you, humans do.

You are the folly, I dip in melancholy. Man who can stop me is he humans adore. A being of absolute. I choose the mask to hide my face; I am devil’s prophet.

I am a shapeshifter of Poe’s masquerade, I have no face to show. You are my Montresor I’ll be your Fortunato I’ll seal you up like the Cask of Amontillado.

Allow us to make a vow a contract, and the ‘string’ is futile. You will become a thief just as I. Your wings of rehabilitation shall be captive within. Will you live among the cattle, Break the captive of rehabilitation? Will you become a deceiver of the world with a mask?

8 First Place Prose Winner

Suburbia by Angelina Emmons

Brittle grass pokes under my feet. The lawns transitioning to summer brown. The pack of birds living on the power lines, huddle across the road. Beaks digging through the top layer of dirt, and tiny dramas breaking out. A whaling chirp as one jumps, avoiding the nippy beak of the other. Silence restored within a moment; a family lunch. The sprinkler next door squawks, attempting to pick a fight. The ticks spraying in rhythmic pace. Until a rapid succession of heavy bursts, arching across and twinkling in the midday light. An attempt to salvage their dying lawn. The dogs diagonal stalk a cat. Loose skin lifting around their mouths as they ogle recurring prey. The amber beast strolls, fluffing his matted tail to appear appetizing. Divine Bastet dwells within suburbia. No cars pass by, the vacancy of two pm and two am identical. A dessert barren of human activity and a similar orange haze. My feet sink into the brittle grass, convincing myself that I’m the last person alive. If I’m a person at all.

9 Second Place Prose Winner

Nightwalk by Ari Johnson ​ ​

Stepping out from the bright cascade of my kitchen, the sky bleeds rushes of greys and navy blues. With stars outcast from the nearby lamps, I'm left stranded on my own front porch. The antithesis to a firewalk; icy steps echo in my bones on my venture through the midnight void. An opossum skitters out onto the frost-over grass, we lock eyes for what seems like an eternity. They don't know what I'm here for, and I haven't a single clue on their motives on this night. It's 3:02 AM, and this is not a typical occurrence. For the first time, I come face to face with Earth's child in the frigid cold of obscurity. Further down I encounter a gated-off pond that used to have an abundance of life in warmer weather, now barren and encased in ice. In my soul, present emotions couldn't be more divergent.

10 Third Place Prose Winner

For Crying Out Loud by Autumn Cercone

The mother’s heart shattered along with her coffee mug. Her daughter stood there trembling, tears streaming down her face. She held a global hollow edge chef’s knife, with a substance coating it the mother could not identify. The mother darts to her. Just to find a bowl of cut onions on the counter behind her.

Honorable Mention Prose Winner

They’ll Never Know by Katherine Miner

Jimmy found a pair of pliers from the basement cabinet. Father shunned him from there, seeing Jimmy as not man enough to handle the tool. Running down the basement steps, tears flooded his eyes. He hated his parents, how dare they put those metal brackets in his mouth? He cut the lock on the cabinet, knowing his father would be very upset the next morning. Snap, snap, snap. Each one hurting more than the last. Free at last, free at last.

11 Down in the Forest by Ella Booth ​

Down in the forest With the sprites in the trees They sing a sweet song And call out to me It’s a soft and gentle whisper That echoes through the leaves

It flows throughout the land Calming all it seeks Silencing the demons Through our vessels they leak Our minds are corrupt

But to our souls the song speaks

Love Imagined by Bella Pfohl ​

You turn my black and white existence into a rainbow full of radiant color. Your sweet kisses upon my face, leave me longing for your warm embrace. I want to know the secrets that your smiles hide; What truths do your eyes conceal? Your touch upon my skin leaves me breathless, burning from within. I search for words but come up empty. Void of speech; my mind all blank. Are you real or imagined? Composed of lies or ground in reality?

12 The World Is Gone but Do Not Fear by Damelis Gonzalez-Zambrana

The world is gone but do not fear. Even when the stars are gone, My warmth will keep all I hold dear.

When death is upon us and the end is near. When the sun is faded and there is no dawn. The world is gone but do not fear.

When men give up and chug their beer, And buildings have fallen and laid out drawn, My warmth will keep all I hold dear.

