It was an honor to work with a Serious Young Writers Workshop this summer. The journey to get there was laborious but worth it every day that I'd walk through those front doors to write with such intelligent, zestful, and strong young women whose stories are just wonderful! When I held this book in my hands I almost couldn't believe this was something that I created for readers to enjoy within real pages. I really appreciate those who have supported me to become my own Donald Glover/John Greene/Maya Angelou, those who have inspired plenty of my stories, and the people who are viewers and sharers of my website! I love you all and I'm excited to see what else can happen from this moment forward. 😊🤗💜
Thank You! I'm going to find a way for everyone to read this story so, stay posted for that! :-)
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Coruscant stars gathered to watch their subject of seldom. "Her steps are as spiraled as her lifestyle, how scandalous," the lonesome girl heard stars mutter brazenly, inviting the elements around her to bombard her with judgment to break her spirit. The moon in all of its glory cloaked itself from witnessing her troublesome choices. The night winds alarmed her with the bleak whistling of the song that praised her great escape: Run, run little child. Don't try to stay, not even for a little while. Why would even try to smile tonight? Run, run little child. A creeping chill roamed through her spine as she marched slowly to distant marvels fading in and out of focus through the lenses of squinted, crying eyes. Spontaneously, the gift of a flickering light came from the isolated Denson Mart. With its grimy windows, unattractive colors, and broken lamppost nobody hardly stopped by the lonely establishment. Well, is that even entirely true now?
Because here she is, Divina Essence. Labeled as everything that she is but not everything she wants to be. Her mind became misted with shame and the longing for one's acceptance. Sharp breaths barely left her clamped, black lips; with every exhale, a sense of herself became tangled with cold air and insecurity. Her trembling hand extended to clamp onto the door handle but it was too late. She collapsed. Meanwhile, within the Denson Mart, time could not wait on itself anymore. The mercy for a helpless romantic's hushed flood of skittish triggers could not have been in less consideration than it was for Walker Martin. Butterflies fluttered around the siding of his stomach trying to escape from the repetitive knocks of his heart against his chest. His mind was in a state of molasses. Smooth, lucid movement in a beautiful nightmare. Why did I invite her? What am I going to do? Oh, my word! She's passed out! Walker rushed to her rescue, shaking all over, however, remained fearless. He lifted her from the dusty pavement and swiftly made his way through the store until he was in the back, where the break room was. "Delilah! We got an issue!" Delilah suddenly jumped from her seat and dropped her phone nearly passing out herself. "Dude, what's going on!? Did you do something to her?!" Walker took a quick breath before practically speaking in tongues,"wow, thank you for letting society win for making you think just because I'm a guy that I'd take advantage of her in such a fashion!" "You know what I meant Wally! What the heck happened to her!" Delilah pressed her hand against Divina's wrist to read a pulse. A rhythm pumped against her thumb letting her know things were okay. "She's cold. I'll grab some blankets, I need you to lay her down and elevate her legs above her heart. I'll be back, you got this." Before leaving, Delilah held Walker's hand quickly then dashed out. He was gazing into her mesmerizing eyes holding the same glare for a second longer, even after she left. A blind man would have known he was staring because he loved her and had something to say to Delilah. Walker breathed in, opened his mouth, only to let out a sigh as he placed Divina above the tapestry on top of the sofa. The break room's ceiling was lined with gold Christmas lights flashing on and off, which would typically bring Walker into a state of joy but, he felt like the lights were talking to him. "Hurry...UP! Hurry...Up!", they shouted louder and louder with every millisecond passing by. His shivering hands finally held onto her ankles then, he pushed her legs up. In real time, she almost instantly woke up from her panic attack. "Those were the longest seconds of my life. Are