Close Friends

 

I’m finally over my crush!

Yes, he used to make my heart rush,

Now it’s just friendship that runs through my veins,

He was always there for me, even when it rained,

When I told him I liked him, he looked shocked,

Later, I told him that it was over, because a new friendship was unlocked.

 

Our Parents and siblings are close, we call each other family,

Sometimes we goof around, act silly,

Other times, we get serious, I love our deep conversations,

I believe we fill each other with inspiration,

He’s seen me embarrass myself,

He has also seen me cry for help.

 

At my best or worst, he’s there,

He’s my close friend, he cares,

He encourages me, even when he feels down,

He always tries to make me smile when I frown,

He reminds me he’s there when I need a listening ear,

He tells me, “I’m always here.”

 

I try to remind him of the same,

Sometimes it feels like he thinks I’m lame,

Then I remember how long we’ve been friends,

I know this relationship won't end!

I’m so glad we crossed each other’s paths when we were young,

It allowed us to grow together through the great and the things that stung,

 

He’s one of three friends who helped me through the worst breakup of my friendships,

We’ve been through many hardships,

We support each other when we have tough mountains to climb,

Not everything we’ve faced can we define,

We’ve stuck together, no matter the weather,

I know we will be friends forever.

Being Used

 Got what I need to give a helping hand,

Then you came to me with a confident stand, 

You asked to borrow a wrench,

What you did with it put me in the trench,

The use of my tool broke me and left me feeling lonely,

You used me for selfish things, would you call that friendly?

I don’t mind helping; it’s the use of what I had that made me feel violated.

 

You say you need help for a good deed,

I ask ecstatic, “What do you need?!”

“Glue to hold something I love together.” She sounded broken and sad

I gave her the bottle, knowing she would do just that.

She glues her possession together, it looks almost new.

This time I didn’t feel so blue.

I don’t mind helping; it’s the use of what I had that made me feel joy.

 

Some people care about what they say,

They think to themselves, “Will I lead them astray?”

Others don’t even think about the people being deceived.

The ones who we thought were kind, their acting we believed.

You have a choice, you can lie and get high on momentary pleasure,

Or speak life into others, be kindhearted, and look toward a good future.

I don’t mind helping; it’s the use of what I have that truly matters.

Something Lost

 

I see her walk, then her phone drops, away from her ear.

Mouth wide, tears, she cries, water pouring from her eyes.

I could tell from the sight that someone held her tight, not tonight.

She’s now on the ground looking like a sad dear.

I bet the thought of her getting up, she despised.

In a battle with sadness and despair, she’s losing the fight.

 

My feet draw near to her, and I crouch beside her.

My arms stretch wide around her, and I whisper, “Who was it?”

She took a shaky breath and said, “My best friend.”

Not all pain is physical, but emotion can be a heartbreaker.

“What was their name?” She was shaking; I could feel it from where I sit.

 I let her cry, she needs to get on by, I know to her, this felt like the end.

 

Her eyes up, glossy, she croaks, “Liv.”

I then find my eyes leaking; I, too, have experienced loss.

“I bet she was great and loved you dearly, like a sister.”

She tells me she wants these feelings to leave.

I tell her, “God has a plan, He’s the boss.”

“You’re right.” Her voice cracked. “I’m just going to miss her!”

 

“Not everything from her is gone, I say, because you have memories here to stay.”

She stands up and nods, “I just don’t want to feel the hurt.”

“No one wants someone they love to be lost.” She said almost in a whisper.

“Yes, but they can be found where your memories were shared, like the bay…

Or when you had way too much fun in the dirt.

Remember these times and let them shine like glitter.”

The Garden Project

 

“I’ve waited long enough,” I said,

If I stay here long, I’m good as dead,

I can’t stay in the alley,

I was leaving, then I saw Shelly.

I handed her the seeds,

They would fulfill the city’s needs.

 

Then I heard them, their feet clapping,

Quickly, they’re coming, let’s get cracking!

She grabs my hand and takes me up some stairs,

The sun looked like someone holding signal flares,

We jumped from one building to the next,

We could feel the breeze against our necks.

 

Shelly planted the seeds in random places,

We are starting with small spaces,

Putting them in cracks in the pavement,

We will not give in to this enslavement!

Our food and air are slowly poisoning our bodies,

Gardening is no longer just a hobby.   

