Chopped Onions

He argues, and yells, and coughs in between because he quit smoking. I hear him, not listen, yell at me. His faded jeans or his white tank top with a beer stain on it is the only thing I look at on him. I chop onions, and this is definitely not the right time to do so because my eyes start to tear up and he starts yelling louder. I start crying but I can say that the onions are making me cry. But he wouldn't listen. I start to think of my best friend telling me I should leave. I think of why I shouldn't meet people at a bar. I should have gone back to Tae Kwon Do classes during the summer so that he can actually shut up. I don't know what to make with these onions.

I want to leave. I want to drive for hours in my own car. I want to go home.

distracting thoughts
          he blocks the exit

to get out

•

The Occupied Casket

On an uncomfortable and overused black chair, I sit eye-level with your oak casket. I stare at the pale face that once kissed me goodnight and welcomed me in the morning. Your eyes are closed and resting peacefully, but I imagine those warm brown eyes looking back at me. The hands that used to tend to sunflower plants and open cans of soda for me are now lying still against a cotton mattress. The mouth that would call out to me and laugh at my silly songs is now shut. I place a single rose in the occupied casket, and remind myself that the body I look at is merely a container for the soul of my Papa.

the only time
I saw you in a suit
your funeral

•

Midterm

Here I was, my senior year of college on spring break in Chicago Illinois. Finally, 21 years old and ready to take over the city with some of my best friends. I was ready to have the best night of my life, not knowing it would also be one scariest nights of my life. I got lost in Chicago alone, without my phone. The night started off great, we all looked nice, we all felt nice and all our phones were on 100%. We started out at club I've never been to before called “Bad Decision” of course we had to go there. Luckily since we were so cute we did not have to wait in line or pay a cover charge. There was so many people that we could barely move, there where TV's on the wall that showed the music video to the song that was playing. There were three different levels and on each there was a cage and strip pole.

About a half hour in I was already on the stage and had not stopped dancing, every now and then a friend of mine would get up there with me, but I was the only one who would not get down. They were ready to go to another club but I wanted to stay on the stage. While on the stage I did not want to drop my phone so I gave it to my friend to hold, but while being on the stage a man spilled his beer on me and I had to go the restroom to clean up. When I came back my friends were no longer there. Throughout the night I kept going to different clubs trying to find them but would get distracted and start dancing and enjoying myself again. Hours passed and I ended up somewhere downtown with no phone and no one I knew was around. I eventually came out my heels because my feet were hurting so bad, and found a restaurant that was still open with only a few people in there, it was 3 in the morning and I needed to call my friends. I was drunk, tired, and my feet were killing and to be completely honest I was scared the whole night. Yeah, it was fun to be out but I was in the city that I did not know, by myself in the late hour. Walking into the diner I heard “Dub! Where have you been!” and just like that I reconnected with my friends and had the best spring break ever. So much so,  I completely forgot about the test I had. My girl's night out in Chicago.

in this big city
all alone
my drunken decisions

•

Lucky Strike

The rich smell of smoke from my grandmother's cigarette. My nostrils burning from the soaked in scent of her house. She welcomes me in with a warm huge, but I can't take the smell of her clothing. She tells us that she needs to tidy up a bit and apologizes for the smoke. It is too late for her to quit. Too late for her to save her life from the cancer spreading through her body. Slowly tearing apart her family.

tension broken
by the warm hug
my dying grandmother

•

Dust

Slowly, my eyes flutter open. The scent of moss and pine drift past me through the gentle breeze. I sit up and take in the small clearing around me. It's sunny in my small world, no bigger than a few feet in every direction. Dark trees loom over me, hiding me from the rest of the world. How long have I been asleep for? Two hours? Three hours? The sun was to my right when I fell asleep and now it's off to my left. It must be getting close to dinner time; I don't want to be late as mom is making apple pie for dessert. I gather my notebook and pencils and put them into my backpack. Zipping up the large bag, I hear the small *clink* of chimes. Curiously I glance around. No one knows about this place except for me. Did someone follow me here? Are all my things still here? I sling my backpack over my shoulder and decide to investigate. Quietly walking toward my left into the dark woods, I hear the small *clink* again. I pick up my pace and notice another small clearing in the distance. I've never gone this deep into the woods before. As I come up to the clearing I see a sparkle that gimmers in the light. Quickly it zips around a mossy rock. Green and open and— there it is again! And another one! Am I seeing things correctly? There is at least three sparkling balls of light bouncing around. Is that a giggle I heard? Looking down at my watch I know that I must leave. Tomorrow I'll come back with a net to see what I find.

playing their games
glitter falls into the circle
from their wings

•

Commencement

The last week of dental school is finishing up at University of Miami and Jason is getting prepared to open his own dentistry practice. He finishes out his clinical on a Wednesday doing over 20 cavities. Jason has had a dream since he was five years old to become a dentist. He wasn't aware of all the work that would lead up to his profession but it is all worth it. The last thing he had to do before working on plans to getting his own practice was attend the national conference of dentistry in Los Angles. All the top graduates from around the world get the invite to the conference. The conference is a week-long a long and is very beneficial for the dentist. After the long conference, Jason was ready to apply to open up his new practice in the state of Florida. He recently open a huge family dentistry in Orlando where he lives with his family.

scrapping and cleaning
the tools
all look the same

•

Crossing Arms

Sitting on the bench, the frigid breeze snaps Susan's fuzzy hood back. Her mind wonders back to the fight. She can just see the anger in his face. She had thought for so long how they'd be together forever. Susan had always picture going through all the seasons with Mark but in reality they couldn't make it through the winter. The cold brought on a different side to both of them. They were both becoming a lesser version of themselves. She saw it before him, but he didn't want to accept it. After the whirlpool of arguments dwindled down, she slept on the couch and booked a train ticket for 5am.

