Loud chirping from baby birds startles me

a headache pounding furiously in seconds.

The bright yellow rays of the sun knock on my window,

begging to come in. Reluctantly, I slowly open the curtains,

rays hitting my pupils. Squinting, I turned to the door and opened it

inhaling the fresh air, ready to begin another journey.

     Whenever his insomnia relents and his eyelids shake, his head nods, his firm posture wavers, he sees it. Sometimes when he can't drag his head away from the warm nest he's created with his arms on the desk and his face pressed against the wood, he empties his mind, enters semi-consciousness, and he's drowned without understanding.

     He walks at night, long after the sun sets and traffic dies down. No one sees him unless he passes beneath a lamp post. Sometimes the light flickers, moon clouded over, stars nowhere in sight, and he rekindles his intimate relationship with the dark.

Cross the line of no return.

Usher in your mighty manhood

that spirals and turns

like a lusty voluminous snake.

Come into my burning forest,

consume me

light me with flaming matches

of sizzling passion.

Thread my desire

with strong bindings,

mount me like a sinewy stallion

arc into me like a winter gale.

I dare you to meld into my soul

and taste my ambrosia,

spread out before you

in a sensuous banquet.

"I dare you." Red lips smirking.

Tormenting him for years with her silver laugh. Her young body blossoming as if he'd commanded it. At 6, the dare was a skateboard; at 16, a joint.

Now, he was grown.

Grabbing her waist forcefully, pulling her close. Soft curves mashing against his lanky frame. Big hands, spanning the width of her hips, pulling her skirt up.

Thighs parting obligingly. Calloused fingers tearing nylons, sliding easily inside. Head thrown back, breasts offered to open lips.

Dropping her suddenly, vindication as understanding dawns.

"Never again," he spat viciously.

His stepsister laughed knowingly.

"Liar!"

It’s Friday. It’s a ‘Hi’ day. It’s Feature Friday day. Yes, it's time for a Friday Feature! We have a great one for you this week, as we focus our attention on a British chap of whom we hope you are aware. If you are not, that’s all about to change, as we introduce you to the very lovely and somewhat funny @RichWithey

P: What is your given name and your Proser username?

R: My given name is Richard Withey, well it was given, but I'm still paying for it; and my username is RichWithey (uncannily close to my real name but altered slightly for that added mystique).

P: Where do you live?

R: I currently reside in Liverpool but I've moved about a bit, I was born in Cardiff and seem to be moving more and more North as time goes by, perhaps there's a tilt?

P: What is your occupation?

R: Creative Director / Graphic Designer and generally in charge of all things creative for a small boutique graphic design agency.

P: What is your relationship with writing and how has it evolved?

R: It loves me when I'm drunk, dislikes me when I'm busy and torments me with flights of pleasure and frustration alike when I have time to get creative. In retrospect words have always comforted me, being able to create and equally disappear into a book has always offered some form of catharsis and solace. 

Writing became more prominent when some friends and I formed a band many moons ago, I used to pen lyrics in the form of poetry and then put a melody to it later to form songs but I've always preferred the freedom of poetry and story writing although the restrictions of song writing and some poem formats do challenge you to be more creative which can be fun unless you have a point to make then I'd rather creatively rant.

P: What value does reading add to both your personal and professional life?

R: In this busy time of disposable information, social media and the freedom of the digital highways with the endless distractions that are available to us, I think reading is a great way to switch off from all that chaos and focus on one thing, climbing into another world for a while.

P: Can you describe your current literary ventures and what can we look forward to in future posts?

R: Ah my ever-growing to do and to be finished lists. I've got a few stories in the pipeline from various genres, A supernatural short story that is almost complete called Sleep. A sci-fi book about a band of misfits from all over time which has the option of being released as a few stand alone short stories or a complete book. A collection of poems (Bloodwrites) that tells the tale of a band of vampires that I intend to make into a graphic novel and a screenplay or movie (cue an onset of offers from film production studios... No?... Okay then). There are some concept designs posted online here: http://www.behance.net/gallery/30804359/Bloodwrites-Concept. 

I have also completed an erotic supernatural Novela titled 'Spell. Check' that I will be posting on Prose in the near future.

P: What do you love about Prose?

R: What's not to love? The app covers everything, there's a desktop version too that seamlessly integrates with the app which is very useful for posting fresh literature from either device. The community is incredibly talented, creative and supportive, and then there's the busy, hard working Prose team keeping everything ship shape and future proof with great ideas to empower us humble writers.

P: Great answer! Is there one book that you would recommend everybody should read before they die?

R: Nooo. Couldn't do that, it's way too subjective to choose and there are far too many fantastic reads out there, not to mention that my faves vary from week-to-week.

P: Do you have an unsung hero who got you into reading and/or writing?

R: Not really, I have a few sung heroes because I spent a lot of time reading the lyrics of many musicians such as Tom Waits, Stones, Doors, GN'R, Dylan etc. etc. and when I started writing, my Mum was incredibly supportive and encouraging, always asking to read something new.

P: Describe yourself in three words!

R: No. I. Can't... Seriously, wouldn't know where to begin.

P: Is there one quote, from a writer or otherwise, that sums you up?

R: Not really, I recently read a quote from Saul Bellow (which is the only thing I have read of his so far), who said, “You never have to change anything you got up in the middle of the night to write.” I write mainly in the inky hours and that seems to work best for me, the world is quiet and uninterrupted by the clutter of the day... 

Oh! and Tom Waits is always good for a quote, he applies this one to songwriting but I think it applies to all forms of literature: "For a songwriter, you don't really go to songwriting school; you learn by listening to tunes. And you try to understand them and take them apart and see what they're made of, and wonder if you can make one, too." That's just what I did with poetry, songs, short stories and books, and I'm still wondering ;)

P: Favourite music to write and/or read to?

R: I don't generally listen to any specific music when I read or write.

P: You climb out of a time machine into a dystopian future with no books. What do you tell them?

R: Well this depends doesn't it? Would they have pens? Can they write at all? How would they be able to communicate? Because without some form of script I don't think they'd be able to communicate, which means we've gone back to prehistoric times or some evil organsiation has managed to enslave the masses and made them illiterate, ignorant, uneducated and docile. In that case I couldn't tell them anything but I'd suggest a revolution through gestures or pictographic symbology. If they can speak somehow, then I'd try to describe writing or go back in my time machine and get some learn to read books and a few pens and paper, or slate and chalk. I could go and I am probably rambling, the question is very ambiguous ;)

P: Is there anything else you’d like us to know about you/your work/social media accounts?

R: Well I'm hoping to push more Nightdwellerish challenges soon and I have set up a Facebook page and group to promote them further here:https://www.facebook.com/NightdwellersWrites/ and here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/217146338680503 

I have also been posting some Imagery to this board on Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/richwithey/nightdwellers/

I also try to publish some of my writing and any literature news I find of interest on my FB page: https://www.facebook.com/RichWithey/ and twitter account @RichWithey 

Well, you heard the man. Please follow him everywhere, including here if you don’t already. Interact, like, repost and read his magnificent words.

Do you want to be featured, or would you like to nominate someone for a future Friday Feature? As long as you or they are an active Proser, then please get in touch at paul@theprose.com with the details. We want all nationalities, ages, backgrounds, genres, colours and creeds; as that is what Prose stands for.