When fire and destruction strike in like spears, And women give in and act like faun. The world is gone but do not fear.

As the sky cracks open, a single fallen tear, And parents perish along with their spawn, My warmth will keep all I hold dear.

The ones alive will weep, for their demise is here. Hope will be nothing but a murdered swan. The world is gone but do not fear, My warmth will keep all I hold dear.

13

Disney Movies, Such a Cliché by Kyleea Lewis

Disney movies, such a cliché Girl has something bad happen, boy comes to save the day, they fall in love, the End Never dream to be a princess That pretty boy isn’t going to save you, he is going to do more harm than good. That pretty rose that he wants to give his so-called treasure, is going to prick her beautiful skin for her hand was made to go on the spinning wheel, destiny they call it. For everyone thinks a woman can not handle herself without a man to help and guide her through everything within life. She is to delegate, they say, a pretty flower that can be blown through the wind if she doesn’t have her stem to tie her down. What’s so wrong with a free flowing girl Why does a man always have to hold on to her For I am no longer a delicate flower that needs her stem. I flow through the wind with my passion and grace, for I will be my own soul, for I am for me and you are to you.

14 It’s Baffling by Terrial Soulvie

It’s baffling. All of your built up hopes; or wants. The way people feel their breath halt upon seeing how your eyes glimmer like jewels upon speaking of your dream. Or how someone’s heart can swell when they think of the fruits of the future.

Whether it be success, love, enlightenment; we all want something. The rich and poor. The strong and weak. They all have wishes. Maybe it’s not even something that’s tangible. And sometimes the thing you wanted didn’t even seem to appease you the way you would have liked it to. But yet it still seems to hurt; and just take away that little piece inside of you that you didn’t know was going to miss you before. Or even worse, take away the piece of you that you tried to comprehend that was one day going to be gone.

So we sit here; in silence. Terrified to break the wall that has surrounded our cracked hearts. The strongest of us may speak; of course. Because no matter how small the disappointment you faced; the empty little hole that is felt in the pit of your stomach may still be present.

Whether your disappointment be the grand plan that is made in the depths of someone’s busy mind; or the simplest thing undone due to someone’s laziness.

Sometimes the laziness may even be our own.

And I believe that feeling may just be one thing that all of us can connect on.

15 Memories by Kalyn Reabold

It’s that month again, It’s that time of year It’s that time in my life, An imbalance between Letting go and holding on, Breaking down and moving on Losing hope or the silver line, Trying hard to hold on The gap between my fingers, Makes everything slip away Endlessly reaching out grasping, One last smell, sound, touch, or taste Or forget all together, Is it really painless not to reminisce? The tears flow down as a thought to mind, Would he be proud? Would he really love me? Would he think the world of me? Would he do anything for me? His little girl, his whole world, All I truly know is mine is still crashing down. As it did when he died, and will until I pass on, But I can only hope we will meet again, on the other side, I’ll hold him tight, we’ll catch up through the night, For now I can only remember, I seem to come back to asking, Whether I really knew you or if i just created you with the stories, photos, clothes. or if really do remember you? either way I must hold on tight to what I have, or risk letting go, with

In loving memory of your memory R.I.P. 03/14/08

16

I See You, and You See Me by Kathryn Yurek

I see you, and you see me. My heart comes to a screeching stop; And I’m panicking, but I don’t let you see.

You and I were almost “we”; But unfortunately you had to act like slop. And now I wish you’d just let me be.

I’m panicking, but I don’t let you see. My stomach goes up and falls with a fast drop; I see you, and you see me.

You take your seat, right in front of me. A friend walks in and smiles my way; She helps to distract me.

I see you, and you see me. My dislike for you grows with its stay. And now I wish you’d just let me be.

My body and mind are deprived of glee, As you take forever to go away. I see you, and you see me; And I’m panicking, but I don’t let you see.

17 To Those that Could Have Been by Sara McIntyre

Sometimes, You are told that you are one top of the world. Invincible, all-powerful, untouchable! But what you are told is not at all what you feel. Vulnerable, helpless, mediocre. Mediocrity! The feeling Is the bane of existence; the downfall of those who had potential, those who could have been, But were destroyed by their own. A shadow glides in the night and steals What is not theirs, And hands over to one who doesn’t deserve it. Invincibility to invisibility; power to uselessness; untouchable to beaten. Unforgiving. Relentless. End.

