love-new-artists

Insanity is always just a thought awayA whisper in the mind that leads astrayA flicker of doubt that grows into a flameA spiral of madness that has no nameInsanity is always just a thought awayA shadow in the heart that feeds on painA hunger for chaos that can't be tamedA frenzy of violence that leaves no stainInsanity is always just a thought awayA trap in the soul that no one can escapeA nightmare of terror that never endsA curse of despair that no one can mendInsanity is always just a thought awayA choice in the moment that can't be changedA risk in the gamble that can't be weighedA price in the bargain that can't be paidDeath is always just a breath away

We live happily foreverIn my memoriesOur love grows ever strongerAnd never do you leave.All that we sharedIt stays with meLike a precious treasureThat only we can see.Happily foreverIn memoriesWe laugh and dance togetherIn the summer breeze.The best we wereWill always beHappily foreverWithin my dreams.I’ll always be right hereHappily ForeverLike an endless melodyLet's go on an adventureTo where the sea and land embraceLet's dance beneath the moonlightAnd feel the sand caress our feetDoesn't that make you smile?Come, cuddle with me on this blanketAnd watch the waves ebb and flowThey weave a dream for us to cherishA dream of closeness, ease, and vastnessStay still, I'll start a fire for usAnd warm our hearts and soulsTonight, nothing is impossibleIf we just surrenderLook at the sky with meAnd feel the amazing journeyThat we are all part ofThis is the adventure that matters mostThe one that leads us to ourselvesLet me share it with youLet's merge togetherKiss me, love me, liberate meLook into my eyes and seeThe reality behind my disguise...

Are we living in a world of our own making?We create roles for ourselvesthat we barely comprehendand spend our livestrying to conform to themWe hope they will become realbut most of usnever reach that goalSome lucky onesdo fulfill their self-made illusionsand live in blissful ignoranceThey are also insanetrapped in their own fantasiesBut that's not importantWe are born into competitionsplit into groups that shape our valuesand distort our view of the worldThe powerful use fear to control usthe more we hate and judge each other, the betterEverything is designed to increase hostilityamong the fragments of societyWhen the hate is too muchand violence is about to eruptSome enemy is created or foundto unite us temporarilyuntil the chaosis reduced to a manageable level.Then orderor rather controlled disorderis restored.That's how I see historyand it doesn't seem to change muchover timeOf course, there is always the chancethat this is just my own delusional realityand I'm living in a world of my own making.

Scattered across the land of yore Occasionally stones are hiddenThis is where the runes of loreHave brought me here to listenI listened to the tales long pastOf magical words that glistenScattered across the land of yoreRune stones demand I listen Marc Stockwell-Moniz Copyright ©

I could feel it unwindingsense the twine tighteningAny moment it was about to explodeKnowing this did nothingI was simply a witnessan observer of what was about to unfoldToxic colors all arounddidn’t know if they were going upor downSpectral visions drifting listlessly through the airGlimpses of the impending annihilationNow everywhereWhat do we care?Whispers heard out in the darkA metal door becomes unlockedA chandelier violently crashesunto the polished marble floorA wise manrealizes he was but a foolAnother daySpecks of dustsoftly floating within a sunrayThe storm passesbut only through your mindanother world collapsesThis one was so unkindThe same old familiar distancethat we had shared beforeStill something inside of uskeeps us coming back for moreThis unacquainted longingfor what we lost beforeThis strange, familiar distancekeeps us searching, evermoreSun so beautifuland brightCascading waterscontent, delightOne last soundfor no ears to hearA sigh, a tearA fond Farewell