you okay?" As Divina shook her head almost in slow motion, her batting eyes were dried from tears, "Where am I? It's...so blue." She rested her head against the sofa not trying to get up or become too concerned about her current state. "Hey Divina, it's me, Walker. You're safe now" Divina took a long blink as she moved her head to Walker's direction, "I'm sorry." "What do you mean?" Delilah appeared in the doorway showing a neutral face, not letting anybody know she was back with only one thick blanket. Walker stood up and collected it, in a whisper he questioned: Can you give me and her some time alone? Delilah nodded with a slight face of disgust as she developed more theories and suspicions about Divina being out to get her. "Thank you for the blanket. But, I was saying sorry because I don't want to be another problem to anybody else. I listened to my mom talk about me to the entire city tonight! Everyone already thinks I'm some whore who gets high until I can't feel my face! I'm sick of being a joke and someone's problem!" Divina began to blush once she realized her tone escalated rapidly. "Divina, I know the rumors aren't true. Everybody does. Nobody is really anybody in this city. They are all in the middle of nowhere looking for someone who actually wants to get out and they put them down. It's always been like that. I just think it's uhh, unfair that people chose you to be...you know, the girl." Walker sat down beside her as she got closer to him. "Wait, what are you trying to say right now?" She was becoming offended until she noticed him fidgeting around with his shirt. He's obviously nervous. Walker had tiny beads of sweat appear on his back as her perfume filled his lungs. "No, no, like, you're beautiful! Okay! You're drop dead gorgeous! Nobody wants someone who is so vibrant, outgoing, and well rounded like you in a city like this. I do but you know, I'm just one person. I think it's unfair you have to freak out about your mom not empowering you the way you should be empowered and that dudes say you did this, that, and the third with guys from Cali. I know it's not true because they don't even get descriptions right and switch the story up every time they tell it! I really like you and it makes me feel all gushy inside to think about hugging you and helping you!" Divina smiled the same way Walker was known for; that impish, comforting grin. "Wow. That was different than what I thought you were going to say." She scooted a little closer to him, placing her hand on his knee. Walker's color of his pale body vanished leaving shades of candy-red blush to be his new hue. This is only a side effect of the lingering heat waves scaling his legs."I hope that wasn't too weird..." Oh my gosh! I can't give her an open door to roast me! Should I jump out of a window...right about now? Yes. Divina giggled and began to lean in slowly, "I hope what I do isn't too weird." At the time, Walker became uncertain if he should move on from his past heartbreak or move forward. He believed in signs and fate. If she's my new love, please, make this spectacular and different from my past. Please, I can't break what has been shattered. He closed his eyes waiting for her, waiting for his course of action to occur. Suddenly, the world became silent. His only sense was touch. Her hands became warm and caressed his face as his mind saw a light of new hope begin. Plaster fell from the ceiling like snow from trees as Walker wrapped his arms around her like he never wanted to let go. In that moment, his complacency for an unrequited romance died. The two of them were speechless. Tap, Tap, Tap. Divina looked around. "Did you hear that?" Walker leered at the plaster speckled ground and through the doorway as much as he could. "Yes I did, however, I am not clear as to how this happened. This night keeps getting weirder and weirder." Walker shook his head trying to put together possibilities for the plaster falling. "Is it cool if I go do some maintenance duties to make sure things are okay?" Divina shook her head, "I don't care, you're fine. Just come back ready to talk feels." Walker smiled and kissed her cheek before exiting the break room. In the meantime, Delilah was texting her boyfriend with headphones in her ears. "Everything cool with ya Wally?" "Oh yes! But, the plaster is falling so, I'm going to make sure it's just because the building is setting or something." "Gotcha, I'll be here." Several moments passed until Divina walked