Fairy Tale

"The fairies were dancing in the skies, their glittery dresses swaying with them, their eyes alight with happiness, when suddenly through the clouds came a DRAGON! And he swooped towards the nearest, a youngin' by the name of Annie, and he was spitting flames and thrashing his tail when the fairy queen cast a spell that stunned him, and the fairies scattered away as he hovered there motionless, then they weren't quite sure what to do, when-"

"Emma!"

I looked up from the story I was reading out, and over my shoulder. Mum was calling from the kitchen.

"You didn't wash up the glasses properly."

I rolled my eyes and called back, "Do you want me to do them again?"

"No, it's too late now, I'm doing them."

That was the thing about Mum. She told you to do something, but you were never quick enough for her wishes. "Whatever," I called back, returning to my audience, "Where was I?"

The stuffed animals and dolls looked unmoving back at me. They lined my bed from top to bottom, giving character to the room. They were the best. I sighed. "You know I've been waiting sixteen years. Can't one of you just move? You know I'll keep your secret, I will!" I covered my eyes with my hands, "I'll count to three, and when I open my eyes, Jesse will be on the other side of Woody. One... two... three!"

I moved my hands. Jesse remained where she was. I wasn't really disappointed. I knew they were shy after all, and perhaps sixteen years wasn't enough to gain their trust. I couldn't blame them, really. The abandon toys that littered the opp shops...

I heard a series of thumps, and my eyes lit up, remembering where I was in the story and I grabbed the pink unicorn, "But the spell was wearing off and the dragon woke up and he was so angry with the fairies! And the unicorns were trying to figure out a way to overcome him-"

I could hear Mum opening up the front door and I sighed, disrupted again. "This will have to wait for another time." I instructed them, then as an afterthought, I grabbed my best cowgirl on my way out of the room, whispering to her, "You know, I might need your help for my next story."

"Ah Emma, look who I found at the door."

Startled, I looked up and came face to face with the most beautiful eyes I knew. Fairy dust blue that sparkled. They mapped out a perfectly animated face that wore a permanent smile all day long that I loved. My boyfriend had never stepped foot in my house before. I quickly hid Jesse behind my back but I was a second too late, and he stopped me.

"Jesse's pretty cool," he smiled, gently lifting her out of my hands and caressing her woolen braids, "but Woody's better."

"What are you doing here?" I whispered, pleasantly surprised by his compliment, but still not impressed that he was here. I wasn't ready for him to judge me.

"I was in the neighbourhood. Thought I'd drop by. I hope you don't mind."

[531 words]

Distraction = On Hold

Distractions are sometimes too distracting. They jump from one to the other like lice. It's insane. First one thing, then a song, an idea, then it comes in a circle back to the first again. It's hopeless. Or at the very least, seems that way. And you feel like you've wasted your time for another hour that you'll never get back. And yet, we love a good distraction simply for the fact they distract - they take us away from the things we are supposed to be doing. They relieve us of the pressure, at least for a little while. They put everything on hold 'til you're ready. Another day won't hurt.

[112 words]

Imagination Driven

The rain drizzled unwelcoming down the window, as she snuggled closer into the blanket and rested her head upon Isha's shoulder. It was wrong to fall in love with him - she'd created him for pete's sake - but she'd never dreamed that he would become this real, this solid. And it wasn't just him. It was his brothers, his parents. It was a little overwhelming, but even before she'd begun writing this story her mum had said she'd been living more inside her head. Maybe she was supposed to live inside her head. Maybe she was unconscious in a hospital somewhere and this was all just some bizarre coma she was in that kept her entertained. She knew it wasn't though. Everything was so real, had lasted so long... the question was how much longer it would last. How long until she could finish the story, and what would happen when she did? Would they all just disappear? Because if that was the case, she wasn't sure she wanted to finish it. How could she drive away the figments of her imagination that did nothing to harm her? She couldn't. She wouldn't. Or would she?

[196 words]

Write from the Heart

People are always talking about heartbreak like its a disease. Of course, it's not fatal like heart attacks are, but with the amount of pain endured and described by the people that have suffered from heartbreak, you'd think it was. It was like a knife to the heart. I could feel it splitting in two. I mean, if it was, you'd be dead. No, my heart hasn't been broken. It's just had a few pin pricks, which I suppose is lucky and good in comparison to one that's been bleeding all out. A few band aids and they'll heal over with time unlike those that are scarred for life. It's a good thing writing is love, when it's from the heart (or aortic pump) at least, because it's something that will never hurt you like a person can. Which is why everyone should write. :)

[145 words]

Trust In Him

She sat beside him, unsure whether to truly trust him or not. Of course, she wanted to trust him, she did, but she wasn't sure if that was right or not. A few months ago, she hasn't even konwn him, but now he was everywhere, and he really cared about her. She could see it in his eyes. And besides, he needed her. She'd seen some of the things he'd done. Which was partly why she accompanied him, and slipped away from her mother to be with him. For some reason, his presence as an old brother figure was more comforting than her own mother's had been as of late. It was weird, but she tried not to question it and before long felt her throwing her full trust out to him. He'd protect her like a father, like a brother. She knew he would. And she would do what she could for him. Make him smile when he cried. Then he was whispering at her, telling her to get up, and they were heading towards the doors and he knelt to her and whispered a message which scared her, as she clung tight to his body as he picked her up in his arms and the doors opened. They ran.

[211 words]

Important Date

He traced a finger over his hideously scarred-for-life body, over the unprofessional tattoo on his ribs. One three zero six one two. He'd had it for years now, and still didn't know where it meant, except for the obviousness that it stood for a date, still years away. What would happen on that day he had no idea. It was obviously important, otherwise it would've have been permanently attached to his skin has a reminder, just like the rest of the unhealed scars. Why he couldn't be told of the importance of something on his own body was something you'd have to ask the person who did it. The person who was the reason he was locked away now. The person who destroyed his life.

[125 words]

Speeding Horror

People had been complaining about the late running of the service, even though they were still making good time. That was until they were jerked forwards at the sound of a loud crash. The train came to a painfully slow stop as people that had been sitting in the same direction of travel began standing, trying to see where the noise had come from.

"A car's been hit!" someone yelled, pointing to what was left of a crumpled, smoking car. Some people were gasping, others screaming or crying. She just stared, shocked, out the window as the sound of sirens filled their ears and they remained stationery, wondering why anyone would try and race a train a million times their size. They wouldn't have survived. No way. But you couldn't stop yourself from hoping.

[134 words]