• Finger Taps

    I watched as he tapped his fingers and wondered what my punishment might be.  I knew in the real world my transgressions weren’t too serious, but in the eyes of my father, they were enormous.  All I had wanted was one night out with my friends and here I was, sitting in the back of…

  • The Ranch

    I watched as he pointed toward home and desperately hoped he would come back and get me.  That he wasn’t angry enough to leave me out here.  After all, it hadn’t entirely been my fault.  Sam promised me he had known the way.  Promised he could get us home before anyone noticed we were gone.  But now…

  • Sister, Sister

    I never knew how much trouble a sister would or could be until Lily came into my life.  On a weekly basis, I had to count to ten so I wouldn’t lose my mind of the constant trouble she was getting herself into.  At other times, I knew I couldn’t live with her and didn’t…

  • Villain

    “I knew he was up to no good the moment he walked in.  I just wanted to leave and never look back, but I didn’t think I should leave Lacey.  I knew she was more at risk if Jared was there.  But I didn’t really know where she had gone.  That’s why I am out here.” …

  • Heart

    “My heart exploded the day you came into my life.  I always knew I wanted you and I knew you would feel the same when we finally got the chance to spend more time together.  I know we will be a perfect fit.”  I kept my whisper to a minimum so the other cafeteria workers…

  • Drunk

    “Let me tell you about the first time I ever got drunk,” I heard my father start into his oft-told story and could imagine exactly what he was doing at this very moment. I knew he was picking up his wine glass in his left hand as he leaned back into his favorite chair. Which…

  • Bones

    The skeletons in my mother’s closet were enormous.  I managed to find most of her secrets when I was diving headfirst into my most rebellious years as a teenager.  The first time she caught me sneaking out and grounded me for a month was the first time I really started going through everything we had…

  • Rome

    I always hated when my parents told me “Rome wasn’t built in a day, you know.” Clearly. All I wanted was to be able to live my life without them hovering over my shoulder with every decision I made. All I wanted to do was to go on a vacation by myself. All I wanted…

  • The Chef

    PHOTO PROMPT © Liz Young  I had always loved cooking elaborate meals when I had friends over, but when it came to feeding myself, I never wanted to cook. Only simple salads and fruit would do for me. The day I met Gabriel, everything changed. I couldn’t pinpoint the moment I changed, but something had.…

  • The Donation

    When the donation first came through, I immediately started crying. I had never needed help more than I needed it right now.  I had never asked for money before, for help before, but my situation was dire.  Everything had started when Mario smashed my car into a tree. He wasn’t supposed to be driving, but…