out of the break room in search of some food. "Hey there Delilah!" Delilah slowly removed her earbuds as she set her phone down. Here she goes... Out of spite, Delilah began acting "casual", fidgeting with everything she wasn't touching before to avoid looking at Divina. "Very funny Divina, need something?" "As you know, I passed out so, I need some food in the stomach. Any recommendations?" Divina felt Delilah's evil eye pierce her spirit the second she left the break room. To prevent any further awkward issues, she purposely kept her back turned away from her while observing all of the snack selections the mart had to offer. Delilah cleared her throat and sardonically smiled,"well, I like anything that is real. Not shady or symbolical so, I recommend a granola bar." Divina rolled her eyes as she found the granola bars lined up along the furthest wall. Coldly, she replied. "Thanks. I was wondering if I could ask you something slightly weird. About you and Walker." Divina's heels clicked down the aisle as she derisively smiled, mores specs fell with every step she took. No matter what Walker felt for this girl, Delilah focused on her conspiracies of Divina trying to ruin her and Walker's friendship. "You can ask. It's a free country." Divina smacked her granola bar down (nearly breaking it) onto the counter while Delilah rung up her order. "Have you ever, you know, liked Walker in a not so friendly way?" Before Delilah could put the money in the register, she laughed with her head down seeing more plaster cover her shoes. "Oh my word, I can't believe you." Divina began tapping on the counter. "Look, I'm just asking you a question. Have you?" After finishing the order, Delilah flipped her braids, slammed the bar onto the counter and slid it to Divina. "Look, I'm just being a darn good friend without any emotions beyond that. So you can stop your antics of being the helpless loner who needs someone to understand her rich girl problems." Divina scoffed and looked her in the eyes, "what are you even talking about? You're completely impossible and so delusional! From the day I met you, you have literally flung yourself to Walker like he's your boyfriend even though you have your own man!" "Don't bring Evan into this! I and Walker are nothing but friends! If you think different, tell that to the boyfriend who I have been with for the past three years!" "Ohhh, okay! So suddenly a long time means you're loyal. Yeah right, you little sl-" BAM! The plaster fell as a thousand shards with pink insulation swaying above the floor. Besides that, a section of the ventilation shaft appeared once the dust settled down. "Ladies, some help?" Delilah opened her eyes and saw a hand waving. "Speak of the devil. Walker, how'd this happen?" She walked over to a filthy Walker who almost looked like he had a dullness within his eyes. Subsequently, Delilah's nonchalant attitude disappeared as she assisted Walker. "I don't really know how to explain the unspeakable." "Wally, are you okay?", the quietness of Walker made Delilah anxious of what could have happened to him. Nevertheless, Divina was looking off into space. "So you're just going to argue me down about me being too close to my best friend when you can't even help him get up from a dangerous fall?" Delilah became frustrated with Divina, her back still facing away from her. "Hello! Earth to Diva Divina?!" She marched straight to her and pulled her around by the shoulder. Her face was not hateful or disrespectful though. It was actually a glare of shock. Her eyes went dull too until she suggested, "why don't you ask that thing?!" Delilah swiveled her body to view the discouraging image of the unknown. The forbidden restroom hallway has never been disturbed until this very moment as the door creaked outward a little further as restless sink water escaped onto the tiles scurrying from the mysterious stranger. The atmosphere lingered with a desperation for answers. Silence did not compensate for the shrieks Delilah desired to wail out to signal to the world of her emergency. And yet, the only sound that echoed was water until the alarm of striking feet erupted from the vanishing point of the restroom. As everyone braced themselves for their moribund fate, the lights began to glister rapidly, the air grew thin, until POP! The hallway lights were out. Divina yelled as if she had been stabbed, anticipating her life's final chapter. Walker opened his eyes to see the interior lighting of the restrooms