18 An Ode to Mashed Potatoes by Katherine Miner

When I first met you I was 4 years old Mom cooked you in a big large pot Saying “Eat it before it gets cold”

Your grains make me nauseous Your lumps make me queasy I’d rather eat dozens of eggs Than eat you over easy

I’ve had you from a box I've had you from the earth But eating one more bite of you Is more painful than childbirth

I’m sorry we don’t get along You really do seem nice You and I can still agree You are better than rice

19 A Mental Storm by Heather Chatt ​

My mind trembled at the sound of finals week The work pouring down rained harder And harder My eyes shut as textbooks lulled me to sleep The heavy workload forced stress inside my head Circling my brain Taunting me and haunting me- Chaos! Finally, the storm drew to a close At last, my heart stopped racing, comforted by the calm It was a new start, New marking period.

Flying Saucers by Amy Lawton

Donuts of the future come from the sky. They come with powdered sugar that has a dreamy shine. The calling of their golden crust will make you wish it wasn't fried. The donuts of the future leave you yelling mine! Fresh out the oven you'll think that you have died, and once you read this poem you'll wish that you had nine!

20 I Wanted to Tell You Lots of Things by Luca Grandinetti

I wanted to tell you lots of things But I don’t know Where to start You’re where everything started And the one who wanted me The icing on the cake You used to call me The last of three The one who you raised like your prince Many, many people Philosophers, poets, writers Have talked about love What love is Where it comes from But for me For me, love is you

The Lights Have All Been Taken Down by Athena Walker

The lights have all been taken down. The New Year rung in Now there is cold And dark. The wind chills me to the core Of my very soul. I wonder if I’ll ever see the sun again But each day gets brighter And each day longer The flower will soon bloom again.

21

You Are My Music by Ava Carr

You are my music The music I heard with you was more than just music It was the melody of your laugh when I told one of my horrible jokes It was the soft murmurs in your sleep while you were next to me It was the thumping of your heartbeat while I rest my head upon your chest Together we were a symphony but the music suddenly started to fade and we started to drift apart and with that you left. Our symphony ended quickly, composed of our best and worst moments and with the song no longer playing it will eventually be forgotten like an old record collecting dust. And in that moment when the music stopped my world turned dark and gloomy. I didn’t hear the joyful music in life anymore Instead all I see is shades of grey and hear somber ballads on replay It was hard at first but I began to hear the music in another and with that I knew it was time to let you go.

22

Science is Everywhere by Robert Homewood-McKenzie

Science is everywhere, from the moon to the stars Creating transportation like planes and even cars We bear the fruits of this subject every day Which is why it is here to stay

Science is everywhere, from my brain to yours Known by all the world from the land to shores It has answers to that of the unimaginable Studied by those who are amicable

Science is everywhere, from my heart to my passion Always wanting to discover till I’m ashen There for me when the other subjects bore Science is all I care about to my core

23

Horse Girl by Autumn Cercone

For many years I’ve been made fun of For the thing that I pursue It’s not something many can do And I think they know that too

Many times I get left out But no, I don’t go and pout As I know I’m not without

I always have my steed Who gives me all I need Consistently doing a good deed

I try to always treat him with a carrot I wish he could sit on my shoulder like a parrot

24 With Streamers in Hand by Jacob Minnick

With streamers in hand, I stretch while I stand. If I reach the ledge, Marc Bolan may be impressed. The door has been rigged for Marc Bolan’s surprise as he enters. With confetti in the air, his teeth will soon bear. Fear may enter the air. If my intentions are not clear. I would hate to be impaled by Marc Bolan’s three large horns. The streamers must be hung low, For my arms cannot reach. Marc Bolan enters as I shout “surprise”. In the midst of excitement, he charges straight for me. He was not expecting such a surprise, for his family has never been so kind. Now I lie here, Three holes in my side. While trying to hold Marc Bolan back, I could not reach to stop him. My roar was enough but it was not soon enough.

