Romance
Knotted Roots - Part 12. Content Warning.
It was about midday now, and I was about to go back outside when I realized I hadn’t heard from Pa this morning. Was he still sleeping? It was unlike him, he was usually up as the sun rose over the mountains, and with everything going on with Grace, concern grew rapidly, a heaviness sinking in my chest as I climbed the stairs as if they weren’t even there. Pa had been doing more lately, and it was of slight concern that he was doing too much. Pa’s door was still shut, I leaned my ear against the door as if hesitant to open the door, afraid of what I might find on the other side. Hoping to hear his gentle snoring, instead of the deafening silence. Unable to hear him, I swung the door open, and Pa was on the floor as if he had fallen. I rushed over to his side, desperate to see him awake, breathing, anything. Nothing! Fumbling with my phone, my fingers shook with fear, and I had to focus to press the three numbers, 9-1-1. “Hello? Yes, I need an ambulance!” I gave them the address, and a blur of emotions crashed like a tsunami! “Pa! Wake up!” I held him in my arms, unsure of what to do, praying that the medics would arrive before it was too late! What if it was already too late? I could hear the sirens in the distance, thankful they were almost here. “Come back to me Pa! Come back!” I screamed, my face wet with tears. “Hello? Medics!” “I couldn’t respond, my voice was gone, only the sounds of my sobs could be heard as if a haunted echo in the house. I heard the medics making their way upstairs, and everything tuned out, a ringing and buzzing sound filled my ears, as they rushed in. “Sir, you need to let him go.” One of them said as two of them had to physically rip me off of Pa’s body. I didn’t know what else to do, so I hugged the stranger, tears like rivers burning down my face “Pa…” “My team’s working on him, come on, let’s go downstairs.” “No! I can’t leave him…” “You don’t want to remember him this way. Trust me.” Several other medics had hooked up countless wires and machines to him, another had begun CPR. The medic holding me was able to walk me out of the room, my eyes never leaving him, “I should’ve checked on him sooner…” I croaked, finally slumped on a couch downstairs. “You did what you could.” My body went into shock, I felt numb, my eyes felt empty and my heart barely beating. Jumping up when I heard the footsteps of the medics making their way downstairs. I moved towards the hall where the stairs meet the living area and front door, when the medic grabbed me again. “Pa?” I saw the group of medics wheeling the stretcher, a white sheet covering the top of it, “Where is he?” The medic had to use all of his physical power to restrain me, “He’s…” “No! Don’t say it!” “I’m sorry, sir. He’s gone.” “Bring him back! Bring him back to me!” I screeched. The medic holding me back, tried to comfort me, hugging me back as I grieved. “Sir, do you have anyone you can call? Anyone who could stay with you?” I nearly collapsed in exhaustion, the medic had finally got me to sit back on the couch, the realization of Pa’s passing sinking in. “Sir?” I looked up to him, unable to remember what he just asked me. “Do you have anyone that can come, maybe sit with you?” I had no strength left in me, not even to respond to him, so I just nodded. Pulling out my phone, I stared at it blankly for a moment. Who should I call? Jane? Grace? Both of them? The medic seeing the phone nodded, said his condolences again, and made his way to the ambulance out front. I couldn’t think, tears blurring my vision with every blink, thoughts of “what if” tormenting me. I didn’t even flinch when the door flew open, a figure slowly approaching me. I was unable to look anywhere but the screensaver on my phone. All I could focus on was Pa.
By Sibley Shamra6 months ago in Chapters
Knotted Roots - Part 11
Grace woke up the next day in disbelief, her childhood sweetheart, Jasper Black, in love with Jane?! It was hard to believe. Although, who could blame him, I haven’t necessarily been a saint, or really fair to him. Grace was honest with herself, slowly brushing her hair while reflecting in the mirror. Her mother startled her, breaking her from her thoughts as she entered after a light knock. “Grace, honey. You’ve been sitting up here all day. What’s going on?” “Nothin’ Mama.” “Are you having second thoughts about Greg?” Mama always seemed to have a way of reading me. I wasn’t sure how to answer her, I loved Greg, but I also loved Jasper. Now that he’s moved on, could I? Did I want to? “This is one of the most important decisions of your life, sweetie. Take all the time you need.” With her kind words, Mama left the room. I was alone in my thoughts again. Maybe I should go for a ride, it had been a few weeks since I took Spot out. I grabbed a hat from the rack by the door, and made my way to the barn.
By Sibley Shamra6 months ago in Chapters
Knotted Roots - Part 10
Ever since Jane and I started dating, we had gone on a few dates, went horseback riding, and the day I looked forward to the most, finally rolled around. It was Sunday, the day he got to learn more about this God he became infectiously curious about, and the remainder of the day would be with Jane. Jasper got dressed, and quickly descended the stairs, “Pa!” “In here Jasper!” Pa was sitting in the living room, dressed well, suspiciously well. “What’s this about?” I asked him, curious about his fancy attire. “Well, I was hoping I could join you today, if that’s okay?” A broad smile spread across my face, “Come on old man, can’t be late to get Jane!” And with that we were off to Jane’s. Pa remained in the truck, while I retrieved Jane from her front porch.