unveiling the irregular daunting figure within the distant doorway. "Who are you!", Walker lost all sense under the impression of him being in such danger. Divina turned to him, gripping his arm, "what do you think you're doing Wally?! Don't go!" Walker kissed her hand as he took plodding steps to the hall. Unexpectedly, halfway done with his path, the figure began to elongate itself revealing its arms reaching out from the doorway. Walker leaped out of the way before the creature ambled down the hall into clear lighting. There stood a six foot tall, semi glistening nude pink alien clothed in a midnight blue cable knit sweater, accompanied with a pair of tattered shorts, and once white Vans now permanently stained with orange sand. "Hey, guys! I'm Swaleon from Planet 911.5! My friends just call me Sway! Wait a tick, I don't have friends so I just call myself Sway! But yes, please call me Sway!" Everyone in the room processed their reality quite fast before losing it. Or at least all but one of them. Delilah was in complete disbelief, "What the jiggy hell is going on!?! You're an alien! Here! In Denson Mart of all places?!" She lunged to Sway, choking him until his enormous eyes dilated. "I have flown away from Planet 911.5 due to my crime of knowledgeable treason! As my ruler's advisor, oh hail Queen Cleoreta, I recommended her to visit earth to learn new forms of monarchy or even a democracy! She denied my advice and exiled me to this empty, hot land to leave me for dead! Obviously, I'm still alive thanks to the miracle of this Denson Mart! I'd hate to die because of intrusion, however, if it is honorable here, I must comply." Swaleon leaned against the doorway of the bathroom hall as he smiled, dusting off his sweater. "I truly apologize for all of the weird ongoings that are rooted from me. The pizza purler that I smashed, to making this Stargirl appear to be insane to her mutair...I mean mother. And on top of that, making your lights make that fabulous glitching sound and the tapping sounds. I just can't help but be so excited of the little things earth and 911.5 have in common! Excuse me for my elation, I just love this place already! You, humans, have such dynamic relationships." Walker became puzzled, "what do you know about human relationships dude, you've only been here for a few hours!" "If you promise not to kill me, in exchange I'll express a reflection of human relationships and swear on my three hearts that I won't cause any more harm to you fellows." "Deal. Go on, reflect on the subject Sway." Sway jumped up and down and dashed to the counter to sit on it. "Well, from my understanding, Stargirl is interested in a romantic relationship with Walker who is in love with this beautiful melanin queen!" Divina made a grimace so, Walker held her hand no matter how uncomfortable the truth was. "Walker just realized he is absolute, definitely, with total conviction that he is not in love with my melanin queen. His inability to openly admit his emotions to her made it clear. He just admires her power, as do I. The melanin queen doesn't care for Walker in a romantic sense either. She strictly holds a platonic perspective of him. However, her anger that was misplaced onto Divina simply because melanin queen has discovered her boyfriend was cheating on her. I saw this on the second floor." Divina pondered about what Swayleon just said, "do you mean the air ventilation vents?" "I imagine so! I saw her crying at the counter once she called the male to straighten the conflict up. Overall, she is handling this alone unless she has her friend, Walker." "Wait, I don't get a cool description name?", questioned Walker. "As much as I love connotation names, I must keep your name the way it is because insults are impolite." Everyone in Denson Mart gaped to Sway's wild perception of them based on that night. All of this judgment for merely not listening to one another's emotions. Who knew a pink alien knew it best? THE END...OR IS IT? (Yeah pretty much.) The floor was covered in rich orange sand trailing to the greasy glow of perpetually spinning hot dogs. A silence within the Denson Mart left the night empty for any possibilities once the clock was moments away from midnight. Delilah was taking it easy behind the counter lying down on top of her royal blue sleeping bag as her phone was responsible for her entertainment. Her mind was sunk into her own world without awareness until a low growl steered her attention elsewhere.
