Churches filled to the brim

With stalwart hypocrites

Beliefs so strong,

Any others are undoubtedly wrong

Disagreements, asking questions

Signs of disbelief looked down upon

Difference in opinion is fine

Yet, people go to war,

Starting conflicts, inciting violence,

Hurting themselves and others,

All for a possible book of fables

Sometimes, I have to wonder

Have our people been brainwashed

By those shadowing steeples?

No matter the trouble,

The possible dangers,

I'll love you forever

I won't hesitate

To wrap you in a warm embrace

I'll always be there, holding tight

Even when you're on the edge,

About to fall,

I'll grip your hand, refusing to let go

When it comes to you,

I have no doubts in mind

For our love, I won't think twice

Unrepentantly,

Without regret,

I will forever love you

To me, love is always just that,

Love

Whether between a man and a woman,

Or a man and a man,

Woman and woman

Love is a binding force that affects us all

We all deserve to feel it,

To bask in its warmth

Never should it be a question of gender,

Rather one of compassion shared

Love is love

Because love exists in indefinite forms,

Linking person to person,

Filling their hearts

No matter the shape it takes,

Love is love

The way it should forever be

Quiet I sit in the middle of chaos,

Thunder clapping from all directions

Screams and crying flow thick through the air.

I grip onto what sanity I have left. A sliver of hope.

Make it stop. Make It Stop! MAKE IT STOP!!!!

Clench my eyes shut. Just to open them to nothing.

I am alone. The world is still.... the world is quiet... I am calm.

A dark abyss to nowhere

An endless tunnel

A constant fight to live

Choosing the way you die

It eats at your body

It eats at your mind

It eats at your soul

You slice your arm

Your leg

Anywhere that cannot be seen

Just to make pain go away for a moment

Just for a second

A second of peace

Voices tell me I'm unwanted

I shouldn't be alive

I need to die

A constant echo in my mind

Eroded it away

Eventually tearing into me

And I try to do as it says

A war has arisen between me and my mind

In the end there is a winner

If you lost the fight, your family will struggle.

If you won the fight, you chose the right way.

Depression takes your life one way or another

In the end or in the beginning know you are worth something even if it doesn’t seem like it in the beginning.

My war is still at battle and I do not plan on forfeiting.