“Raphael? Raphael are you here?”While the inner dining area of the inn was empty, it wasn’t much of a surprise. Mid-afternoon was one of the most vacant times for inns of all kinds, much less newly established ones. Re-established ones? Whatever this one would be considered. Most travelers left early in the morning to continue on their journey, lunch for the nearby workers and day laborers was over, dinner wasn’t for a few hours, and any new travelers wouldn’t arrive until closer to nightfall. Not to mention the bustling night crowd every inn had at their taverns. The most you would see in an inn at this time was the workers cleaning, or knights/other hired defenders for the inn. Thunk. Thunk. Thunk. She could almost feel his footsteps in the floorboards before she could hear them. It made her smile. Good thing she had been able to convince Father to make it out here for the grand re-opening week.“Sorry!” A voice boomed with all the joy in the world. “I didn’t expect someo- Flayn!”The footsteps thundered across the room. Flayn’s breath was crushed away. But she still couldn’t help a laugh as Raphael spun her around in his trademark bear hug.“Flayn! How’ve you been?” He asked as he set her down.It took her a moment to catch her breath again. “Good… good. Whew. The monastery is getting close to finishing up the repairs around the school parts. And now that things are calming down, my f-brother is letting me enroll as an actual, full student next year!”Raphael furrowed his brows. “But you were a student under the Professor with us. Why would you need to be a student again?”“Well, honestly, I wasn’t fully a student. My brother did not actually enroll me, so I did not qualify for any education certifications when I was in class with you all. Many staff and faculty at Garreg Mach would attend classes as a personal benefit without being a true student. That’s what I was.”“Who needs a silly certification when you got real experience with your muscles during the war?” He flexed and patted a bicep fondly. “I know my muscles learned bunches more from real fighting, not the classroom stuff.”“Yes, that is accurate. Which is why my brother finally relented and is letting me be a full student this upcoming year.” Flayn clapped her hands together. “But enough on that. I’d heard from so many travelers at Garreg Mach about this grand opening week for your inn! It’s so lovely to finally see it in person.”“I know, isn’t it great?” His grin split his face in the forever infectious way he had and Flayn found herself smiling wider as a result. “It’s only been a couple of days but I’m loving it so far! My lord was even here himself the first day, despite me being on leave for this.”“It is quite lovely, and such a beautiful area. When I heard around the monastery that someone needed an errand off this way, I begged my brother for it to be us so I could at least be here for one day on the opening week. And I am simply taken away by it all. You must be so proud of your sister.”“The proudest! She’s the best little sister I could ever ask for. That’s why I work for my lord, he makes sure to help keep her safe too. Talking about sisters, you said your brother Seteth was here too? Where is he?”“Oh, he’s in town doing whatever church business needed to be done. I’m not quite sure what it is. He still says I’m too young to be worrying about that type of business.”“Too young? But you’re nearly as old as we are!”“Well, maybe, not quite. I’m, lets say, younger than you even expected while we were in class together. I’m sorry if I deceived you.”He chuckled. “We didn’t care how old you were, you’re one of us! And no matter what you’re older now, so I hope Seteth sees it. Though you still look really good.”A blush crept up in Flayn’s cheeks at the unexpected compliment. Her mind felt like it actively slowed down. Words escaped her. Despite it all, her heart sped up. Rapidly. “I-oh, um… Thank you, Raphael. I, uh, do seem to share in my fa-brother’s… ability to look younger for my age.” Flayn fidgeted her fingers together as her brain recovered. “You don’t think I look… too young, do you?”Raphael actually laughed. That wasn’t what she expected. Though she couldn’t tell why he laughed, it did disperse a little of the knotted tension in her stomach. Aging slowly always bothered her; it didn’t matter how many centuries passed.“Of course not, Flayn! You’re a beautiful woman. Besides, don’t you ladies usually worry about how you look? At least my sis seems to. Always gettin’ on about how she’s looking older. If my sis looked young like you, she wouldn’t have a thing to worry about! Any man would be happy to marry you, no matter how young you look. I know I would.”The whole world stopped. Flayn could have sworn she floated up from the ground. It was incredible. This had to be one of the best days of her life.If only she were older. Even just old enough that Father would allow her to date. She desperately wanted to be with him. No man could ever be as sweet as Raphael. Maybe, just maybe, if she did well in her studies, and any further pursuit from that, maybe Father would permit her to. Even just one date.She needed to change the subject. “Raphael? Do you think we could practice again? Just for old times sake.”He grinned. “Of course! Sis should be able to wash up from lunch by herself. What was it that Claude called us? Battle Cry Buddies?”“Yes! Let’s go! Battle Cry Buddies together once more!”

