Regina was always known as successful, tough and confident. She was also
considered one of the beautiful people. A jet-setter in the stock market, Regina had an uncanny
talent for making money, and lots of it. She wore designer clothing, was in love with her
Maserati, had numerous men and women wanting to bed her, or worse have a relationship with
her! She saw her sexual encounters as pleasant biological releases, and nothing more. She
had her heart broken long ago, and kept it that way. She was as vulnerable as anyone, but she
had an impenetrable internal safe, and all the bothersome emotions were locked in there that
she determined were of no use to her. “That shit made you soft!” She was in a highly
competitive, stressful business. “Soft,” wasn’t given permission to be in her life, be it
professionally, or personally, which would explain her hot temper. She wasn’t known for her
compassion, or one to give comfort. And forget about crying. She wouldn’t allow anything or
anyone to provoke a tear out of her. But an event had just taken place, which created one of
those moments where she felt something swell inside of her, and she most certainly didn’t like it!
She gripped the steering wheel as her tires spun in place with heat and smoke, until her
car leaped forward. A high pitched screech rose up, breaking the silence in the late evening air,
as she accelerated down her best friend’s driveway. Her face felt hot with frustration, anger and
something else she couldn’t describe, and she wasn’t the least bit interested in investigating
whatever that feeling was! That feeling kept trying to creep in between the edges of her psyche
now and again, but she had a willful armed guard that took up residence inside of her, and kept
it at bay.
Regina was most generous with her friends, as she had more assets than any of them.
It was easy for her to have numerous acquaintances, and a few very fortunate friends that she
loved, and would do anything for, especially if they needed money, however, emotional support
was not her forte, with that she kept everyone, including herself, at arm’s length. Whenever a
bout of “blue anxiety” would stake a claim on her mood, she would tell everyone that was of any
import, that she was going “dark,” and wouldn’t be checking her phone, and putting it on “do not
disturb,” until further notice. But on this particular evening she knew that Claire had somehow
gotten past the guard, sauntered into the forbidden zone of whatever was “soft,” and woke it up.
Regina came to a screeching halt and the end of the driveway, and turned off the
headlights. A streetlight glared down like a cone of white fog. The porch lights from the
neighboring houses were lit, and shined a harsh, white, fluorescent light that spilled onto the
bushes, and sidewalk. Regina took a deep breath, one after the other, as her mind raced to
places she didn’t want to go. She felt like crying, but cursed out loud instead,
“THAT BITCH!”
She repeated it, until she screamed it, while her fists pounded the steering wheel. She turned up
the volume of the music playing on the radio, in a further attempt to drown out the thoughts that
were fast approaching. She couldn’t believe it! Claire had nothing of the trappings that she had, nothing close to her wealth, her luxurious lifestyle, her title, nor had access to the high powered
people she associated with, never visited all the exotic places she had, and she was happier!
“HOW COULD THAT BE?!” Regina gasped in a loud whisper. When Claire talked about the sick
ones that had died, she became solemn, but when she spoke about the ones that healed, she
glowed. “SHE GLOWED!” Regina recited loudly to the closed sun roof above her. She played
back what had taken place just a few minutes before. She was such a bad friend to Claire!
Something happened when she talked about the patients she helped nurse back to health. She
exuded a peaceful and tranquil essence, a feeling that was calmly intoxicating without feeling
impaired. In fact, things never seemed as clear. Regina watched as Claire transitioned into
something other worldly, and it felt sacred. Claire looked angelic, and she seemed to be lifted
higher somehow. Regina knew she never had that, or never allowed that feeling to become
manifest. It filled Claire up with light. Regina almost wished she was crazy, hallucinating, but
she made a promise to never lie to herself. She remembered shouting,
“JUST BECAUSE YOU HELPED SAVE SOME ORDINARY LIVES MAKES YOU A HERO?”
At that moment, she saw the shock and hurt on her friend’s face, and it struck her with a hard
pang of sorrow, shame and regret. But it did nothing to quash the anger and confusion she felt.
Regina left soon after, her last words she shouted at Claire was,
“FUCK THIS!”
Regina bowed her face to her hands and wept for sometime. She didn’t really want to, but she
surrendered to whatever it was. She was too tired to fight anymore. All she could think about
was how Claire looked when she talked about people healing. And how angry it made her that
Claire possessed a type of wealth that she had never known. A stark reality filled her with both
dread and awe. She felt a fevered chill charge through her veins, when she came to realize she
only had it half correct, maybe even less than half. She begrudgingly accepted that whatever
that light was, was all that mattered. Regina didn’t attempt to analyze it, as she had a surety
she never had before, that it was a truth that would not, and could not be denied. She wiped
away her tears, blew her nose, turned the music down, turned the headlights back on, and
backed up the driveway to go apologize to Claire.