She sits at the station at 4:48. She can't help but reflect on all the memories. Their argument continually replays in his head and she only wishes she could get his voice out of his head. The minutes pass slowly as she waits. She wished anything would make a sound, so she wouldn't be alone with her thoughts. The blanket of snow calms her thoughts as the minute hand on her watch nears the 12.

The whistle of the train in the distance relieves her feeling of being stuck in this cold town. She steps on the train as the door opens. She sits on the first seat she happens upon, and stares back at the town, smiling as it gets smaller and resting her head when it's no longer visible.

his voice
in her head
train tracks

•

Neighbors

I sat at the bench beneath my bedroom window, watching him. He was standing on the freshly cut lawn in his only suit holding some flowers from his mother's garden. I knew it was from her garden because a clump of dirt was still clinging to the bottom of the bunch. It wasn't the most conventional bouquet, but then again, we weren't the most conventional couple. He looked up at the grand oak tree, no doubt wondering if he could scale it without dropping the peace offering. This was our third “break-up” this month, but a dramatic gesture always seemed to work on me. I knew before he started climbing that I was going to forgive him.

freshly picked flowers
dirt still clinging to
their stringy roots

•

Nightlight

The waves were crashing into each other every second of the walk. The cold water approached our feet flustering us in the dark. Out in the distance was pure blackness with a hint of light from the moon. The reflection of the moon off the wavy water kept the moment alive. It was the light that guided us into the water, but the shivering water guided us out. The sandy particles stuck between our toes while the cold breeze brought us into each other's arms. Up above the stars shinned beyond the moon. Speckles of light we connected the dots with our fingers forming pictures. One was a dog the other was a face demonstrating the difference between our imaginations. My eyes look into his eyes wondering if we're on the same page as we approach our destination.

dot to dot
guiding our fingers
to each other

•

Spring Break

My skin practically melting beneath my feet as I sprint across the blazing hot sand using each towel and shadow as a stepping stone from the scorching heat. As soon as I reach the shore I tip toe into the water as my feet nearly sizzle like a hot skillet being rinsed off with water. My winter coat begs for sun as my mom lathers sun screen on my back like extra mayo on a boloney sandwich. Sitting there baking in the sun wondering how I've missed this so much and how the winter wasn't that bad.

lonely umbrella
shading nothing
but its feet

•

Back to School

Warmth. Yellow rays rain down on my skin, darkening it by the minute Sweat begins to glisten, nearly to a drip.  In front of me, mountains of water slowly roll in and break apart, stopping right before my feet. Sparse clouds leisurely stroll across the big blue landscape, changing shape and form. Complete relaxation. I don't want to ever go back.

on the calendar I circle
my vacation week
in bright purple

•

Back Home

I'm riding my bike through the neighborhood. Not really planning where I'm going, I take random turns and just letting my mind wander as I pass by the quiet houses. Each house looks bland, boring, and still. No character or individuality that would help me differentiate between them. Suddenly, I turn a corner and I'm in a vacant parking lot. I being to ride along the border of the lot, making my circles smaller and smaller as I complete each loop. Slowly, I follow a spiral track toward the center of the parking lot—still pedaling. I flinch as I feel a rain drop hit my forehead. I glance up at the sky and I see storm clouds starting to form. I take this as my cue to go home, and I finally have a destination in mind as I pedal down the street.

pedaling aimlessly
the neighborhood
blurs by

•

Castle Keep

She walked like a storm. All thunderclouds and lightning, ready to strike down anyone who crosses her. The front is just that, though. It's all a front. With the thunder always comes the rain and when she rains she pours. She pours like a waterfall and she collapses like the Mayan ruins. She can only strike for so long before she has to stop. Will you be there to catch her or will you hide and look for your umbrella? Do something. Help her. You don't have to calm the storm, just be there to witness her. Watch her.

storming the castle
waves crash against you
a break in the clouds

•

Grocery Shopping

At the back of the store I am already half way through my list. Only things left are milk and lunch meat. My son simply put ham for his choice of lunchmeat while my daughter on the other hand wants Cajun turkey with Munster cheese. I pull the cart up to the deli counter and scoot the back in to ensure that people are still able to get by me. I ask for my son's ham and while she slices the meat, I look for my daughter's Cajun turkey. As I bend over I notice a woman has appeared too close for comfort. I turn around to see her grab my purse from the cart and take off running. I immediately take off after her. Running down aisle and bumping into people, I feel as though no one is listening to my screams for help. I see the front door of the store getting closer and fear I may not catch her in time so I begin to speed up and run like this 40-year-old mother never has. As we reach the front door I lunge for my Michael Kors and I feel it in my fingertips. The lady drops the bag and continues out the door. I have my bag but now want the police to have her. I call the police immediately.

small town grocery store
differences
never go unnoticed

•