As I woke up weak and weary
It was cold, and fairly dreary
I was aching
body shaking
Coughing and a tossing about
Rendered unable to cough it out
I wove blanket on top of blanket
Dragged out the heavy slanket
Burned and boiled in the heat
Choking coughs and sweaty feet
For awhile I would awaken
Toasting like fresh bacon
But too tired from the cold
I would retire to my blanket mould
Sleep I did, for many hours
With no change to my power
Weary, dreary, I would wheeze
Nose too stuffed up for a sneeze
Instead I'd lay there, sure if I did budge
I would be chilled and begrudged
Tired, mired,
I conspired
To sleep until the sun returned
But there was a backseat thought that burned
Breathe and move, my knee had locked
It awoke me with some shock
So I wiggled,
My body jiggled
From the nest that I had built
Into cold air and fresh cold guilt
Startled by the low degrees
I inhaled without a wheeze
My nose was still a little stuffed
Not a lot, just enough
But breathe I could, so breathe I did
And I

Verse 1:I'm drowning on dry land,This is the only life I've ever knownAin't no one to lend me a handNo wind to navigate me homeChorus:I need a miracle to save meFrom this lonely prison of depressionI need a ray of light to guide meOut of this dark abyss of nothingnessVerse 2:I feel my life slowly fading away,My soul is in an abyss of dismayThe darkness choking me,No way out this self-made cageChorus:I need a miracle to save meFrom this lonely prison of depressionI need a ray of light to guide meOut of this dark abyss of no hopeBridge:But I won't give up, I won't let goThere's still a spark in me, I knowThere's more to life than this sorrowThere's a new day waiting for me tomorrowVerse 3:My eyes are heavy with sorrow,My spirit is dejected and hollowI cannot move, I'm frozen solidA prison of pain with no escape, I'm lost in this abyssChorus:I need a miracle to save meFrom this lonely prison of depressionI need a ray of light to guide meOut of this dark abyss of nothingnessVerse 4My body is weak and my mind is drained,My heart's been broken and I'm in chainsThe world around me is a blur,My spirit is broken, I can no longer endureOutro:I need a miracle, I need a ray of lightI need a miracle, I need a ray of lightI need a miracle, I need a ray of lightOut of this dark abyss of nothingness

When I look in the mirror, I wonder who I amIs it me, or someone else I want to be?Do I see my true feelings and thoughts,Or do I see what others want of me?I think about how they see meMy appearance, my words, my actions, my goalsI think about how they evaluate meWith compliments or criticism, kindness or angerDo I feel good or bad, happy or sadDepending on how they react to me?Do I adjust my behavior and moodTo make them happy or to avoid them?But who are they, and why are they important?Are they friends or enemies, close or far?Do they really know me, or just the outside?Do they have the same values, or are they very different?And who am I, besides their opinions?Do I have an identity, or just a reflection?Do I have a voice, or just repetition?Do I have a choice, or am I just a follower?The mirror can't tell me who I amBecause the answer is not constant, but always changingI am shaped by my past experiences,And I shape my future onesI am always learning and growingA balance between my inner self and outer worldMy identity is not just a role, but also my realityAm I a mix of my own identityand the world I interact with?A maker of my own lifeCreating my own selfWith my own courage and conviction?Or am I simply a mirrored imageof what others want me to be?Does anyone truly have individuality?

