The alarm sounded, but it was already too late. By the time citizens were awakened by the notification, the virus had already been spread. Each slowly made their way to the central hall to hear about next steps from the leaders. They filed in quietly, hoping to get the cure as soon as possible. It took nearly five hours for all the inhabitants to arrive. The last group to arrive were not as quiet as the first. They walked with a limp and seemed to have physical tics. It was disruptive and soon, the 20 or so who were…

She stood at the end of the pier and stared at the sky as the sun set. A bloom of pink, orange, and rose — the colors of the clouds — bent and fluttered in reflections on the surface of teh water below. \’Nice, isn\’t it?\’She turned slowly so as not to look as nervous as she felt. She had been so distracted by the beauty before her that she had not heard anyone approach. \’Yes, it is quite lovely.\’\’What if I told you that everything here is not real?\’With a frown she answered, \’What are you talking about? What\’s…

  It was during worship at church this week that it happened: the fear hit.My mind flew through time to my mammogram appointment, scheduled for Monday (today). I envisioned myself walking in, sitting in the waiting area, going back and putting on the gown, being put in the mangler machine and mashed, and then …the fear hit:I imagined an immediate and drawn-out horror at the same time.First, the immediate — that the technician says (since we are in this high-tech world), \’Just wait right here; I\’m going to give this to the doctor and he\’ll read it\’. I see myself…

She watched the people around her and wondered why they were so miserable.Being together was supposed to be better than being alone, those people often quipped,yet their daily squabbles,complaints to co-workers,and snarky interactions with one anothersuggested something completely different.They curled a lip when she didn\’t join in –\’You guys don\’t argue?\’ they always asked.\’Nope,\’ she always answered.And it was true:Sixteen years and not one fight:when he was alive, they would sneak behind her back, ask him,and were even more irritated because he gave the same answer:Sixteen years and not one fight.They didn\’t think their thing was unusual,even though they were…

 I held the parts in my palms, kneeding gently and then with a bit more pressure.In certain circumstances, such actions might have been sensual. However …The monsters in my head were raving and despite my best efforts to ignore them, they were winning my attention. I\’d stopped one of my gym mates to ask a health question because she is a healthcare provider I trust.Side note: I don\’t trust many healthcare providers. Now, back to the show.She directed me to a couple of resources and told me that I she would stalk me to make sure I followed through. Because…

A child wants what she sees and cannot have,but that is not the end.Forever creative, she makes what she seesand in the end,becomes a joke to thosewho actually have.Head held high, she strides through life,defiant and not caring on the outsideyet bleeding from the soul on the inside. A woman wants what she sees and cannot have,but that is not the end.Yearning to fill an emotional need with material satisfaction,she shortcuts to get something like what she sees.The knock-offs fall apart,exposing the lieor the truth:She couldn\’t afford the real thingand in the end,becomes the joke to thosewho actually have.Head held high, she…

 Warning: this post will probably make some people upset. I ask, respectfully, that you remember this is my Cave and my thoughts. I do not speak for anyone else. I write from my own experiences. Now, back to our regularly scheduled rant.It was actually a day like any other and here\’s why: people\’s hearts were on display.Twitches, Facetime, Instagoogle, Snaptalk and all the rest were buzzing — \’Did you vote?\’, \’I voted\’, \’Problems voting\’, and on it went. However, what made 8 November in the US no different than any other day is what most conscious folks have known for a…

You snuggled against my neck,your breath puffing softly.A place of peace as we sit, flesh to flesh.I hated to let you go but it was too soon –we\’d just metand it would have been inappropriate.But time brought us togetherand when we looked into each other\’s eyes,it was like the first time, all over again.Your scent on me,mine on you,and it was loyalty and love until the end. Growing up in the country means animals. My Nana had dogs and cats, which meant I had dogs and cats as a little person. The day came when I began petitioning my parents…

My mom laughs at me because I am quick to boycott.The whole thing started some decades ago when she took me to her favorite (at the time) ice cream stand. I attempted to order a chocolate shake with extra chocolate but received a less-than-chocolate beverage. It was as if, by asking for more chocolate, they spitefully made it with less.\’I will never buy anything from there again,\’ I stated as we drove away. She laughed. At the time. Until she realized I was serious. I refused to eat items from there, even when someone else paid. She got the message.A…

I hated living on campus during my undergraduate college. I am an only child – I\’d never shared a bedroom with anyone in my life. Well, save the two horrid summer camp experiences, which were something else entirely.As usual, I digress …My dad was highly annoyed when I announced that I would be moving off-campus my junior year. His response was something like, \’Good luck with that, no car and all\’ (as mentioned in yesterday\’s episode, he\’d sold my Harold). I scoffed and went on with the plan. My roommate had a car and was willing to drive me since…