 

Looks Bad But is Good (A Remake of Little Red Riding Hood)

 

Hello, I’m known as the Big Bad Wolf. I live in a forest surrounded by trees, and I truly

love it here. What I don’t appreciate is when people spread rumors and gossip about me, like

claiming I blew down two of the three little pigs' houses. I’m not bad; I simply just have one of

those faces that make people think that.

 

One day, I saw Little Red Riding Hood skipping through the forest with a basket in her

hand. “Hey, Red, where are you off to?” I asked. “I’m headed to Grandma’s; she’s ill and needs

food.” Then, she continued skipping down the path.

 

I decided I should help, so without Red knowing, I hurried ahead to Grandma’s house. I

knocked on her door with my furry paws, trying not to knock too loudly so I do not disturb

Grandma. “Who is it?” she asked. “A friend of Red’s. I heard you were sick and wanted to help,”

I replied. “Well, a friend of Little Red is a friend of mine. Come on in!” When I stepped inside,

she was shocked to see me, the wolf everyone’s been talking about. “What do you need help

with?” she smiled, realizing I wasn’t a bad wolf. Despite not looking or feeling her best, she was

happy. “Could you grab me a glass of water and some more blankets?” “Of course, I’m happy to

help.” I fetched her a glass of water and some blankets, helping to spread them over the bed

where she was lying. “Would you like me to add some more wood to the fire as well?” “Oh yes,

that would be lovely,” she said in a kind, soft voice.

 

As I was adding wood to the fireplace, Red arrived and looked surprised. Little Red

Riding Hood gave her Grandma some food, and her face lit up with happiness as she ate the

muffins and rolls.

 

Grandma eventually offered me some muffins, and I gladly accepted, but she wouldn’t let

go of the muffin until I swallowed it and her whole. “Ahhhhh,” Red screamed in horror. I was

shocked that I had eaten Grandma. All I wanted was the muffin. Red rushed up to me, opened my

mouth, and put her arm down my throat, trying to get Grandma out, but she fell instead.

“Noooo,” I yelled. I fled into the forest to get some help, but the next thing I knew, there was an

arrow in my back and a woodsman cutting me open.

 

The woodsman eventually rescued Red and Grandma from my stomach, and no one was

harmed except me. I eventually went to my Grandma’s to put her sewing skills to good use.

 

Now you know it was all a misunderstanding. I didn’t mean to eat anyone. Red and I are actually

close friends; she just doesn’t let me take food from others anymore. Things here in the forest are

good—except for the suspicious woodsman lurking in the bushes with his bow and arrow.

Best Friend

 

                                             

I never knew I would look back at a toxic relationship and be thankful that I had it, but if

it wasn’t for, let’s say his name is Robby, I would’ve never met my best friend.

 

I was friends with Robby for many years, but as we got older, he started hanging out with the

wrong crowd, and our friendship grew toxic.

 

I learned that best friends make an effort in staying friends; it’s not one-sided, and it shouldn’t

feel like you’re the only one keeping the relationship together.

 

I was excited. After being busy for so long, Robby finally came to the youth group again,

and he brought a friend. Someone, he said, I was guaranteed to like.

 

She walked in right after him. She had tan skin, black hair, brown eyes, a Hello Kitty hoodie, and

a perfume-like smell.

 

“Hi, I’m EM,” I said, sounding shy.

 

“I’m Zoe,” she said. 

 

Zoe, Robby, and I hung out at youth group, then, before we all left, we exchanged social media

accounts.

 

“I actually have my tablet taken away, so it might take a while to answer your request,” I said.

 

“No worries.”

 

One day, when I was done with school, I rushed to my mom’s room and grabbed my tablet to

talk to my new friend. It had been two weeks since I had seen her at youth group.

 

“Hey, Zoe, this is EM. How are you?” I texted.

 

“Oh, hey! I’m good!” She replied.

 

”That’s good. Why haven’t you been going to youth group lately?”

 

“I didn’t know if Robby was still going or not.”

 

“Oh, what happened?” I asked.

 

“Robby and I got into a fight and aren’t talking anymore. He and I were thinking about dating, but he didn’t like that we were still in the talking stage. So he started fat shaming me and calling me all sorts of things.”

 

“Oh, I’m sorry, but he doesn’t come unless I invite him, so you come Wednesday!”

 

“I will!”