25 Ready For Takeoff by Alyssa Cline as a young girl my parents emphasized be independent, don’t give up your pride but as I grow older, I get bolder and bolder stressing to see new horizons as the years pass and I drive on as I prepare to spread my wings I learn that someday it will sting but I'll always have these great days under my wing

Windows by Julia Monteferrante

Watching you through a window I wonder what went wrong. You are not the man I once loved. Warm, safe, and innocent turns to silent, calculating, and cold. Wrapped around your finger- I stay. Far too long. We are stale. But I’m afraid of change. So I close the blinds

26 Prometheus! by Shauna Ramos ​

Prometheus!

I am a mortal similar to you.

Though I deny immortal blood,

I gave a gift to humanity that cost me all.

The fire that you gave,

Is equal to the love I give.

Zeus inhabiting every person who has denied my love.

My punishment, similar to yours, is to suffer time and time again.

Giving my love over and over again..

While the vulture tears me apart.

27 Tempus Fugit ad Astra by Ari Johnson ​

Tick, clock struck nine. Time flies by, We’re all rushing And we can’t say why.

Tock, now high noon. Brain out of room, We can’t just know What we need to do.

Wick, lit to burn. Watch as it turns; Students alike With the next bell’s churn.

Lock- sit and read. Just to succeed, Stress yourself out And take up the lead!

Tick, Tock- Soon, you’ll see, Practice makes perfect Through infinity. Perfect thy own, Leave thy soul, And soon we’ll all be rich and old.

28

Child of the Night by Angelina Emmons ​

child of the night, cower over human prey far from decayed, the shadows hide a monstrous erudite. crystal fangs expose a parasite, crimson feasts enchanted by a masquerade, child of the night. a mirror reflecting nothing but plight, dancing against frigid skin as a blade, the shadows hide a monstrous erudite. fingers itch for the warmth of light, immortality’s price paid, child of the night. harboring an unquenchable appetite, embark on a sunlit crusade, the shadows hide a monstrous erudite. inch from the depths with spite, blister and burn a renegade, the shadows hide a monstrous erudite, child of the night.

29 The Kingdom by Alyssa Swan

A long time ago, there was a kingdom. With a prince who would soon become king, and his sister as the princess. Unfortunately for the brother, his face grew red every time he walked past a certain tower. His walking grew slow as he admired the girl watching him from the window, brushing her hair with a solemn face. Eventually, the prince took arms. He wanted this girl to himself. Not trapped in a tower with some untrained guards inside. And so his quest began. He sneaked past the guards in the dead of night, his heart hammering in his chest the closer he got to the door of the girl’s room. He swung it open, only to find the young woman staring out her window, blush covering her face as she smiled. She was staring at the prince’s sister.

Take Aim by Evan Wirth

Take aim, and release, watching it fly down below until it is no longer noticeable. Remember to breathe, you can't let nerves get the better of you now. Stand tall, look forward, pay attention. Remember to breathe. High up in the dark, listening to the rain dropping on the stone battlements. Big breath in. Feeling the wind, wishing for it to sweep you up and take you far away, to your home and your family. Breath out. Below are shouts and screams, an order is barked at your direction. Taking a deep breath, you knock another arrow and take aim.

30

He’s Always Right by Adriana Gonzalez-Zambrana

“You can’t keep me away forever!” she said. “I can, and it won’t be forever. You aren’t going and that’s final!” he growled, his face flushed from anger. “This is so not fair! I can take care of myself just fine, you were the one that told me how to fight anyways.” “That doesn’t matter, you aren’t ready.” “Ready for what?! Whatever it is, I can just beat it to the ground, or something.” He shook his head in disappointment. “What? Is it because of how I said it? God, can’t you just hold back the formal stuff?” “It's not that, you’ve proven my point and we are leaving it at that. Go to your room and don’t try to escape.” She scoffed but obeyed, because no matter how hard she tries, he’s always right.

31 The Night Holds Monsters by Ella Booth

The night holds monsters and evil doers of plenty, who terrorize a small forgotten town in a land lost in time. The citizens cower in fear and board up their windows at night, but the demons slip through in smoke like forms. It went on for years, and they had all but lost hope, but finally a light shone through the darkness. A kind and merciful goddess came down from the heavens, her body made of light and her eyes made of galaxies. The citizens wept at the sight of her, her beauty overwhelming. She washed over the land like a cool rain, and gave them the means to fight the evil. The people of the town, now possessing magic with power far beyond their understanding, locked the night prowlers deep underground and turned them into oil. Their world was light once again, but the demons would be freed eventually.