Due to preoccupation, she almost didn't notice the oh so tired and hungry Walker. "Lilahhhhh.", calling to her like a child needing their mother. As she stood up gathering her makeshift Netflix theater, she finally saw him, "What might it be Wally?" "Feed me. I need some food, my dude!" Walker swiped his mid parted, dark blonde hair, evenly on both sides to allow it to be tucked behind his ears. "Come on, just wait like twelve minutes. The show doesn't start until midnight and YOU can't ruin this Thursday-Friday Tradition." Once more Delilah spoke the complete truth without breaking a sweat as Walker secretly loved her for this keen trait. "No matter how true that may be, I will not be accountable for me passing out due to hunger! A man gotta eat!" Walker swaggered to Delilah cooly as he smirked reaching out to her arm. "A man's gotta sit his butt down before his girlfriend doesn't agree with his actions!" Delilah flipped her hair into Walker's body (being too tall for her hair to reach his face). He was perplexed by her statement. With the highest of uncertainty he responded. "You're not my girlfriend though..." Delilah kneeled her head down maintaining a face of pity for her next statement. "Dude. We've been friends since I promised not to tell anyone about your "mysterious clouds" so, no. However, I will say Divina is your girlfriend since she has fallen into the classic conflict of me being your friend." The clock continued ticking away almost distracting Walker and Delilah from the tension that was conjured within the moment. Walker wagged his head quickly before blinking twice to convince himself of full awareness. "Wait, did she say something to you?" "Uh, yeah. She was decent enough to be sneaky about it. She sent me a meme saying something about meeting the "girl" friend when you're the girlfriend and was talking about it's relatable for me." Delilah rolled her eyes and showed Walker the screenshot of what happened. "No way, she wouldn't do that...would she?" Walker was in disbelief of what was just told to him. His image of Divina relied on her individuality no matter how much people wanted to him to participate with the rumors heard down the hills. He now sees his tendency of "beautiful dramatic basket/plastic case" of girls surfacing once again. His glare left Delilah the power to either go on about his emotions or to take her chances of continuing their tradition of Thursday-Friday. She flashed her daring smile and clapped her hands almost magically switching the mood with her enchanting spirit. "It's 11:58! Let's get the hot dogs ready and play that radio!" Walker turned on the intercom as the static cleared up for the familiar and lively voice of Dylan Foster introducing his late night show, Somewhere USA. "It's the middle of late-" Delilah and Walker both grabbed their hot dogs as they smiled widely reciting the words of the intro, "-and the of the middle nowhere! Welcome to-" "Somewhere USA! I'm your host, Dylan Foster, playing all of the songs nobody wants to hear and telling all of the stories you can't resist. We're going to kick the night off with Childish Gambino featuring Chance the Rapper before everyone bandwagoning them." The sensational kick off song allowed the two to merely forget the drama and have a great time as they always do together. After a few songs and a couple of commercials, Dylan's voice boomed through the speakers once more. "Welcome back to Somewhere USA! Tonight we are talking to the sheriff of our lonely town to get the facts of what has been happening lately around here. Please welcome Sheriff Essence Joseph!" Sheriff Essence was the lady who could kill every flower within a distance of her thin, light yellow body. Her hair was always in a bun accompanied with her light blue prescription glasses lowered enough for everyone to see her pale hazel eyes. She was the most chilling woman anyone could have ever met. Her lifeless voice whispered into the microphone. "Thank you for inviting me to your show, I guess. I just have to feed into your vapid gossip." Sheriff Essence's nails were stabbing the table impatiently as her sarcasm weaved its way into your soul. Walker mumbled a sentence with his mouth full of food. "Mmm, shefreveeshucks!" "Right! But, do you want to hear this part or no? It's not like we don't know about the Johnny's Pizza incident or the whole Divina thing." Walker sprung from the front counter, dashed to the back of the store nearly crashing into a wall, and came back to explain his rush. "Sorry, I have to check if Divina called me while I was asleep." Delilah winked as she said, "That's cool. I'm going to be here...alone. So alone!" She made