 

After that, Zoe and I got closer; she even became good friends with my sister, Lila. We

created our own little friend group at youth camp. We hung out with Tory, Jenna, Courtney, and

Lila, but they weren’t as close as Zoe and I. We were there for each other through the highs and

lows.

 

Later that year, Zoe told me she was heading back to Hawaii in a month. I couldn’t believe it, I

had just made a best friend and she was leaving. It was rare for me to even make friends, so I

was sad knowing my best friend wasn’t going to be by my side anymore.

 

It was our last night at youth group together. Tory, Jenna, Courtney, Lila, and, most of all, Zoe

was there.

 

“I can’t believe you’re leaving tomorrow!” I said, sobbing.

 

“I know,” she said, tears running down her cheeks.

 

We pulled each other into a hug, and I said, “I know you don’t like him anymore, but I’m glad

you knew Robby. If you didn’t, I wouldn’t have found my best friend.”

 

She pulled out of the hug and smiled slightly, tears still running down her cheeks.

 

When her mom arrived, we all walked her to her car and gave her a group hug. As she was

driving away, we followed her car while waving goodbye till she left the parking lot.

 

Zoe helped me through a lot, and still is, and I do the same for her. If I never met her, I don’t

know how I’d be now, I probably would still be friends with Robby. But I don’t need to know

the what-ifs of the past; I’m just thankful I have her as a friend.

 

Because of her, I now know that friends are there for each other no matter the distance, and

there are always silver linings; some are just harder to see than others.

 

In previous relationships, I was the only one making an effort to stay connected, but Zoe taught

me that friendships are not one-sided and don’t use you for personal gain. She taught me the

true meaning of best friends forever.

A Leap For Freedom

Elizabeth Walker, 17 and fiercely determined, paced her metallic room, her boots reverberating against the lunar colony floor. She clenched her fists, muttering, "This can't go on. Carlos is getting weaker every day." Her little brother's pale face haunted her thoughts. How could the government expect them to thrive on shrinking rations?

Her mother entered quietly, her weary eyes avoiding Elizabeth's. "Lizzie, you have to be careful. They’re watching everyone."

"I can't just sit back, Mom," Elizabeth snapped, her tone sharp but desperate. "Carlos is dying, and they don’t care. Someone has to do something!" She said, overwhelmed with emotion, but she had enough.

The moon colony, once a beacon of hope, had become a gilded cage. Families were torn apart, and travel back to Earth was a privilege reserved for the elite. As Elizabeth stared out at the lifeless gray terrain, her jaw tightened. She wasn’t going to let the government decide who lived and who starved.

That evening, she approached her neighbor, an aging engineer named Lian. "You’ve seen how things are, Lian. What happens when it's your family next?" Her voice was low but intense.

Lian hesitated, rubbing the back of his neck. "What you're suggesting is suicide."

"It’s survival," Elizabeth countered. "We’re fixing that old shuttle in the scrapyard. If we don’t act, none of us have a future."

Gradually, Elizabeth rallied a diverse crew: technicians, a nurse, and even an ex-government worker who had grown to dislike the system. Meetings took place in hushed whispers behind locked doors.

"You can sit back and let them pick us off one by one," she told the group, her brown eyes blazing, "or we can fight for our lives. I won’t let them decide our fate."

Lian, now onboard, sketched plans for repairs on the ancient shuttle. "It's a relic, but it’ll fly once we get the engine running."

Weeks turned into months as they worked under the radar. Elizabeth’s once-annoying bossiness became their lifeline. She barked orders with precision. "Tighten those bolts! We can’t afford mistakes," she said one night, sweat dripping from her brow.

On launch day, nerves ran high. "Remember," Elizabeth addressed the crew, her voice steady despite her pounding heart, "this is about more than us. It’s about freedom and the start of our futures."

As they climbed into the shuttle, alarms blared across the colony. "They’ve spotted us!" shouted a technician.

"Keep going!" Elizabeth barked. "Strap in, everyone."

Security forces swarmed the scrapyard just as the shuttle roared to life. Its engines blasted a cloud of dust as they lifted off the ground, the colony shrinking below.

Inside, Elizabeth exhaled for the first time in hours. "We did it," she murmured, looking at the pale Earth growing larger in the window.

"It’s not over," Lian reminded her.

Elizabeth smiled. "No, but it’s a start."

The battle for freedom had begun, and Elizabeth realized they had ignited something greater than themselves. One day, she hoped, Earth would be the only life-filled rock in space.