“I might be one person, but I was also a thousand memories, a million feelings, and infinite love.”—Parker S. Huntington (devious LIES)

This quote reminds us that we are never truly alone. There might only be one of you, but you are made of so much more. So in those nights when you feel alone or sad, those days when you are in a room full of people but feel as though you are the only one, just remember all that you are made of, take strength from those memories and feelings deep in your heart and know you are never truly alone. Keep reading and never stop learning.

If you do feel sad or lonely please talk to a trusted adult, close trusted friend or the health teacher; your mental health matters don't be afraid to talk about it.

“A liar once told me, life is a sisyphean task. You put out one fire, and another one starts. It’s easier to accept it burns. We live in a world consumed by fire, but at least it’s the truth. You’re not lured to sleep with a false blanket of security, telling your-self you exist in a part untouched by the flames. There’s death, and betrayal, and revenge, and guilt everywhere you turn. It’s healthier to live it, breathe it, and  participate in it than to pretend it doesn’t exist.”—Parker S. Huntington (devious LIES) 

This quote reminds us that the world is a hard place full of many changes and problems. It's better we know the truth about the world around us and deal with it rather than live in a world of make believe so that we feel better about ourselves and our situation.

Their first mistake was thinking the sign couldn't possibly be serious, their second was going out to the lake after dark, their third ignoring the warning signs. The teens made their way down to the lake. There had always been tales of a mysterious creature living in the blackened water though most believed them to be nonsense. So as the teens changed into swim gear, they didn't fear what waited for them. The water was freezing as they got in, splashing each other, swimming around. One of the older boys, named Ren, even brought a floaty. Getting tired, Ren decided to climb into his float, closing his eyes as he drifted in the waves his friends made as they enjoyed themselves. A few minutes later, Ren came to; the water had stilled as the tree line grew quiet. Sitting up as he opened his eyes, Ren searched for his friends. Seeing none, a feeling of unease and dread settled over him. As Ren climbed out of his float, the once cold water suddenly turned warm and thick as the smell of iron and copper invaded his nose, making him gag, threatening to make him lose his lunch. Looking to the beach, he could still see their jeep parked along the tree line, their beach bags and clothes laying on the hood and in front of the bumper. Swimming faster to shore as panic rose in his chest making it hard to breathe, he tried yelling their names to no avail. Stumbling onto shore, he felt heavy and sticky? Looking down at his body, his once alabaster skin was now deep red with blood. Tears filled Ren's eyes as pure fear filled him. Turning back to the lake, he saw a pair of deep, red eyes, the same color of the sticky substance now covering his being staring at him from the murky water. Ren froze staring at the eyes; they seemingly grew closer to the shore. A noise of a bird taking off suddenly snapped him out of his fear induced paralysis; he turned his back to the monster and took off running, trying to get to the car as his heart prepares to leave his chest. That’s when he felt a slimy hand wrapping around his throat, yanking him to the ground as he screamed and fought before a loud crack pierced the air. Ren’s body stilled as the world goes black and cold. As the sun rose the next morning, uniforms towed the car away and the news read their names, a warning to those who dare go to the lake. 

I watch the window closely, waiting and watching. It’s almost time. It always comes. The smell of my own pee and blood surrounds me. I’mm not sure how long I’ve been in the bottom of this god forsaken tower, the monster slowly feeding on me as I barely breathe. Some days I wish it would just kill me, end my constant suffering, but the maggots currently feasting on my waste would probably kill me long before it does. I can't tell if it likes my suffering or just wants to feed as long as it can off me, but either way, I need it to stop. Begging for death hasn't worked, but I’m willing to try again. I see its clawed hand reaching into the window, pulling its slimy, black figure inside, its spider-like limbs clinging to the wall as it crawls its way down to me. I'm about to plead for death when I see a loose piece of concrete. A sharp piece. I move as fast as my broken shell of a body will let me. Grabbing it up and before the monster can stop me, I’m already gone. Slowly, my eyes shut as the monster's horrible steps go right back out the window. Titled by: Adrian Joseph Andrew Greene