Today is the first day we get to travel with Darcy to her first solo dance recital. She is so excited, and we are excited
too. She has been practicing day and night for her big day. We are so proud that we get to experience this moment
with her. Darcy and her parents are running around the house trying to make sure that things go according to plan.
We are sitting and waiting patiently for someone to grab us so that we can attend the dance recital with her.
We heard the front door slammed, keys jangle and the front door lock turned quickly. Oh no, how could they forget
us? Darcy will not be able to perform unless we are there with her. We are her support, and she needs us. She will be
so upset that we are not by her side. Someone has to realize that we are not with Darcy.
I grabbed and held my twin sister, who was sitting next to me on the living room sofa, with my satin arms. “What shall
we do?” My sister yelled out. My dear sister started crying, and I said: “please do not cry, sister.” You will get us both
wet, and we will be stained and ruined. It will be ok, and I will never leave you. There was nothing we could do but sit
here and wait.
The living room started to get dark and creepy. Streetlights beamed through the sheer living room drapes. We saw
huge and scary shadows outside passing by the front living room window. We heard all types of sounds throughout
the house. “Ring, ring,” went the sound of some strange device that was sitting on the side table next to us. We heard
someone talking on the strange device but there was no one there. A cool wind flew above us like someone blew out a
candle. We shook with fear because we thought the end was near. The cool air that blew above us filled the living
room and we started to calm down. We could not escape so I suggested that we close our eyes and meditate. Then we
heard the sound of keys jingling at the front door again. My sister and I started to shake. The front door opened
quickly. The warm air from outside blew the living room curtains above us and we almost fainted. The dark and
creepy living room became bright and busy.
They are back and everyone was looking for us. Darcy’s eyes were filled with tears of joy when she saw us jumping up
and down on the living room sofa. She grabbed and gave us a great big warm hug. We gently wrapped our soft satin
arms around her. We knew she could not forget us. We are special like her. Darcy’s dad had us specially made to fit
her precious little feet. She looked down at us and said thank you for the great support after she finished her
performance. Darcy laughed while the audience cheered her because we tickled her little toes to show our
appreciation. Darcy’s mom placed us on the top of our satin pink box inside Darcy’s room so that we could air out
when we arrived home. We love Darcy but her sour and moist toes we can do without.
Until the next solo dance recital.

Haru prepares as he begins to put on his samurai armor. He puts on his helmet. He grabs his
katana. He goes outside and gets on his horse and rides for the high mountains in the distance.
The wind was strong, a cool breeze sways through Haru’s face
As he approaches the mountains he begins breathing heavily. As he reaches the top of the
mountain, he dismounts from his horse and begins walking towards the halls of fully bloomed
cherry blossom trees. He walks slowly down the halls of trees until eventually he finds his
brother Kenji sitting down under a tree.
He slowly approaches him and once he reaches him, Kenji looks up at Haru. Kenji’s armor is
stained with blood. “You took your time”, Kenji tells Haru.
“The mountain’s pathway is tight and dangerous. It would’ve been a shame if I died on the way
here.” Haru responds.
“You always were cautious”.
There’s a long pause of silence. The only thing they could hear is the wind blowing. After a
while, Haru says “I will admit, you have good taste in scenery.”
“Haromi and Yui loved to come here. Especially during this time of year. You know, as I lay
here, I feel like their voice and spirit roams this place. As if they’re still here. Waiting for me.
That’s why I came here. As my resting place.”
“You know they won’t take you in as a prisoner.” says Haru. “Just about the whole island is
looking for you.”
Kenji responds “That’s why I chose you as my executioner. I can’t think of a better person than
the one I grew up with.”
“And what makes you think I won’t actually kill you?” asks haru
Kenji stands up and grabs his katana leaning by the tree.
“I doubt you will, but nevertheless, you will kill me or else I’ll have somebody else to do it. All I
want is to see them again.”
“Yui and Haromi were innocent though. They never committed any crimes. You however,
you’ve committed multiple dishonorable crimes. Those that violate the code of the samurai.”
“I stopped following codes and orders when they were taken away from me.” responds Kenji.
“By dying here, I am sure that I will be able to see them again in the next life.”
“And what if you defeat me? What will you do? Kill me?” asks Haru.
“Haru, you were always there for me when no else would. I’d never want to kill my own brother.
Don’t worry, I’ll let you win, I always have