sounds of agony as Walker scoffed and made a call to Divina. "Donut mind if I do! Ha, that was bad. Yep, pretty bad." She picked up a donut from the fresh display almost leaving no time for it to cool off before munching down. It was too good to care in her opinion as she felt the sense of instant gratification. Despite the warm emotions she felt, a disturbance awoke her paranoia starting from a single sound. Tap, tap. "Wally, stop it. You know how I am about that." Tap, tap, tap. Delilah's face switched to a joyless wonder. Her curiosity did not outweigh her the terror haunting Denson Mart. The radio became unclear and distorted as the lights viciously glowed brighter to a dim again and again and again. The lights flickered faster and faster as the radio switch through every station with the low tone of a scream crescendoing before the power turned off leaving her to stand in the abyss of darkness. Everything was black, the silence consumed Delilah as her hearing consisted of the throbbing pulse of her heartbeat. She stood there frozen before the grains of sand scratched on the floor as the gelid, untraceable draft crawled upon Delilah's legs. She thought: I gotta get to the front desk. The metal bat! Before she had a chance to make it entirely to the counter, the lights went out and the tapping became faster. Tap, Tap, Tap, Tap, TAP! "Stop it! This isn't funny! Show yourself you punk!" Delilah held her composure although she felt her legs quiver as fast as the taps on the window. "Wally! Help!" Walker ran from the back of Denson Mart charging to Delilah holding a baseball bat. "What's wrong Lilah!" Suddenly, the lights came on and the denigrating tapping ceased too. Delilah was petrified from the unlikely situation as the radio tuned back in. Walker held Delilah until she unwillingly wiggled him off turning her back to him. "It's okay to be scared, Lilah. I would've been too if it was just me." Delilah simply shook her head while she scraped her tears off hoping she'd embody her confidence once more. Her voice still uneasy, she managed to say, "yeah, some jerk thought it'd be funny to tap on the window and cut the power out somehow. Thanks for coming out here though. They were big and bad until you showed up." Walker lightly punched Delilah in the arm with his classic impish grin that showered anyone with comfort for being imperfect. "I gotcha. Just keep an eye out for Divina showing up. She's almost here. I'll be in the back if you need me." Walker made his way back to his previous location showing a face of relief with a dash of panic. Along with his exit, Delilah exhaled as she sat down in a chair to continue listening to the radio show. Sheriff Essence began her second story. "These stories of my daughter going to a party and telling the guests of an event where a projectile crashed into something are false! Divina has a long history of being under the influence of marijuanas. If this town believes her, by all means, I am the last sane one here with any senses at all!" At the end of Sheriff Essence's rant, she smacked the table twice saying the word "lies" each time. "You heard it here first Middletons! Divina lied about the crashing story. Call in at 1-800-STR-ANGE if you think she's telling the truth or not! I'm Marley Turner, back to Dylan with the music!" Delilah cut off the radio as she saw jeep lights pass by the store. She sneered while she mumbled Divina's name. She really thought she could scare me away with some taps and cheap lights. Please. Will you dial 1-800-STR-ANGE after reading this or wait until Part Three to ring in? TO BE CONTINUED... By: Yasmin Lee
Sands orbited on the blade of sweltering winds in search of a destination. Moonlight was the only stranger who stomped along with you as the laborious journey felt endless. Looking forward, looking back, looking up, don't look down, you will feel like your feet coerced your sense of direction to go in loops with every step you take forward. However, doubt falls into a deep slumber as dried, squinted eyes saw the light of a miracle set your path. The night rolled on and the horrid truth of being bereft of any boundaries of reality and imagination yanked your hope to rely on this flickering light. Steps of a traveler from afar grew short and trapped within the sand. Soon enough, their entire body became enveloped by the illusive fever called the desert. The pearls of the sky faded into crimson red once the sun unforgivingly rose on the back of the helpless traveler. The day continued like any other as the gilded dream of the misplaced paradise was unveiled. A small, dowdy Denson Mart was all it was. With its grimy windows, unattractive