There were no trick-or-treaters at the Abramson house, in small part because all of the house lights were off, and in large part because there was a sign at the front gate reading, “No trick-or-treaters — God is Always Watching!"Ordinarily, it was a sore spot for Keith.However, that Halloween was different. He was standing outside of the Rutledge house several blocks away, waiting for a small crowd of children and teenagers to clear out of his way. A few parents stood nearby, and after what felt like too long, one of the dads finally noticed that Keith wasn't waiting for the candy."Kids, come on, move off to the side so this nice boy can get by, alright?"The trick-or-treaters moved to one side of the steps leading to the porch, and Keith slipped past them quietly, amused as he spotted the pumpkin-shaped bowl they were hovering around on the porch's wooden railing. The paper sign next to it read, "Help Yourself — If It's Empty, We're Out!"Keith briefly considered grabbing something from the bowl, but instead knocked on the door.From the other side of the door, he heard a loud, exaggerated howl, and then the door swung inward as Jack opened it."Awooooooooo! Happy Howloweeeeeen!"Jack wore a shredded pair of jeans and an equally shredded flannel shirt that was completely unbuttoned, revealing his hair-covered torso. He had furry, Halloween store wolf paws on his hands, and he raised them as though he was going to swipe at Keith.Despite himself, Keith laughed."What, not scared of me?" Jack said, pulling Keith into the house and closing the door behind them. "I'm a werewolf, you should be worried I'll bite you or somethin'.""You've bitten me before, I'll be fine," Keith shot back, getting a grin out of Jack in the process. "You look more like a lumberjack, anyway. Like, a sexy lumberjack, but a lumberjack.""A lumberjack with wolf paws?" Jack said. When Keith said nothing in response, Jack rolled his eyes and pulled off the wolf claw gloves. "Fine, whatever, sexy lumberjack it is.""You look good, Jack.""Thanks. Figured I should try to make it fun for ya, since you can't dress up yourself." Jack sat down on the living room sofa and spread out comfortably across two cushions before gesturing for Keith to sit as well."So what's the plan?" Keith asked as he sat down. "Just TV until your parents get home?""They won't be back until late," Jack said. "They keep the store open until 10 for Halloween since people like to drink during holidays, so it's just you an' me an' the pizzas that are gonna be here in about 15 minutes.""What kind?" Keith asked."Anchovy with pineapple." Keith mimed throwing up, which got a laugh from Jack as he added, "Just pepperoni, nothin' fancy. I got us some soda too, figured—"Jack stopped talking mid-sentence as the phone attached to the wall started ringing. "If that's my mom, I swear," Keith muttered."You know it's your mom," Jack said as he got up and crossed the room to answer it. “Nobody ever calls us but your mom.”"Rutledge residence, Jack speaking—hi, Mrs. Abramson." Jack's usually casual speech pattern vanished with practiced ease as he put on his speaking to parents voice, his normally low, grumbled baritone pitching up just slightly and getting notably clearer and easier to understand. "Yeah, Keith made it over just fine. Thanks for letting him come by, my parents are both working tonight, so—yeah, yeah. It's nice to have someone else here since there are so many people out. No, no trick-or-treating for us, just pizza, maybe a movie depending on what's on TV, that's all."Keith shook his head in disbelief as Jack ran through every detail he'd told his mom before he'd left to see Jack in the first place, but Jack just grinned at him as he spoke."No horror movies, got it. Yeah, I'll make sure he gets home safe. By 10, right? Right, got it. Will do. Okay, bye!"When Jack hung up the phone, he glanced over at Keith, an incredulous grin on his face. "No horror movies? Since when?""Satan might be behind them, I dunno," Keith replied with a sigh."'Kay, well, that's settled then, horror movie it is." Jack plopped himself back down on the sofa next to Keith a second later, sitting closer than he had been. "Because in the words of Michael Jackson, now is the time for you and I to cuddle close together…"He leaned in and wrapped his arms around Keith, who snorted and rolled his eyes before teasingly pushing Jack's face away. "Shut up."Jack started singing the rest of Thriller passionately and off-key as he continued to rest his body against Keith's, both of them settling into a comfortable position on the sofa even as Jack put on his bad rendition.When Jack stopped singing, Keith said, "So was that the trick part of Halloween?""It is, and now you get the treat," Jack murmured before gently pressing a kiss to Keith's cheek."I think I could get used to this Halloween thing, then," Keith said as he let his head rest against Jack's.