There are always people who put others down. There’s just no way to get everyone to get along, some people just like being mean. The only way to resolve those situations is to remove yourself from the equation.

Litha watches the flames in the fireplace dance. They clear their mind of anything that isn’t the flame. They feel calm, peaceful. They aren’t confined to a physical body and are instead a simple consciousness, a tangled web of experiences and memories. They try to untangle themselves just a little, one experience separated.

They remember seeing their church for the first time. They had cried, they almost messed up their makeup. It was divine in the highest sense of the word. It was the culmination of themselves, a prayer site to the gods, the church was everything that they ever envisioned for themselves.

The church was black and purple, the colours that they thought represented the Goddess and the God. The building was only one room, the actual church was underneath, down a set of stairs. There was a dais and pews, lights in the walls and a walkway down the middle. It was perfect, big enough to feel like a holy church instead of a room.

After they took a moment to feel, and another to collect themselves, they went down the hallway at the back. It was dark, in theme with the church itself, yet the rooms were bright and colourful. A storage closet done up in bright blue and pretty lights, a kitchen/living room done in a brilliant green, yellow, blue, and red, and a large bedroom done in a stunning rainbow.

The bedroom had a closet at the back that was rather more like a tiny second bedroom, done up in the same purple and black as the church. Some would say that is extra and wasteful but to them, luxury is as holy as prayer, as long as you worship the feeling and not the objects.

As they slowly come back into their body and out of their spirit, they hold onto the feelings as long as they can. They slowly open their eyes and thank the flame for helping them. They stretch out and get off of the couch. They walk the few steps to the kitchen so they can see if they have food.

The fridge has enough food for all three meals today, they’re glad because they don’t feel like grocery shopping today. They have enough for pancakes for breakfast, the good pancakes with strawberries and whipped cream, and rosemary in the batter.

They get started on that while setting intentions for the day. Today feels like a clean day, shedding negativity. As they mix the batter they grab a handful of rosemary, ask it to cleanse today and add it to the mix. After that, it’s just a matter of cooking the pancakes which is easier said than done.

They end up a little burnt, but they look forward to them nonetheless. They don’t bother sitting on the couch again and simply sit on the floor. They clean often, so it’s not like the floor is dirty.

The pancakes are as good as they thought they would be, making something themselves always makes them feel good. They savour the taste and take a long time to finish the plate, but they’re the one who decides how long they eat so no one can say it’s too long.

They stand up to put the dishes in the sink and head out into the hallway. Their shoes are in the hall, although they don’t put them on yet. They feel it makes them closer to the earth and god and goddess so they don’t wear shoes in the church.

They put them on when they reach the top of the stairs, not bothering to tie them. Before they step outside they pull out their mirror and check their makeup. It’s fully intact and not smudged, good. They wouldn’t want to have someone see them without their makeup. Every mark and colour identifies them, and even if other people don’t understand, they don’t want it messed up.

They don’t have to fix it, so they set off. It’s windy out today, perfect. They love it when their hair moves in the breeze. The walk is short before the road comes into view. They use the ride as a chance to revel in the feeling of the wind in their face. By the time they get to the other side of town, they feel energetic and calm.

Before they visit who they came to visit, they stop by the park. The flowers are always beautiful under the lighting, and the pond is delightfully clear. They love looking at the rocks and sometimes taking them home. (Somehow there are always more rocks to replace the ones they take.)

Looking in the water, they see a stone that is striped with green. As they grab it, it turns out to be heart-shaped. They’re not putting this back in the water. Instead of keeping it too, they think they’re gonna give it to Genie.

Speaking of Genie, it’s been a while they’ve been in the park, they should head out.

It takes only a glance to know what path is the one that’s his. His is the house that’s a darker wood and traditional. It’s pretty and elegant. They think it could use a little more colour, but it’s not their house so...They’re gonna bring it up to Genie anyway.

The front porch is furnished, two benches and flower pots on the windowsills. They bang on the door, as loud as they can.

The door opens and they are grinning already. Genie looks kind of annoyed but mostly amused.

“Do you have to bang on the door like that? You’re gonna break it someday.” He isn’t actually annoyed though, they always bang on the door.

“It’s not as if you haven’t broken it before though. I’m surprised your windows are still intact,” they chuckle. “You just need to chill. Take a few deep breaths and smash something.”

He’s pouting now. He’s cute for someone with so much anger inside. Like a chihuahua, except actually cute and less demonic. He opens the door and steps aside.

“Whatever, get in.” Like a child.

So they step in the house and sit in the middle. Despite how large it is, the house only has two rooms, the bedroom and the rest of the house. It’s mostly empty too, not to be confused with clean. There’s a kitchen in the pseudo room to the left of the front door. The right side is filled with bookcases and shelves. Two walls that are mostly dividers framing the back door. On the left side, there is an enclosed room that Genie uses as a bedroom. The entire house has bits of broken and shattered things as well as blood and debris strewn about.

“You really don’t bother with cleaning do you?” They snark. Genie scrunches up his nose and flips them off.

“I did clean. Just, not a lot.” He sticks his tongue out for good measure. They just chuckle and drag him into a hug.

He puts up a fight but eventually just gives up. It’s almost like cuddling a teddy bear, he isn’t short but Litha is very tall. He’s also skinny, but it’s not that detrimental to cuddliness.

“Why do you always use your strength against me? It’s not fair.” He whines. They grin wider and raise him above their head to show off.

He kicks them in the stomach, so they drop him on top of them. They aren’t even winded. They look at him fondly.

He’s prickly yet soft, and they’re glad that they can let him be soft instead of angry. He’s always angry and never feels justified. They’re working on convincing him that he can be angry, but the constant breaking of things isn’t helping. He doesn’t have any other outlet for his emotions, so they let him break things even though he sometimes hurts himself punching the wall.

They love him so much. With their whole heart and spirit. So they make sure to say as much.

“I love you, Genie.” Their grin is more of a sappy smile by this point.

“I love you too Lith, even if you keep manhandling me like a doll.” He smiles back, just as sappy. They’re glad they can inspire such a sappy grin.

This is the only thing they need in life. This truly is the most sacred feeling they could have.