colors, and broken lamp post nobody hardly stopped by the lonely establishment. It was only until sundown there would be souls waltzing into the Denson Mart. The charming ring of the bell that hung above the entrance rung as two employees were ready to start their night shift. Their routine was prepared to be set in action. Walker turned on the lights, Delilah placed her name tag on and grabbed some candy, and the two talked until the next routine begins. "How are things with you and you know...gosh, I always forget her name." Delilah started to snap her dark brown fingers hoping she'd remember soon. Walker did his classic impish grin that showered anyone with comfort for being imperfect. "Divina. The girl who was six feet tall and was absolutely breathtaking." "Oh yeah! Did she show up to the potluck?" Walker sat on the counter fidgeting with the unbothered merchandise before telling Delilah about his story. "I mean yeah, she just seemed high or something and was talking nonsense." Delilah grew interested and swooshed her head over her shoulder letting her braids swing for a few seconds with a desperate look of mystery. "Oh, darling! You must go on! What kind of nonsense are we talking about!" Walker effortlessly has a serious glare in general. His gray eyes without anything readable about them, his shoulders would curve inward into his bent over back. Whenever he held this appearance, Delilah did not fret. She knew Walker almost as well as she knew herself. "Well, go on. No need to delay my enjoyment." “Alright, fine. She was talking about...something falling. Like, out of the sky with a bunch of lights. I remember I heard something weird earlier this week but, I just thought it was a car accident. But she seemed really shooked about it. As if, something happened. She left eventually cause everyone was giving her that ‘girl you crazy' look but...yeah.” “Walker, are you okay?" Delilah had the most gentle hands anyone could ever feel among them. She rested her hand on Walker's hand and held it as he had the same blank expression. "I get it, you liked her. But, why do you seem to feel...you know?" Walker shrugged. “You know what people say about her. They already thought she was crazy enough and I was so close to dating her. She liked me, Delilah. Heck, she invited me to the party. I just had to be a loser and not defend her. I believed her.” Delilah tilted her head and rose an eyebrow. “Wait, what? Like...”, she took a breath before speaking one more time. “Okay, I just want to know was it a plane? A drone? What could it have been?” Before Walker said anything, the lights went out. “Dang it. I gotta take care of that. Can you put some hot dogs on the roller thingy?”, Delilah went to the back to fix the problem while Walker grabbed some frozen hot dogs from the fridge. The lights came back on, even the lamppost in the front. Walker saw it come on for a few seconds. He noticed the ground having a lump of sorts. Before he could think of any assumptions, the lamppost light turned off. Walker shook it off and continued his task. Delilah returned holding a flathead screwdriver, the brightest smile, and her phone in hand. In a singing voice, she stated, “Oh Walker!!! Guess who's going to be featured on the news?” “A dog!”, Walker said jokingly returning to the counter. Delilah ran to him and punched him gently in his shoulder while laughing. “No, you sarcastic hipster; I am! I didn't tell you, didn't I?” Walker shook his head and grabbed a comic book. “Do tell me this Day in the Life of Delilah Lighty.” Delilah grabbed a cup and began making a cherry slushie. “Let me tell you! I was on the way back from the bookstore with Rose and we were craving pizza so, of course, we wanted Jonny's Pizza. When we pulled up, it was like smashed!" Walker looked up from his comic book and squinted his eyelids, “Are you just trying to make me feel worse about losing the best girl ever or are you serious?” Delilah jumped up and clapped her hands, “Oh my goodness! I'm serious! Like, I saw this with my own two eyeballs!” She held up her phone with an image of the pizza parlor destroyed. “Holy crap, you weren't kidding.” Walker held the phone closer to his face and eventually started to send it to himself. “See, I don't tell lies about something like this. Anywho, we saw this and freaked out and saw these weird metal pieces. Cause doesn't the place looked like something punched it?” Walker nodded along as he continued his process. “So, I'm guessing whatever Divina was talking about that night probably hit Jonny's Pizza.” Walker started to dial a phone number and told Delilah to wait a moment. The moment turned into thirty