I worked at a pizza joint.

Nothing exciting.

It was called a Slice of Heaven, but it sure didn't feel like it.

There was nothing glamorous about the job. Just your run-of-the-mill dough that's covered in enough grease to trick your mind into thinking it actually taste good.

I know I will never make great discoveries or save lives but the job, it pays the bill.

So caught up in my thoughts I almost missed the online order when it came in.

'Salami, Olives and Sausages'.

Sounded simple enough. I created the artery killing monster and gave it to the delivery driver.

Finn. He was a nice guy.

Young like me, but also going nowhere.

"23 South Street? That's like two blocks away." Finn said. "The guy couldn't just walk over for it?"

Turning around to face him I shrugged my shoulder's. "Hey, delivery gives better tips, just remember you owe me half."

Finn just snorts and laughs, walking out the door.

I honestly didn't find it funny. My rent is due tomorrow and every little bit counts.

It wasn't even ten minutes before Finn came back, with the pizza still in hand.

"The dude didn't even answer the door, I tried calling, no answer." He said while shrugging. "Wanna split it?" Finn said while looking at the pizza.

"Yeah, sure." I said thinking nothing of it.

"What's on it?" Finn asked.

"Uhh...Salami, Olives, and Sausages."

Finn shook his head while sticking out his tounge in mock disgust. "Never mind. It's all yours." He says while pushing the box towards me with one finger.

I pick up a slice, taking a bite. It was salty. The toppings an overwhelming choice. At least it was filling.

Soon it was time to close. No more orders came in after that. I was glad because my stomach was not working with me. I just waved it off as the pizza. But I had an underlying feeling that something wasn't quite right.

Walking home, my stomach turned painfully. It became almost unbearable when I saw the flashing lights ahead of me.

Red and blue lights danced across my face. As I got closer to the lights.

There was a bloody handprint next to the house number. and more blood stains covering the open door.

The numbers read '23.'

The feeling in my stomach dropped as I look at the street sign above my head.

'South Street.'

I barely acknowledged the feeling of my knees hitting the sidewalk. My body felt too hot. Sweat covered my body as bile rose in my throat.

Salami

Olives

Sausages

~SOS~

Running. That’s all they ever did. They run from the truth hoping to stay in denial. They know the truth. But pretending is so much easier. The Truth follows them. The gravel of the railroad and the metal cut into their feet, creating a inky trail for the the truth to follow. They are running out of air, running out of energy. Their eyes are slowly opening, and soon they will no longer be blind. They will no longer be able to hide from the truth. Their feet ache and their lungs are heaving puffing out black smoke. Slowing, their steps falter. Knees buckling. Black oil oozes slowly from their skin. As they slowly deteriorate. Their eyes are burning coals. As smoke rises from their mouth. What is left of their disguise is falling off piece by piece. Coal knees fall to the gravel, and the black oily substance slowly spreads, seeping into the ground and taking root. Footsteps fall behind them. The truth. The reality that they have been ignoring is here. Here to open their eyes.

Looking over my shoulder, there are people. Hundreds, maybe millions. And the very one they have been running from steps towards them. Hissing more of the oil spreads, deeper killing, tainting. But the truth doesn't stop. One step after another until they are right infront of them.

Sad eyes look down at the oily creature."You need to open your eyes."

A look of resignation their face.

A hand appears in front of them. "You can't keep running."

In my mother's arms

I'm just like a child

In my mother's arms

I don't have to hide

In my mother's arms

I can show my weaker side

In my mother's arms

I feel safe once again

In my mother's arms

I feel at peace

In my mother's arms

There is a wordless promise that she will stay,

That everything will be ok

Now my mother's hands are crossed, one over the other

She has lost her color

I long for my mother's embrace

I no longer feel safe

I no longer feel ok

A pair of arms wrap around me,

But they are not my mother's

I only want her's

I want that promise that everything will be ok.

Tears fall as I struggle, these foreign arms, they hold me tighter.

There is no escape

And I feel nothing but this strange emptiness

Hands stroke my hair telling me 'It will be ok'

And oh how I want to believe them.

But these arms don't feel the same.

