angelperak

Told from the perspective of Dana, Felicity's 10 year old sister: Felicity screams at night. When she screams, it is like there is a giant hand that crept in through her window and is grabbing her throat, squeezing out broken bubbles of sound. I don't want the hand to find me next. That's why every time, after Mom turns off the light, I get up. I shut my window. I wrap my sheet around and around my neck, then up over my head to cover my ears. Then the hand can't hurt me like it hurts Felicity. I think the hand scares Mom too. Some nights she goes to Felicity. She sings. Her songs wiggle through the screams and slowly pull the hand away. B

The bride cried herself to sleep on her last night. I heard her. "She cannot contain her joy" whispered the aunt, who then dabbed at her own tears. She woke early. Her curtains were closed the room was dark. The bride lay still, enjoying the close security of the shadows. Her mother entered, flinging the curtains open and letting the sunlight intrude into every corner. The bride was now exposed to the morning. Blades of light stabbed under her eyelids. "A beautiful day for a wedding" declared the mother. All females available descended on the room in a noisy flock. They came to prepare her. I was there. Her grandmother brought her some

Sometimes I pretend I am an ant trail A line  of tiny black bodies mindless, marching  Keeping my head down  maybe life   will be easier that way  but even ant trails bother people sometimes   miniature brushstrokes of legs running, stipple-like across a life-page   odd that someone could notice  the dots   odder still that those dots  can connect and eat a hole out of that page. By Bonnie J. Etherington

"Only Sleeping"*? *Please don't spoil my day, I'm miles away And after all I'm only sleeping Keeping an eye on the world going by my window Taking my time.* Only sleeping? Oh yes, you can excuse yourself Don't get your hands dirty, no that wouldn't do Please don't spoil my day, I'm miles away. "But I'm not hurting anyone!" So true, so true What are you doing? After all I'm only sleeping! What to do? To hurt, to not know, or to do nothing? Why do you just sleep? I'm keeping an eye on the world going by my window. Evil simmers before it boils Frogs forget to jump out How long shall we sleep? I'm just taking my time.

The pillow is damp where the girl hid her face and silenced her tears. The sheets are rumpled. When were they last smoothed? They don't know, maybe two weeks ago or more. Under the bed lies a teddy bear, covered with dust. Its arms are open. It would hug her if she let it. It would tell her that it loves her. She doesn't hear the thoughts of teddy bears though. Not many people do. The teddy bear continues to smile its ever-constant smile. The knife sits, rigid, in the girl's grasp as she slouches on the floor and leans back against the wall. Her caresses confuse it. One minute- calmly slicing vegetables, the next- here, guilty but not reall

The Voiceless Unborn child in liquid dream Young woman, only eyes Strong wise man in withered shell Quavering shadow hidden in you What have you to say in silent speak? "Quiet now," we say, "the voiceless wish to be heard." How hard will it be to be heard? Once it is done, is it still a dream? It is hard to hear the voiceless speak We are only used to their eyes It is hard even for you Voiceless One, your body is tender without the shell. Will you split the silence, the shell? It will be painful to be heard You will not be the first, but we need you Reveal what is your hidden dream Yes, we need you to excuse our eyes Someone