we want to feel whole

yet we feel hollow

we think another being

like us will complete us

but how can one incomplete

complete another

I tried to forgive

I tried to love you without cautions

took down the tape

see I stopped acting like I am not a crime scene

I took off the bullet proof chest

and gave you the gun

took it off safety

cause we argeed we could trust each other not to hurt each other

get to close , we pull the rope tighter around each other

neck , were a see-saw

we run through the highs and lows

picking apart

old wounds

creating scars

we been through hell

but the burns are still hot

old self vanished

cut the thorns off this rose

cause I hate the sight of blood

see I tried to let of go the past

but it keep chasing us

I tried to forgive myself

you say , the past doesn’t matter

I try to tell you boy I am crazy as the mad hatter

your the one who handed me a gun , expect me to not to aim

sometimes the greatest enemy is ourself

I could take theese nails , and carve out my brains

and you would still love me

see we stuck in these four walls

caving into us

trying to break us apart

the world’s weight hovering over our shoulders

sometimes it feel like , the universe telling us

we ain’t mean to be

Man down

wouldn’t find another

won’t let you suffer

see I feel your heart flutter

lights off

lights on

making love

cause that’s the only we can do to turn down theese demons

we got all these obstacles

I put that weight in your heart

I tear your room apart

flip your world inside and out

walk upside down

just to reach you

walk across water

ain’t even close to jesus

you walk through hell

to be next to me

you love me , even though it hurts you

see if the past

didn’t come creep up on us

we could be happy

we too demons madly in love

we fell from earth

we ain’t holy enough to rest in heaven

see we found solace in the discomfort of pain

they say to let this go

they say we chasing infinty

maybe we got that forever love

ripped out my heart

tried to use my heartless

then you go again

perform cpr

until I come back to you

moan into your mouth

and parched lips

gulping your air

merged into you

became unmoveable in your mountains

go ahead and hurted you

start playing with the trigger

cause the voice’s got too loud

I know when I hurt me , I hurt you

Man down , I tried to stop the bleeding

and my hands kept figdeting around the hole

those blue eyes could swallow oceans

see these brown eyes are darker enough to bury souls

forgive my temper

I cock this gun so quick

my mind armed like a soilder

I got to protect the only thing left human in me

held me under

the atmosphere

love sounds really good

but they forget to mention

it is the only thing close’s to death

maybe were afraid of dying

by the hand of each other

we circle around each other

like were in battle

see we know cupid

got us fucked up

man down

we too late

from stopping the damage

we ain’t happy

we will keep eating paint chips

until we drink each other

fill each other memories

with the taste of us

cause even the darkest hour

the truth shudders

through the walls

we in this too deep

see we grew into a tree

fighting for oxygen

trying to let this heart stay open for you

holding out for us

we working through this bullshit

but this foundation of ours

is cracking under all theese hits

see we built a world

where the sun don’t shine

cause according to god

even good people

sin

and the evil men win

see we stiched smiles to are face

and we keep saying we okay

and yelling at each other

saying we need space

we keep leaving the door open just in case

see all we ever do is chase

each other

laugh it off

like the

only reason

I care

cause your like a brother

but you know after you there can’t be another

see I treat you like you was mine own

cheer you on like I am your mother

see I replay theese messages on my phone

I know we better off on our own

deep down

we out here acting like a clown

wearing a frown

we our are not afraid to drown

see we not afraid of being alone

see we are afraid of what happens

when we grown

will we get old

and forget about the stories we told

and the sercerts we kept .......,

see I could tell you the truth , but I rather stay on this throne

and not crack this crown

sincerly , Tyla

H.

O.

L.

Y

She’s a temple

A flinting flame

Shes the church

She’s the steeple

Shes the wavering faith

She s a sunday hymn

She holding a blood-stained cross

She foaming at the mouth with yesterday sins

Shes chasing a holy arrival

She her own type of pagan

A saturday well of whiskey

Stained with midnight regrets

Her mouth her own bottle

She tips to the mouth of a stranger to quite the trembling

Her hands are cups that hold her tears

And keep her head holding high

She sings amen

With hollow smile

And sunken eyes

She whispers sins

In the marble of the church walls

She the worshippers mary

She practice her faith over a bible

She commits her religion

On a righteous

Velvet sheet

And worships

The tomorrow’s

And salutes the moon

Plants her lips

On a funeral

Her madness

Is her quietness

That

Folds around her neck like a noose

And sings a haunting hallejuah

And promioses

To worship his church

She tie hair up in the virginty of christianty

She the humour

She the churches gossip

She the giggle

She the hell everyone was warned about in the scriptures

She the worships the good times

And she bows her head

To glass

And wallows in the

Wine teardrops

That dribble from her chin

Don’t you know damaging eyes

Have a fascination with breaking perfect things

#dark magic #holy scriptures # the church will lie in ruins today #we're all sinners

yes, i am afraid

of letting in

the light

it reveals

every fracture i’ve

taped together and

filled with

temporary colors

no one can see

my scars

in the dark, but

in the light,

i am vulnerable

and terrified

of finding

a permanent fix

for the cracks

that define me,

map my history

as a survivor, broken

but still standing

like ancient ruins

kissed

by the moon,

the light

burns away

the shadows of me,

the sun

fades my scars

and that

is why

i am afraid,

because without

these maps

how will i navigate

the fractures

of a new mask?

The microwave pinged it was done. Malaika removed tonight's meal of warm noodles. She was back home in her small apartment after having no recollection of what happened earlier in the day. All she could remember is that she woke up inside another apartment complex on the other side of Brimstone. Afterward she left, confused about how she ended up there to begin with.

Her own apartment was small. Small living room, small kitchen, and smaller bathroom. The only thing that was big enough was her bedroom, which was littered with her clothes all over the carpet floor. At least the rent was affordable with a teacher's salary. The walls were decorated with some posters of her favorite movies. A book shelf carried her copy of the Quran next to the Holy Bible, along with her collection of fantasy books, graphic novels, and RPG guidebooks. A dresser was stored inside a closet space. By her bed was a small writing desk, similar to the ones found at the elementary school she worked at. There were stacks of homework assignments that she already graded, waiting to be returned to the proper students.