minutes, thirty minutes going into an hour. Delilah grew worried and went to the back to check on Walker. “Walker?” Walker was in the back of the store smoking and talking on the phone with someone discussing these two strange events. “Yeah, like I almost want to investigate but it might be a dead end or a death sentence. Nobody knows what hit Jonny's.... You can come over here if you wanna...thanks, I'll text the address. It's a long drive...Bye.” He sprung up like a frog and started to dance a little. “Someone's happy.”, Delilah said while walking back into the shop. Walker nervously laughed and stepped on whatever he was smoking and rushed back into the store. “It's rude to eavesdrop.” “It's rude to make people wait.” Delilah smiled cheekily while checking her watch. “Well, you win on that one but! It was all for good reason dude. That was Divina and I texted her the pic to try to connect with her. It worked! So, she's driving up here to talk about it and hang out with us.” “What if a customer comes Walker!” The two held straight faces and stared at one another for a few seconds until an uproar of laughter broke from them both. “Ha! Good one Lilah! Woo! You funny!” “I know, I know. But honestly, check the time bro.” Walker checked the time on the wall and high fived Delilah. “Oh yeah! Well, I gotta sleep for a moment until it's that time.” “Okay, I'm just going to watch some Netflix.” Delilah's headphones went into her ears as an hour started to drift by. Midnight was near, however, midnight was not the only one slowly approaching the Denson Mart. TO BE CONTINUED... Daylight to Dusk. Dusk to Rise.
I envision only you in my eyes. My feet tread with worry. My heart's tempo once was steady but is now in a scurry. My decent plan of comfort has became blurry. Will you hold onto the invaluable memories? Will you dream of only me? Games of effortless romance are removed like eliminated pawns. Seconds extend to hours passing with every impatient yawn. I know nothing of time unless it is descending. Ticking and toking of your return. The warmth of your presence is what I yearn. Memories of you waiting for me beneath an empty doorway, Reminds my heart of the cascade of gleaming starlight revolving around my spirit with every word you say. I march proudly to you with a smile as beaming as the sun outlining the endless, leaping horizons. Your breath sweeping, glint lotus eyes is how my life enlivens. Weave may give me the presentation of those who possess
Superior. Current. Tangle-free. Beautiful. Hair. As my hair grows beneath my false locs, it becomes damaged. Lacking the health it needs to be alive and wild. What treasures hide beneath this performance of simple beauty? A more complex and lost love of the past. Back in the motherland, a world uninterrupted by confusion of identity, my ancestors’ hair grew like a wild dagga, Shedding fame in all corners of their hair’s circumference. People who rather forget what troubles my people have been through to finally appreciate their hair, tell me to hide my pride. Referring to my hair as “nappy” or “a mess”. Trust my oath, my hair is far from distress. Sophisticated. Nostalgic. Kinky. Beautiful. Hair. My hair represents my roots of a time long ago when Queens and Kings walked the earth with their hair rising to the sun. Our skin bakes in the sun with sweet melanin within our bodies giving us a unique tone. We are the children of the sun. Our hair defies gravity itself to twist and curl in every direction. Levitating above our skull to look for the higher power who blessed us with our beauty. With every imperfect direction my mane ebbs from our tresses of soul, We manifest the perfect masterpiece that lays across our head. The richest of nectars and finest of oils lather my scout to feed the freedom to express my heritage. I wear my hair freely because we are free. My culture strives within me; Even through my hair. By: Yasmin Lee
Our love is naturally beautiful from the roots to the petals that are shown to the world. Like A Rose, Our beauty is capitalized on those sunny days when we value what we see in the light. Even on the rainy days; When our thorns are covered in the tears of rain from a storm, We know the sun will shine on us once more soon. As Trees are known for lasting throughout time, Standing above all and standing strong, Extending to the sky; our only limit. Sprouting from the smallest moments to our milestones. Although roses wilt and trees aren’t forever, They are the perfect way to describe love. Even after a flower shrivels, Nourishment and care resurrects it. After a tree descends, the roots stay together. Love from the roots last forever. |