Oh me? When did I begin to write? Well um... I started writing when I heard that "Annabel Lee" poem. Oh how I wanted to be Annabel Lee. And oh how I dearly wanted to live by the sea. That poem woke somthing within me. A desire, to write and to be loved and to be heard. Writing gives me a kindgom by the sea, a place where I can write in peace. It gives me release, and dreams, and starry skies and big ol' wondering eyes. My goal is write my own 'Annabel Lee' .

And to have a kingdom,

a castle by the sea.

In the darkness, only the blind can see

But when your in the half light

It is not you I see

You lived a half life

But you only showed half to me

I don't like the half I see

Because that half is me...

In the darkness, only the blind can see

But when your in the half light

It is not you I see

You lived a half life

But you only showed half to me

I don't like the half I see

Because that half is me

"We all go a little mad sometimes." Jay whispered. Looking up his eyes held sadness."Haven't you?"

Ruth tilted her head a little, favoring to stare out the window. Ruth was silent for a long time. "Yes."She said. "But sometimes just that one time can be enough." Her voice held the same sadness in Jay's eyes but also with a hint of something unexplainable.

Ruth's breath tinted the window as she drew absent-mindedly. "We all are in our traps, clamped in them and none of us ever get out." She said as she sighed. Turning to look at the boy with sky blue eyes, her eyes raking over him knowingly. " A-and sometimes we deliberately step into those traps." Ruth's eyes were soft, not with pity but with understanding and a thick layer of hurt.

Jay's face was wistful, his features yearning for something, perhaps for something he's never had. "I was born in mine, I don't mind it anymore." Jay said. His voice sounded montone, emotionless. As memories flooded.

Ruth turns back towards the window her hands ghosting over the cool surface. Her eyes watering slightly. "But you should. You should mind it."

Jay chuckled at nothing in particular, "Oh, but I do..." Hey says as he looks down fiddling with his fingers."But I say I don't." The room became eerily silent. Jay finally sighed. Turn his head he looks at Ruth, her brown skin shines bright against her maroon sweater. "Do you hate me?" Jay whispered. The question sounded loud even though it was whispered. Silence continued, Jay assumed that Ruth didn't hear him and opened his mouth to repeat the question that is slowly nawing at him.

"I don't hate you." Ruth said turning around. Her movements graceful. "But I hate what you have become."

Jay's head hung low as tears threatened to fall. A smile graced his lips. "Heh- that's funny, because I hate what I have become too." He said as he whispered the last part. Tears falling down his face.

Ruth knelt down to where Jay was on the floor. She wrapped her arms around him, her hand rubbing soothing circles on his back. Ruth shushed him as she hugged him. Her own tears mixed with his that had fallen onto the carpet. "But it's not fair. Because how can I hate what you have become when I'm just like you?" She said quietly.

And so both of them sat there embracing each other, hating who they have become.

They say that there is a small line between life and death.

But in reality there is no line.

Every waking day,

Every choice,

Everything you do,

tips the scale further,

towards death, or towards life.

Death toys with life, giving it hope,

and for a while there is peace,

But then death lean over,

and the weight slips,

and the pressure won't release

It may be slow,

It may be instant,

But death bores easily,

so the outcome is always the same.

And once the scale has tip

your life is death's to claim

This relationship is a toxic one,

Life can barely breathe

Death leaves poisonous kisses

Slowly spreading his disease.

There's something in the water calling my name,

So I wade deeper, and deeper into a world unknown.

a fin here,

Some scales here,

Then beauty emerges.

And Im falling,

falling in love.

Actions speak louder than words,

but her words are drowning me,

In deep blue water,

pulling me deeper,

pulling me closer,

My lover caresses my face, clawed fingers drawing blood,

But I don't mind.

Even with my blurry vision, I see a goddess.

I open my mouth to speak, to praise, to worship.

but in goes the icy water,

burning my throat,

not a cool refreshing drink.

My arms flailing around gracefully, hoping to grab onto something,

My eyes pleading for my lover to save me.

but all she does is twirl me around, smiling.

To others it would look like we were dancing.

having the time of our lives.

My lover called my name,

But my lover didn't save me.

I know she loved me.

I know she loved me to death.