Camping

"I can't believe you guys talked me into this,"  Jazmine said, tripping over yet another twig on the hike up to the campsite.

"It's kind of romantic, though, isn't it?" Rajeen said squeezing her boyfriend, Tyson's, hand.

"Yeah babe- you don't want to sleep under the stars with  me?" Tyrone asked, wrapping his arms around Jazmine's waist.

"Hell no, there's absolutely nothing romantic about fleas, bug bites, and bears," Jazmine groaned, smacking a mosquito off her arm to emphasize her point, "the only reason I'm doing this is because next time I want to go somewhere and Tyrone doesn't- it's just gonna be too damn bad!" Jazmine finished, glaring at her boyfriend.

"Hey where are Keke and Liam?" Rajeen asked.

Before anyone could formulate an answer, a large musky smelling cloud of smoke came over the group.

"Nevermind," Rajeen mumbled, continuing her trek to the campsite.

"You'd think they could have at least waited until we got to the camp ground to set up," Tyson said shaking his head.

There was a snapping twig sound ahead of them and then a man appeared from the foliage.

"What the hell are you doing here?!" Tyrone yelled, clenching his fists.

"It's okay baby calm down," Jazmine said stroking his arm.

"I'm not going to calm down- he hit you!" Tyrone yelled.

The man took a step towards Jazmine and Tyrone immediately swung his fist- connecting with the man's jaw.

He fell to the ground and pulled out a knife, jabbing it wildly in the air when it sliced into Jazmine's calf muscle like warm butter.

"OW!," she screamed falling to the ground and clutching her leg. Tyrone jumped on top of the man throwing the knife aside and hitting him repeatedly until he wasn't moving anymore.

Tyson had already ripped a piece of his shirt to tie around Jazmine's bloody leg.

"It's going to be fine it's just a flesh wound," Rajeen said patting Jazmine's head.

Just then Keke and Liam came from behind a bush, both giggling until they'd processed the situation.

"What is your ex doing here Jazmine?" Keke asked.

Liam bent down and touched his neck, "better question is why's he dead?"

"Oh shit we've got to get rid of the body," Tyson said.

Only A Week

I would get a disease so rare that all they could tell me about it was how long I had left to live- only a week.  I didn't have nay options other than to live the last week of my life to the fullest.

I left the doctor's office, drying my eyes and walking down Rodeo drive when I hatched a plan. I went to the most expensive boutique I could find and started to browse.

"Can I help you?" the sales associate asked, looking down her nose at me.

"No, I'm just looking thanks," I said smiling.

"Maybe you should go to Macy's then, Les Moire isn't for 'just looking'," she said using air quotes to mock me.

I walked out of the store irritated and upset when a man in a thousand dollar Armani suit nearly knocked me over on the sidewalk.

I knelt down to pick up my bag and was surprised when he helped me pick up the spilled contents.

"I'm so sorry are you alright?" he asked in a deep, sexy voice.

"No- I'm not fucking okay!" I said storming off and leaving my things with the good looking stranger.

 I ran into a nearby bathroom and wasn't too shocked when he followed me in a few minutes later.

"I'm sorry I'm such a mess, I'm just having a really bad day,"

"Tell me about it," he said reaching for a silk handkerchief to wipe my tears away.

So I told him- about the mysterious disease, and only having a week, and the stupid sales lady.

"I can solve one issue right now," he said gritting his teeth and pulling me to my feet with one smooth pull of his defined arms. He must not have realized his own strength because I was pulled so hard I crashed into his chest. I looked up at him appreciating his dark features that contrasted so beautifully with his icy blue eyes.

I had to restrain myself from reaching up and rubbing the back of my hand over the light stubble on his cheek.

Before I could say anything he was leading me out of the bathroom.

He basically dragged me back into the store with the bitch sales lady.

She visibly swooned when she caught sight of him, but hesitated when she saw the fury in his eyes, and then she noticed me.

"Oh my gosh!" I'm so sorry ma'am for-"

"Save it," he cut her off, "you made  the biggest mistake of your career when you were rude to my fiancee- I just wanted to tell you we'd be taking our business elsewhere and you'd be lucky to work at Macy's when I'm done with you," he said before taking me to a different boutique and telling me to pick out whatever I'd like.

"You don't even know my name, why are you doing this for me?" I asked trying not to get emotional for the third time that day.

"Your name is Jasmine, I may have peeked at your ID when I was picking your things up," he said with a guilty smile.

"Well that isn't fair- I don't know your name,"

"I'm Liam," he said eyeing me as I looked over a rack of dresses.

"I've always liked evening gowns, but I never have anywhere to wear them," I stated randomly.

"Buy two, you'll wear them- promise," I couldn't keep the huge grin off of my face even though I was wondering why I had to meet him now? 

"Okay, but you can't see me in them until it's time to actually go," I said.

"Deal, now hurry up," he teased.

