“In this bottle I’ve collected the tears from the pain you’ve caused me over the years,” Jim told his wife as he unsealed the lid, handing her a glass of his bitterness. “Now taste what I taste when you make me cry. Taste what I taste when I swallow my pride.”
The thought of swarming mosquitos kept me constipated all week. At 3AM the final evening, woken by pain, I stumbled from my tent, unaware of my surroundings. The situation resolved itself. At breakfast, I overheard the others postulating what animal left it’s scat right in the middle of our campsite.
It was like he was designed for his mercantile plight. Like someone planned his abnormal height. When they handed him his costume, he knew something wasn’t quite right. He was so conditioned to it though, he didn’t put up a fight. The Jolly Green Giant just slipped into those tights.
Foraging for mushrooms with my 8-year-old daughter seemed like a harmless way to spend our Sunday afternoon. But when we crossed the creek, Sophia spotted something different - decomposing human remains. I wish she could forget that moment but I know she won’t; you always remember losing your innocence.
On a junior high retreat one time this cute blonde brought the board game “Connect Four.” I let her win every time, hoping she’d catch on and realize I had a crush on her. She was always able to connect four but she couldn’t ever put two and two together.
I imagine the first time Johnny played his famous tune, he was thinking of the pain he’d endured just to get to June. I wonder if, decades of marriage later, those lyrics still rang true. Fires can burn, but they can also keep you warm if you want them to.
Prince Charming was tired of no one seeing what was inside. Every girl, including his wife, only wanted to marry him because of his appearance, possessions, or power. So he faked that he died and went under the knife. He got plastic surgery in order to lead a different life.
My friend invited me to a movie last Sunday. I love action flicks and this one sounded awesome, like Transformers meets WWII drama. When we arrived, the opening soundtrack lived up to the hype. But when the entertainment started, I felt deceived. Turns out Megachurch isn’t a movie at all.
The first caveman ever to see fire burning bright didn’t need to be the one who created it to know it would bring light. The first kid ever to press start on a Gameboy didn’t need to be the one who created it to know it would be bring joy.
Matak was an undocumented refugee living in a camp for Sudanese. He dreamed of having papers saying he belonged. So he slit his wrists and finally received papers that gave him what he’d wanted for so long; his death certificate gave him a home - six feet under dust and stone.