It Was Dark for ‘twas Midnight by Kyleea Lewis

It was dark for ‘twas midnight and the forest seemed to be a hollow cave of forgotten dreams where she walked. She walked the path that told a thousand tales which came before her. She skipped over puddles and jumped over fallen trees for she did not know of what she saw. She scurried through bushes and ducked under leaves, she didn’t see what was coming, all those forgotten dreams. Bright red eyes which followed the whisper winds which glided onto her. Her mind saw the castle, bright white as teeth. She did not know of what was behind following so intently.

32

JFK by Sara McIntyre

Crouched beneath a 6th story window, she watched the President’s motorcade through the scope of a rifle. With a silent but deadly breath, she pulled the trigger. It was the second shot heard round the world, followed by the third and fourth. She returned to the time machine after awakening Lee Oswald from his slumber quick enough so he could hear the ring of the last bullet, and escaped as it punctured the head of John F. Kennedy. He awoke to the noise below. His first instinct--run. But who was killed? Did I kill them? Where am I? He ran to the movie theatre a few buildings away and was later arrested. She returned to the year 2031 as a hero in the government lab. Her mission was over and covered up forever, only hinted at by those who were skeptical of the news that faked it.

33 Creation by Brent Getz

It’s quiet uptown. No deadline, no process and no posies to prescribe. No constant need of life saving. They could say, I’m the angel of death. I must say, I miss my dimly lit room. Let me rephrase; I'm not mad. You, my patient, couldn’t fathom my intellectual capabilities. For I’ve mastered the art of transplantation. For I’m an artist, don’t you know? For I will make you my monster: Frankenstein! I breed new life. Your entrails are mine to study. For I have a secret, but your time is so little. I will take care of you; my specimen. In time, you’ll see through new eyes.

It's Okay by Courtney Carnes

A man sits in front of his creation. All he has to do is put in the final piece. Slowly, he picks it up and places the eye into its socket. Nothing happens at first. Then through the dimness of the room he sees the eyes glow blue. "Oh my god." He reaches out to touch its face, but it recoils. The robot cowers away from its creator. "Hey, it's okay," he assures her. "I won't hurt you." The robot slowly crawls back over to him, arm outstretched. She gently pokes the man before pulling back her metal hand. "See?" She cocks her head in confusion. "Soft," she mumbles. The man looks down at his knee and smiles. "They're pajama pants," he tells her. She then stands with the man's help. "You're amazing," he says, astonished. She smiles. "Safe?" she questions and he nods before replying, "Safe."

34 Sweet Life by Jeremy Stoddard

The girlfriend perused over the sugar-infested display of throbbing red hearts, arrows, love messages. Valentines Day was in two weeks, yet she still remained undecided regarding the perfect gift for Jason, her longtime boyfriend of five years. One distinct cake taunted her: “You are the sugar to the recipe of our love.” She scoffed at the sappiness, knowing wholeheartedly Jason despised such heartfelt comments. Desserts galore confined her in a sweet hole of fearful regret. The girlfriend needed to desperately choose her dessert, and her only saving grace resided in Jean-Phillipe, the merry Frenchman manning the bakery this blustery winter evening. Through the twinkling eyes of Jean-Philppe, the girlfriend became aroused in the appearance of one pie, a heart-shaped item of decadent apples and flaky dough. She knew that through this pie, Jason could feel eternal happiness before the radiation treatments deprived him of life.

Echoes of Agony by Ava Carr

Red liquid stains his floor; tears fall to the ground as he lies motionless. Tired eyes close from exhaustion; groaning in agony, his aching limbs quiver. Screams for help echo, the artist cries, seeing his ruined painting. “So clumsy,” he mutters, throwing the brush at the cans of paint opened on the floor.

