I hope this isn't considered cheating ...

For any horror/dark fiction writers out there, you may want to give this a look. Stitched Smile Publications is accepting submissions for their Seven Deadly Sins Anthology. Only seven stories--one for each sin--will be accepted. Word count is 10k-15k and the deadline is March 15, 2017.

If you'd like more details, the information can be found on SSP's Facebook page, at www.facebook.com/stitchedsmilepublications/?fref=ts

If you have any questions regarding the anthology, or SSP in general, feel free to hit me up!

#horror #darkfiction #amwritinghorror #7deadlysins #shortstories

Dark eyes watch me

As I slowly implode.

Tears falling,

I pull you into my arms.

My guardian.

I stroke your damp fur

As tears fall.

Two years older,

You haven't aged a day.

Your white fur is just graying

And you're shrinking in my hands.

They say you were my Easter present

And I greeted you

With my slobber all over your ear

And your paws in my mouth.

They say I loved you,

But I can tell you weren't my favorite.

Phil lost his pinky when I was six

And hadn't quite outgrown

Chewing on things when I got bored

But I was too little to chew gum.

Alexandria used to have spaghetti stains

From where I tried to feed her

And kept missing her mouth.

Snowy's brown fur was matted

From when I tried to wash it

With real shampoo

But knew not to get her wet.

But you are still perfect.

Still white.

Still have your eyes.

And still watching my stupidity.

I awake with you in my arms,

The scratches no longer bleeding

And my inner voice no longer

Patronizing and taunting me.

I gently stroke your fur,

Wiping my drool from your head.

Just like my parents probably did

When I first got you.

Sixteen years later,

You're still my favorite

Perfect

Little

Guy.

the coyotes

wake us 

in the dark

touch us with

discordant yammering

our blankets

press us into sleep

their voices 

pull us taught

into syllables 

describing strange shapes 

spelling puzzles 

we will never solve

Kinglets and wrens

cling with feet to trees

outside the screen window

making their life's work

a thousand crystalline drops

of sound 

Our voices in the cold

hang white clouds

disappear 

The truth is,

That although men are often described

As muscles and maturity and understanding,

They are simply human.

They can be unstable and lost and insecure.

They aren't always charming princes atop a white steed.

Sometimes, and most times, they are just beings trying to get through life like the rest of us.

What will you have when you retire

Home in the woods with roaring fire

Accountability you see

Start planning for the days to be

What matters most from coast to coast

Is not about who has the most

Considering the scheme of things

Ain't fancy cars or diamond rings

Maslow made a pyramid

A hierarchy of needs

From the bottom to the lid

The money only feeds

While you are young "sock it away"

Money mustache dot com

so you can have that house someday

And sing a happy song

I pray for you that you'll have too

A soulmate and a dog that's true

Celebrate that you have wealth

More importantly you have your health

P.S. You're already rich if you're healthy. Any millionaire would pay for that.