We'd had an indescribable bond immediately. It was an unspoken agreement that I'd be spending my last week with him, and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Summer Night

I sat on my porch swing listening to the sounds of Erykah Badu flowing through the air. I hear the crunching of a twig breaking in half and then the rustle of leaves off in the woods. The hairs on the back of my neck rose and I peaked around the corner of the porch expecting to see a squirrel scampering up a nearby tree. I saw nothing, so I sat back down on the porch swing telling myself it was just my imagination. Just as I was starting to relax again I heard a constant crunching of leaves and twigs indicating footsteps that were quickly approaching my house.

I got a tingly feeling in my fingers and it started to move up my arms. I knew I was about to have a vision, and just like that I was dropped out of reality into a place that for now only existed in my mind. I was on Elm st a few blocks from my house and there was a little boy in black shorts and a bright teal shirt. He was laughing and eating an ice cream cone, walking with an unidentified man in a gray suit. Suddenly the scene changed from nostalgic to tragic in a mere second, and I was back in my own body on my porch. When I opened my eyes there was a distraught woman standing in front of me. Her dress was dirty and the hemline was torn unevenly as if it had been caught in something while she was running, but she didn't stop.

“Ma'am are you alright?” I asked concerned.

“He's gone,” she said, her bottom lip quivering.

“Who's gone,” I asked in a sweet voice like one would use to speak to a toddler.

“He's gone,” she repeated.

“Did he have on a blue shirt?” I asked.

Her eyes lit up and she nodded profusely, “so you know where he is- you know where my baby is take me to him!” she said grabbing my hand and pulling me to my feet.

“We can't go to him,”

“Why can't we? If you know where he is you have to tell me I'm his mother! His dad took him didn't he? Your on his side you stupid bitch,” she said slapping me hard across the face.

“He was with a man, yes, but I'm not on his side. I just found out about it before you walked up on the porch,” I said grabbing her hands and restraining them in mine.

“Well were is he?” she pleaded with me.

“You'll find him at the city morgue. I'm sorry ma'am, but your son was hit by a car,” I whispered to her and then caught her as she collapsed into a myriad of sobs.

Two Old Men

     I was laying in the grass in the park with my dog when two elderly men approached and sat down on the bench. They sat in silence for a while then the one with white hair looked over at the salt and pepper haired one and started talking. I wasn't trying to be creepy, but I was already sitting there, and I could hear their entire conversation.

     "What about that one Lionel?" The salt and pepper haired one asked the white haired man who's name was apparently Lionel.

     "No Teddy," said the white haired man shaking his head.

     "Come on Lionel, don't be such a downer- she has a nice butt right? And you've always liked brunettes," Teddy said, laughing and nudging Lionel in the ribs with his elbow.
 
     Lionel just sat there shaking his head at his friend not budging.

     Teddy got up walking over to the tall brunette, whispering something in her ear. She turned around horrified, but when she saw who it was, her eyes softened and she chuckled a little bit before shaking her head no and walking away.
   
     Teddy returned to the bench with the same amount of energy he left with, taking up his seat next to his best friend again.

     It was silent for a while except for Teddy's cat calls to pretty women as they walked by.

     After a while Teddy turned to his friend Lionel.

     "You know what's changed Ted, it's not the same anymore.." he said trailing off and looking into the distance.

     Teddy looked around, seeming to be at a loss for words for the first time since they'd arrived at the park. He noticed me with my dog and got up to come talk to me. At first I thought he might try to hit on me too, but when he sat in the grass beside me I knew he was serious.

     "Excuse me miss, but my friend has been very down for a while and I'm not sure what else I can do to help him, He's always loved dogs and pretty women- do you mind talking to him for a bit?" he asked looking at me pleadingly with pretty green eyes. For a minute I pictured those eyes in a younger face, and I could've imagined them working wonders on women for Teddy a few decades ago.

     "It'd be my pleasure," I said smiling and getting up and walking over to Lionel. He didn't even seem to notice my presence until I asked if I could take a seat.

     "Oh no problem young lady, hey is that a great dane?"

    "She sure is, and a lazy one too," I said laughing at my giant baby of a dog layed on her side in the grass beside the bench.

     "What's her name?" he asked reaching down to rub her stomach.

     "Her name is nena, be careful rubbing her stomach like that- if you stop the little brat will not leave you alone until you pick it back up again," I said chuckling and looking down lovingly at my dog.

    Lionel laughed halfheartedly, looking off into the distance.

     "What's got you so thoughtful today?" I asked glancing at Lionel, trying not to seem so serious.

     When he was silent I searched for something else to say,
"Something tells me you used to be more like your friend Teddy here," I said motioning to his friend on the other side of the bench.

     "Worse," Teddy interjected.

    "I guess I was quite the ladies man," Lionel said shrugging his shoulders, "but then I met the love of my life- Claudia," his eyes sparkled when he mentioned her name.