35

Monday Morning by Heather Chatt

Sleep deprived and buried in work, Jordyn finds herself faced with the same question as the night before. She wonders, is getting my homework done really necessary, or is my sleep more important. Choosing her work, Jordyn drags her stuffed backpack up the stairs and throws it onto her bed. She gets out binder after binder and notebook after notebook. Remembering last weekend when she swore she wouldn't procrastinate again, Jordyn starts her assignments. After a few hours she begins to regret her decision as her yawns become more and more frequent. As she writes the last words of her essay and finishes the last problem on her review sheet, a wave of relief rushes over her. Too tired to move, her eyelids slam closed. Awakened by the irritating sound of her alarm, it is the dreaded Monday morning. Jordyn wakes up to find herself covered in scattered papers with an open textbook at her feet.

36 The Place I Love by Arriana Chastain

Dirt and hay on the ground and horses getting ridden or worked on and groomed. Everyone busy and having fun when I'm trying to shut my roller coaster of my life out, full of emotions. Hoping that my parents won't fight when I get home, hoping I can get some sleep tonight, hoping my anxiety won't take over. I want to stay there forever and not face reality but in the end I will leave the place I love, the place I feel most free, and go back and face my problems.

Dreams and Nightmares Aidan Sosa

I gotta run, it’s catching up quick. The darkness, blocking all light out, yet I can still see my goals. It’s got my leg, I can’t get it off of me. I guess this is where it ends, it’s over, I’m done for. No. I can’t stop, I won't. I kick it off of me and I run, faster than I’ve ever gone before. I keep going and going but I stop in my tracks. I look ahead and see how far I still have to go. No, don’t get discouraged. I’ve come way too far to stop now. I sprint, nothing can stop me now. Don’t stop, never stop. I could see it closing in on me again. This has the closest it’s been. I can’t stop, I can see the light, run Run RUN! It’s Gonna Get Me. I do, I make it through my nightmares, and to my dreams.

37

Mr. Dunkin by Amy Lawton

The room was infested with filth. Rats nibbled at the spoiled food and licked at the empty bottles. “I told you before, Mrs. North, my wife and I lived in this house for years. I’m not abandoning my freedom to live in a nursing home, I will stay here until my last breath.” With this, he rose to show me out, but he fell back into the chair. “I understand, sir…” I said sadly. “When my friend died I didn’t know what to do with myself. I stayed in my room for months barely eating at all until my mom said, ‘Your friend died, she wouldn’t want you to die with her. She would want you to be happy and live to do the things that she couldn’t. So wouldn’t your wife want the same for you?” Looking up at him, his eyes welled with tears, he said nothing, only nodded.

38 Stairway in the Clouds by Tatum Green ​

As I open my eyes I see myself spread out on the bathroom floor. Why did I do this? I look around and the first thing I see is you. My grumpy. You grab my hand just like you used to. You bring me up to the gates. I'm so confused, where am I? Am I dead? I didn't mean it. You calm me down, you don't have your oxygen tank, how are you breathing? You keep asking me why, why what? Oh right. You make me feel so safe, so why do I feel so exposed. I keep thinking I don't belong here and you keep convincing me I am. Nothing makes any sense. Except you.

The Break-In by Jacob Minnick ​

After hearing a few knocks, I would like to see who has been moving around so much. Despite my curiosity, I know that if I were to come out it could be the end for me. I stay hidden in a place where they cannot see me. I do not let them look inside. A few more knocks louder than the last strike me. When asking what they want, they say that they are very hungry and have not eaten in days. I am the first thing they have found to eat since the rest of us have been taken. With a precision blow of a rock, they have broken my shell. It is now apparent that I have been brought to the surface and can no longer feel safe from the murk and mud on the seafloor. Soon they will have broken in completely.

39 Mama By Luca Grandinetti

I can hear him chewing, his greasy hands picking the over priced chips bought at the theatre store. That loud sound. Crunch, crunch, crunch. It starts. Crunch, crunch, crunch. Then a brief pause. And again. Cruch, crunch, crunch. I can’t even follow the movie, since I’m so concentrated on that damn sound. Suddenly I stand up, I turn around and I tell him to stop. He smiles. I say that again, I'm screaming now. He keeps smiling. I slap him, he cries. I keep slapping him. Sbam, sbam, sbam. He keeps crying. People stand up, there's blood everywhere. Police arrive, I have handcuffs now. In half an hour I'm in jail, now my wife cries, she hates me. My little son doesn't understand what's happening. The day after I lose my job, my life is ruined. I open my eyes. Crunch, crunch, crunch. I should stop watching movies.