Malaika dressed differently in her small apartment. She didn't wear her traditional gown or a hijab around her head. Instead she had on her sweat pants, a dark grey t-shirt with a funny looking elf character on it, and her hair was free to be. It was her choice whether she wanted to wear a hijab or not. Normally she would do so during school or in other public places, and she would definitely wear one whenever she went to mosque. Other times she chose not to wear one, like if she was at the beach or someplace else. Yet in her apartment, it was her world and her rules. That meant no hijab here. She was devoted to her Muslim faith but wasn't completely traditional, nor has she ever considered herself perfect. She owned and wore several different bikinis to prove that point. But she was just herself, which she was most proud of. This was a lesson she always taught and shared with her students, and even invented a clever little rhyme to go along with it: 'I'm not perfect, I'm just me. And that's the best thing I can be'.

After she prepped her dinner she moved into the her living room across the kitchen. There she had a little sofa with a glass coffee table that matched the sofa's height. Both furniture faced a wide screen television. It was big enough to touch both ends of her apartment walls. Those very walls also carried pictures of herself through the years, and of her loving family.

One picture had her parents, who lived in Chicago. Both looked very happy, as though they were greatly proud of the woman their eldest daughter grew up to be. Another featured a younger version of her, likely in her teens, along with younger two brothers, Rajin and Raed, and her little sister, Merin. The picture that hung below featured them as adults now, recreating the same funny poses they did. There was a picture of her, a valedictorian student, accepting her high school diploma. Another picture was of her dressed in an ROTC uniform during college, which later she wore again when she served in the United States Army before settling to become a kindergarten teacher at Brimstone Elementary.

Malaika then stared into her television set. Her finger clicked away at the remote. There were so many different titles that were on TubeFlix. Some of these titles included a were of movies she favored, most of them fantasy filled with knights, magic, and talking animals. There were plenty of cop dramas to watch, which was her least favorite genre. Searching through the infinite catalog of this streaming network she came across several documentaries, few educational programs, two dozen science fiction movies, a bad romantic comedy, a high school musical, and the ever infamous Captain Christian and the Holy Helpers. With all these different titles, she wasn't interested in watching any of them.

Finally she settled on an old black and white film, Top Hat. It was a very old film, released back in 1935, and starred Fred Astaire as the lead. She recalled watching once before. A friend recommended it, stating that this was one of their favorite movies to watch. At first Malaika was sure about watching an old time, colorless film but she remembered how much she enjoyed it overall. However, the name and the face of that friend who watched it with her escapes her memories.

When the film's forever famous scene played on the screen, for some reason Malaika felt sad. She didn't know what made her sad, or even why she was sad. Was it this bitter sweet scene? Or perhaps she no longer remembered something. Maybe she didn't remember someone. It felt as though someone was ripped out of her life. More and more she thought about this absence she grew sadder. Whatever it was it felt her heart empty with a black void that never healed.

The lyrics of the song didn't help matters either. "Heaven. I'm in heaven." Fred sang as he danced with Ginger Rogers on the television screen. "And my heart beats so that I can hardly speeeeeak. And I seem to find the happiness I seeeeeeek. When we're out here, dancing cheek to cheeeeeek." A small tear leaked out of Malaika's eye, which she quickly wiped away.

KNOCK! KNOCK! KNOCK!

Those three knocks made Malaika jump from her seat. "Coming." she called back, setting aside her meal on the small coffee table.

Malaika sat up and walked to the main door. She opened it and was greeted by a kind stranger. He was tall gentleman with long golden-brown hair that touch the back of his neck. He was well built and muscular under an old brown leather jacket that he wore, along with a plain white t-shirt and dusty jeans. His face was handsome with a scruffy five o'clock shadow and charming blue eyes. The man smiled at her, like he was so happy to see her. Malaika didn't know this stranger, but deep down inside she felt like she recognized him.

"Can I help you?" Malaika asked.

The stranger's smiled slowly wiped away. He looked heartbroken when she asked him that. It looked like he was about to leave but then his smile reappeared. "Actually," the man said. "I'm here to help you."