By Sibley Shamra6 months ago in Chapters
ABondThroughTheFire
Jared Kinard held the passenger door open for Savannah as they left the café, the brisk evening air wrapping around them. She slid into his sleek black sports car, its leather seats still warm from the heater. The tension from her meeting with Darrius lingered in the silence between them.
By BeeSparrow6 months ago in Chapters
ABondThroughTheFire
The city never slept, and neither did Jared Kinard. He sat in his unmarked car, the rain streaking down the windshield as the night stretched endlessly before him. The rhythmic patter against the glass was a familiar backdrop to his restless thoughts, though tonight it felt heavier, as if the city itself was bracing for something. He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, his gaze scanning the deserted street outside. Another case. Another innocent life on the line.
By BeeSparrow6 months ago in Chapters
ABondThroughTheFire
The Mastermind Miles away in the sprawling penthouse of Kinston Tower, the city’s skyline glittered like a galaxy of artificial stars. Nathaniel Kinston, the enigmatic founder of Kinston Dynamics, stood by the floor-to-ceiling windows, a glass of scotch in hand. His reflection stared back at him, cold and calculating.
By BeeSparrow6 months ago in Chapters
PhantomRhymes Chapter 2
The bass thumped like a second heartbeat as Aaliyah stepped out of the car, the club’s neon lights washing over her metallic shawl like moonlight on chrome. Tresa adjusted her signature glasses. Livia checked their passes. Meka grinned and pulled them all forward but Aaliyah’s mind was already ahead, her heart thumping in time with the distant music.
By BeeSparrow6 months ago in Chapters
PhantomRhymes
Chapter-1: ScreamsIntoTheWind The night started in Aliyah's apartment, an eclectic space half-lit by orbiting glow orbs and soundtracked by a playlist that bounced between galactic jazz and old-school R&B. The kind of place where style hangs on racks like art and secrets are poured over glasses of chilled plum liqueur.
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Little Hearts, Big Feelings: Helping Children Understand Their Emotions
The Language of Little Hearts Children experience the world in colors brighter and emotions deeper than adults often realize. To a child, a lost toy isn’t just a missing object — it’s the end of a friendship. A parent’s raised voice isn’t a moment of frustration — it’s a thunderstorm in their tiny emotional world.
By Muhammad Azeemullah6 months ago in Chapters
Never Meant You to Know
“Landon! Harness duty today, right?” I called, already pulling straps into a pile. He looked up from his backpack, gave me that half-smirk that always made me want to roll my eyes and smile at the same time. “Lucky me. Try not to scare half the campers off before we even start.”
By Rachael E Shields6 months ago in Chapters
Knotted Roots - Part 9
I spent the past few days pondering how to ask Mr. Cross to date Jane, a tradition long forgotten by modern society, but expected here. Jane deserved better, but she wants me, knowing my brokenness, my past, she has always been there, waiting in the background all this time. Perhaps, I never saw her for who she was? I never saw her as a woman, until I saw her dolled up recently, a woman. Jane had a certain way of making me feel comfortable in my own skin, relaxed. Maybe this wouldn’t be a forever thing, but it was something worth tryin’. I pulled on my work gloves and yanked up on the hay bale in the barn and carried it outside, “Hey stranger!” My ears rang that familiar voice, one I haven’t heard in a few weeks, one I had nearly forgotten. “Grace?” Her bright smile toyed with my emotions. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost!” I was speechless, I didn’t know what to say as I placed the hay bale in a nearby hay basket perched on the horse pen. “What’re you doin here?” My tone was dry, keeping my distance, a slight annoyance to my tone. “What’s got you in a fuss darlin?” She asked sashaying over to me, her arms reaching for my neck. I gently grabbed her wrists and stepped back. “Grace…stop.” My face stern, dropping her arms at her side, “What’s wrong Jasper?” Grace’s face twisted from joy to concern, “Why are you here Grace?” “Well, I hadn’t seen you in nearly two weeks!” “You should leave Grace…” My voice short, turning to head back into the barn. “What?” I pushed past every memorable pulse of the night we shared, remembering the heart wrenching moment I found her with Greg hours after. How she broke me. “You haven’t seen me in weeks and you’re just goin’ to shoo me off like I mean nothin’?” Grace challenged, her boots stomping towards me as I continued to make my way into the barn. “You don’t turn your back on me Jasper Black!” I quickly spun on my heel, inches from her, challenging her rage as I stood as tall as ever. “You answer me!” “I’m just done, Grace, okay?” Controlling my voice to a low grumble instead of yelling. I wasn’t trying to be mean, I just needed to set the boundary. Just then, Grace’s phone rang, “You should probably take that, might be Greg.” I sneered as I brushed past her. I needed to get space, to get away. I could hear Grace answer the phone saying Greg’s name. “I knew it…” I muttered my eyes rolling over.
By Sibley Shamra6 months ago in Chapters