40 The Legacy of Sacrifice by Robert Homewood-McKenzie

The day had finally come at the National Art Gallery where years of constructing an unassailable plan might pay off. Led by Vor, the crew had started to initiate the heist to obtain unimaginable wealth. All was going good; guards seduced, alarms off, cameras gone, and getaway ready. As the bandits made their trek to the location of the riches that they could only dream of, it crumbled in front of their eyes. Through the wall of windows that viewed the street below, they saw the worst thing imaginable: red and blue lights. Knowing the few options they had, running was the best. With the exit in sight, the team of three had seen the shine of a flashlight as prosecutors rounded the corner. Stopping in his tracks, Vor turned to distract the officers while his friends had gotten to safety knowing the legacy he would leave.

41 Red Light Love by Alyssa Cline

As he pulled up to the red light, he caught a glimpse of the beautiful girl in the passenger seat of his car. He was mesmerized with the way her golden hair flowed and how her honey eyes beamed in the sun. She spoke the words, “I love you.” As the red light faded to green, he hesitated to force his foot to push the gas pedal. As he accelerated, he looked at the passenger seat again, only to be reminded that this was the light that he had lost her to a careless driver. He lost himself when her life was taken. He loved her until her last red light.

What Next? by Kahniya James

I open the front door. I see two pairs of shoes, one pair unrecognizable. As I walk down the hallway of my own home I hear you. A smile comes to my face and a tingle runs through my body. With my hand on the knob, I hear something else, someone else. The smile is wiped off my face and tears begin to fill my eyes. I open the door and my heart breaks. Sadness washes over me and the feeling of betrayal runs through my body. I close the door slowly as the tear I’m fighting runs down my face. As you call my name, I walk out the door, fighting the urge to look back. I pull out the driveway, watching you call out my name with nothing on but a towel. Tears stream down my face as I put my car in drive.

42 Homesick by Joseph Porth

“Hey Buddy! I’m just checking in to say hey, and I miss you. How’s it going? I’m doing fine I guess. Sure, I miss Mom, Dad, Adam and them, but it’s nice up here. I’ve got this whole spaceship to myself, a killer view, and enough to eat. I really don’t need much else. I do miss having a bed and a home, and gets really cold sometimes, bu--” Her pencil broke, and in overwhelming frustration, she burst into tears. She crumpled the paper and chucked it into the wastebasket, which was overflowing with more balled up letters she was certain no one would ever read. She stood up and glanced out the window, looking longingly towards her distant home planet. She turned her gaze towards the broken engine beside her. “Damned thing,” she muttered, and with that, she decided to make one last attempt at jumpstarting that hunk-of-junk starship.

43 My Shoes by Julia Monteferrante ​

Sitting on my floor, my belongings strewn around me, I decide that I’m all packed. Then, my eyes stumble across a pair of shoes I had forgotten about until this moment. I loved these shoes. But the longer I owned them, the less interested I became. They were pushed to a corner of my closet, and subsequently, my mind. Rediscovering these shoes caused me to rediscover summer memories. I remember dying my hair in my bathroom, with less than satisfactory results. But I didn’t care, because it was summer. And nothing mattered. I feel my eyes well with tears, wishing I could feel like that again. I can’t count how many times I’ve wanted to just forget it all, not move away. I try to fit them into my belongings. There’s no room. I leave them at home, along with my memories of Lockport.

Congratulations Class of 2020! by Shauna Ramos ​

Everyone threw their caps and sliced the air with the cheer of finally escaping 4 years of waking up at 6 am, but I just stood there. The only thing being sliced near me was my soul with a crushing anxiety that I could not extinguish. There was nothing more that we wanted but to escape this prison that we were trapped in, but now that I had finally made it out I realized that I don't know where I was going. I didn't know what was next for me. I didn't know what I would find in my future. And that terrified me.

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Pink Plastic Lawn Chairs by Jessica Green

It’s only dusk, and we’re out of sparklers. My friends sit around me in pink plastic lawn chairs. The conversation drifts into the fire, leaving us with only the crickets. We stare emptily into the light, finding comfort in the deep silence as the moon rises among the fading clouds.

It’s the last good summer, and we’re the only ones left in the world.

Thank you for reading! -Mindworks

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