     "She must've been a charmer to get a stud like you to settle down,"

     Teddy laughed and Lionel blushed, "She truly was- this is where we met actually- she was sitting on this bench right where you are,"

     "What happened to her?" I asked, dreading the answer.

     "She passed away last week-cancer," he stated matter-o-factly, a tear making it's way down his wrinkled face.

Lake

     My arms and lungs began to burn as I swam away from shore, so I decided maybe I should turn around and head back. I surfaced, rubbing at my irritated eyes looking into the distance. It seemed as I was swimming my contacts had fallen out and now I was as good as blind. The sun was starting to set and I definitely didn't want tot be out here when it got dark, cold, and I couldn't see at all. Before I could turn around to swim back to shore, I saw a movement in the distance. There weren't any boats out today, so I wondered what could be out there of that size. It came above shore again in a slithering motion before diving back down into the black depths of the water. 

     Now my vision may not be at it's best right now, but there was no mistaking color. Whatever it was out there was a dark shade of green. Starting to get scared I turned around, ignoring my screaming muscles, and started swimming rapidly back to shore. I felt like I was getting nowhere as the current gripped my body like an iron fist, pulling me back into the unknown. I kept trying to swim harder and faster, but I was getting nowhere and my shoulders couldn't move anymore. I quit trying and let the water pull me into it's waiting mouth. A storm was starting, and I was stuck in the middle of it. The water tossed my body around like a rag doll while I just tried to keep my head above water. I was pulled under and when I opened my eyes the green thing was slithering directly by my face. I could have reached out and touched it without even fully extending my arm. This close to my face I could see clearly, but I'm convinced that the water distorted my vision because the skin was undoubtedly scaly, and there's no way a snake could be that size- not outside of the movie Anacondas anyways. I panicked and started swimming furiously again, tearing through the water like a human torpedo. Every time I wanted to give up I thought about the loc ness monster behind me and swam even faster. The current had pulled me a considerate distance because I could just now make out the shape of my towel and cooler in the sand on the beach. When I finally reached the shore I was exhausted. It took all I had in me to pull myself to my feet and walk to the towel I had laid out for myself. When I did get to it I collapsed on my stomach, only rolling over to catch a glimpse of nessy as she swam into the distance. I grabbed another towel and threw it over my body as a blanket before falling into a deep, dreamless sleep. 

Dark

     My alarm went off for the third time and I decided I REALLY needed to get up now. I felt around for my phone on the bedside table and turned the noise off. I swung my legs over the side of the bed, stretching before putting my feet to the cool wood floors of my apartment. I took the eleven steps into my bathroom starting the shower. I got in reaching to the top right corner for my body wash. When I was finished in the shower, I grabbed a towel off the rack, and my walking cane before heading to my closet to find something to wear to work. I went to the black section, it's the only color I really had a concept of. I felt the fabrics finally pulling down a flowy skirt and grabbing a random button down shirt to go with it.

   I slipped on some flats and headed to the elevator. When I got down to the streets of Manhattan I turned right and started the short walk to work. Part of the reason I'd chosen to live here was because of the noise. I loved the whistles constantly sounding through the air and the sound of taxis whizzing by, mere inches from the speed walking pedestrians. After four crosswalks I breezed into my work studio, waving at the security guard, Paul, on my way up.
   
     I got to my station and picked up my clean brushes. I started mixing my paints, continuing work on a piece from yesterday. After a few hours I got a call from my doctor to see if I was still coming in for my consultation. I quickly put away my things and got Paul to get me a cab. The consultation was quick and easy, apparently my condition was ideal for the surgery.
   
     I went in the next week for the retina implants. I had to stay home from work for a few days with my eyes covered. Even though I said she didn't have to, my sister insisted on coming over to "take care of me". The days seemed to drag on as I waited for the bandages to come off. There was a three percent chance of failure in the surgery and I prayed against that every day. After what felt like the longest week of my life, my sister helped me get the bandages off and clean my eyes, but I was scared.
     "You're not gonna know until you open your eyes sweety," my sister murmured, touching my shoulder.
     I slowly opened my eyes. At first all I saw was a blur of color, but then my eyes started to focus and I saw a tall, slender brunette with hazel eyes-my sister.
     "Wow, you're pretty," I said laughing.
     "I'm glad you finally had the pleasure of seeing me like everyone else," she said laughing and flipped her hair over her shoulder.
     "Can you take me to my studio?" I asked my sister.
     She nodded her head and we left together.
     The walk seemed shorter than normal, but maybe that was because I was trying to absorb as many images as possible and commit them to memory before they were taken from me.
     When I got to the studio I saw a beautiful painting in all black with hints of turquoise. It looked as if the black was bleeding down the page as streaks of blue light shown through it. It was the most beautiful thing I'd seen yet.
     "Who did this?" I asked aloud wanting to compliment whichever colleague had done it.
     "You did," said a voice I recognized as Janine, the studio owner.