He reached his hand out and touched Malaika's forehead. She walked as the man's eyes flashed brightly like headlights before becoming blinded by another light from his hand. It lasted only for a couple of seconds.

Suddenly Malaika felt a massive headache. The man removed his hand so she could rub her throbbing temples. Thankfully, that only lasted for a couple seconds too. Whatever happened it seemed to piece together what was missing in her life. A memory. A face. A boyfriend. A lover.

Malaika looked back. She did know this man. "Michael!" she gasped. She remembered. This was no stranger. He was an angel. An archangel named Michael, or Mike as he liked to be called. But she always addressed him as Michael, which he didn't mind at all.

Mike smiled too. "I told you I'd come-" Malaika's hand struck across Mike's right cheek, leaving a good, red mark on it. "OW!" Mike cried. It sounded like an annoyed whine. That slap hurt far worse than being stabbed earlier today.

Malaika darted at her angelic boyfriend, furious of his lies and secrets. He had much to explain for. But all that could wait for now. She immediately lunged at him and pressed her lips against his. She needed him now more than ever. The archangel kissed her back, deeply missing her touch. It feared that he would never again feel her touch or taste her lips. His hands scooped her by her hind legs and he carried her back inside her apartment. The door slapped shut behind them as they made their way into her bedroom.

Seven minutes of pure heaven later, the odd pairing laid underneath Malaika's bedsheets inside the comforts of her bedroom. Their clothes scattered on her messy rug floor. Their naked bodies cuddled together under the thin blue sheets. Both were breathing heavily after their long moment of pleasure. Malaika rested on Mike's breast, soothed by his steady heartbeat. Mike's large hand caressed his girlfriend's hand, never wanting to let go again.

"Does that mean I'm forgiven?" Mike said, recovering his breath.

"Almost. But not quite." she smiled and kissed him once more. "What happened to you today? The last I saw you, you were being arrested. What's going on?"

Mike explained everything that had happened earlier. He was honest about his arrest and trial, and how Rosemary and Regan accidently were transported to Heaven with them. He then told her about the terrorist attack inside the capital and warned her of their enemies, the Fallen. When he told her about the duel he had with their leader Abbodon, he was wise to leave out the part where he was stabbed. She didn't need any more to worry. He went on about how the Council found him not guilty of his charges and was free to see his new family and Malaika as he pleased.

Malaika listened to it all. Every little detail Mike said. Even the parts about how he explained why he was arrested. How it was against the angel's sacred laws to interact with humanity again. It was all so much to absorb but she listened and believed every word. "You should have told me about this." she said.

"You're right. I'm sorry. I thought I was protecting you."

"You're risking too much, Michael. And if this Fallen comes after us, or the Gravelys and your brother... perhaps we should-"

"No, please!" Mike pleaded fearfully. He held his girlfriend close and looked into her sweet eyes. "I need you. I don't want to lose you ever again, just as you don't want to lose me. We can make this work. If my brother can be with a mortal woman, and somehow make the impossible happen, there's hope for us. You give me something I thought I've forgotten long ago. Life. Meaning. But most importantly: hope."

Malaika stared back into his baby blue eyes. They were soft and sweet as he was. Malaika agreed to stay with him and the two kissed once more.

"I promise, from now on, no more secrets between us." Mike said. "I'll tell you what you want to know, but I'm afraid I cannot reveal everything. There are some revelations mortals are not ready yet."

"Tell me the ones I am ready for." Malaika replied. She closed her eyes and listened, happy to have the angel, the man, she loved back in her life.

Mike complied and told her much about his world. He told her of the nine districts that made up Heaven: Jannah, Elysium, Valhalla, Deva, Aaru, Iri, Anwyn, Yomi, and the capital Paradise. He explained how each district was set up differently, each with their own architectures and styles. He then proceeded to tell her about his Father, or at least what little he knew about Him. They weren't particularly close, him along with his other siblings. However, his Father did the best He could as a single parent raising eight children. But more so, he told her about the other most beautiful woman he had ever known: his mother, who had long since passed when he was a child.

Malaika asked for her name and Mike proudly revealed it. It was the only name she had ever be known by. "Life." he whispered before his girlfriend fell asleep. "Her name was Life."

#sinsofthefather #fiction #fantasy #comedy #horror #angels #heaven