ONCE

What once was green now stands bare.
What once was risen high is seen trodden low.
What once was bloomed now wilts and blends.
What once was mine is now at its end.

FORGIVE FORGET

Sometimes we hold onto things that are so meaningless, so unnecessary, and so pointless. All they do is ruin and destroy. Old baggage can do that. It's so useless to carry it on your back, when it should have been tossed aside so many years ago. Sometimes it's so hard to finally get the courage to forgive someone, and it's even harder to finally ask someone to forgive you. How grateful I am for Jesus Christ and the power of the Atonement. He sacrificed so much so that way we can have a way to come back to His and Heavenly Father's presence with a pure heart and without any of that baggage pushing upon our shoulders. How wonderful that is, to forgive and forget. But how even more miraculous it is to be forgiven and your actions forgotten.

FLASHES

Boom.
They quickly turn, trying to find the source of the constant sounds.
Crack.
It was now coming from another direction.
Whoosh.
A bright flash lights up the room, opening their eyes for only a second.
Thud.
The sounds and flashes are getting louder and more spastic now.
Creak.
They huddle close together while I silently stand watching. They don't know I'm here and I want to keep it that way.
Smack.
Fear is starting to cause anger and annoyance in some as they yell back, frightening the rest in the group.
Whack.
It is completely dark now, not a sound can be heard besides a pitiful whimpering from some.
And then I took my exit.

IRONIC

How ironic it is to think that all people want is to be included. To feel like they are loved and that they belong somewhere in the world. Somewhere in this vastness, there is a spot for them. Now here is the ironic part, at the same time independence and being different is important. To be their own self with their own identity. To be an individual person, with characteristics that separate them from the rest. But this must be done while trying to fit in. Trying to conform, trying to belong somewhere, trying to be different, trying to be original and unique. All at the same time.

HAD

I had put so much into that thought. I had checked my sources and ran through the different lines to use. I had rough drafted the idea in my head, deciding on my certain pauses and word choices. I had nervously raised my hand, despite my shaking and shyness. I had let my words flow, stuttering over my final draft. I had offered myself to the lions, and all they did was throw me away without even a nibble.

THOUGHTS

Silence makes my mind uneasy so I turn up the music and try to cover up my thoughts. It's as if a bomb had gone off in my head and the impact was deafening. The thoughts, I mean. But the music doesn't cover them up. How could it? They are inside, an inside that doesn't open, no visitors are allowed. The music can't reach that far, it can't penetrate into the sealed room. They weren't bad, mind you, but they were there. Annoyance, worry, anger, betrayal, confusion, confession. It was too much to think with but there was so much that I had to think. I had to try and divide them up into something...

SHRANK

My heart shrank along with my hand as I pulled it away from his. The look of complete horror and disgust had consumed his face, causing dread in mine. It wouldn't be the same now, never again.

No.
I don't want to.
I don't want to go back there.
I can't.
Please.
I can't go there again.
It almost destroyed me before.
I wouldn't survive it again.
I don't want to.
I can't.
Please.
No.

SECOND

For just one second
Her head fell, pushing hair in front of the once bright smile. Her frame hung, shoulders slouching under the pressure.
And then the second was gone.