a-sparrows-melody

[a-sparrows-melody]

A Chance Encounter

“Exquisite! Just exquisite!” yelled A-mari the alien, rubbing food grains between xer fingers. According to xer human-studies-instructor, when dropped into an art museum, xe was supposed to yell these words so xe would look like a normal human in an art museum. The queer thing was that no other human was uttering these words! Instead, they were muttering names under their breath (that sound suspiciously like food names), while checking pieces of paper and utterly-purposeless-and-pretty-old-mobile-phone-devices of theirs. Were all these specimen humans so hungry? Why not just go to a food-place-where-humans-sit-and-eat instead of morosely slinking around in art museums?

You see, xe was doing her final project. Xe needed to get good grades on her assignment (in acting like a human successfully) so xe could finally graduate learning-area-for-a-long-time. And then move on to learning-area-for-a-longer-period-of-time.

A-mari thought xe was doing a good job at the art museum, but that was until one of the specimens exhibited the most unnatural behaviour. The human in question scooped up the food grains from one of the baskets, and no one even cared!

What was this new development in humans!

According to A-zriel, A-mari’s human-studies-instructor, humans loved looking at and appreciating pieces of art. Especially detailed ones, like this tactile one, of big bowls of food grains. And they were very finicky about taking-things-that-are-not-their-own-without-explicit-consent (or, as humans would say, stealing). So then why would nobody care when this human specimen just scooped up a big bowl of grain?

A-mari thought xe had made an amazing new discovery in human behaviour, that they were so hungry that instead of going to a food-place-where-humans-sit-and-eat, humans would waste their time in art museums and steal pieces of art (which A-mari was pretty sure were inedible), and eat them!

Suddenly, A-mari’s ultra-communication-device began to ring.

“Professor A-zriel! So well to hear from you! I seem to have made an important discovery in human behaviour. Apparently, humans - “

“A-mari, there seems to be a mistake. Instead of being dropped into a museum, you have been dropped into a grocery store, a food-place-where-humans-buy-food-or-ingredients! We will need to postpone your examination to another date, at least until we get our motherships to stop malfunctioning again. Now, what was this amazing discovery you have made, A-mari?”

A-mari was disappointed. Suddenly, all the behaviour of humans made sense. And her own, and why xe was being shunned by humans and given the look-that-humans-call-a-dirty-one-even-when-there-is-no-mud-associated-with-the-look.

“Never mind, Professor A-zriel,” said A-mari, crestfallen. “I’ll come back to the mothership base right now.”

-X-

Trying my hand at comedy! God, I haven't written in such a long time. If you don't understand the premise of this flash fiction, it's that an alien has fallen into a grocery store, and xe thinks it's an art museum and hence xe's busy examining stuff like it's art. When it's just a grocery store.

I've used neopronouns for the alien, so xe currently doesn't have a gender. Anyway, enjoy

[a-sparrows-melody]

Beta Reader Services!

Hi, I'm a beta reader.

WHAT I READ FOR: I beta read for fanfictions (for many fandoms, so I won't list them all here), original works, and poetry.

MY SERVICES: My feedback is constructive (I definitely don't shred your work apart) and I am extremely precise and sometimes nitpicky. I can do proofreading, grammar/sentence structure, plot structure, dialogues, descriptions, moral support, yapping with you - really, anything you need.

I can also beta for smut fics and I'm okay with any level of freak (light vanilla or full-on BDSM).

NOTES: Please keep in mind that this is my first time around beta reading - but I have lots of experience in writing (I've written some fics and this blog's there if you want to check out my works) and I've studied creative writing a lot. If you want a more experienced beta reader, that's fine: this is just me maintaining transparency.

PAYMENTS: I don't take payments - I'm just doing it for the experience as a side hustle. But I'd definitely appreciate it if you give me writing tips!

CONTACT ME: I'm available on these platforms:

tumblr: you can directly message me on @a-sparrows-melody

discord: (I do not know how to operate this thing yet, but it's just @/aarbeaz on discord)

e-mail: aarbeaz2022@gmail.com

[a-sparrows-melody]

Beta Reader Services!

Hi, I'm a beta reader.

WHAT I READ FOR: I beta read for fanfictions (for many fandoms, so I won't list them all here), original works, and poetry.

MY SERVICES: My feedback is constructive (I definitely don't shred your work apart) and I am extremely precise and sometimes nitpicky. I can do proofreading, grammar/sentence structure, plot structure, dialogues, descriptions, moral support, yapping with you - really, anything you need.

I can also beta for smut fics and I'm okay with any level of freak (light vanilla or full-on BDSM).

NOTES: Please keep in mind that this is my first time around beta reading - but I have lots of experience in writing (I've written some fics and this blog's there if you want to check out my works) and I've studied creative writing a lot. If you want a more experienced beta reader, that's fine: this is just me maintaining transparency.

PAYMENTS: I don't take payments - I'm just doing it for the experience as a side hustle. But I'd definitely appreciate it if you give me writing tips!

CONTACT ME: I'm available on these platforms:

tumblr: you can directly message me on @a-sparrows-melody

discord: (I do not know how to operate this thing yet, but it's just @/aarbeaz on discord)

e-mail: aarbeaz2022@gmail.com

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hi there,

I’m reaching out with a quiet hope in my heart. These days are heavy, and my family is living through a reality filled with uncertainty—but I’m still here, doing my best to hold on and keep going.

If you have a moment, please check out my pinned post.

A simple share could help it reach someone who might be able to make a difference.

If you’re able to give, even the smallest kindness can bring light into the darkest places.

Your time, your voice, your compassion — it all matters more than you know.

With deep gratitude,

@nadinfamily

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hey there 🌍💙

I hope you're doing well. Today, I’m reaching out with a heartfelt request. My family is going through an incredibly difficult time, and I need your help to make our story heard.

🔄 A simple reblog of my pinned post can spread awareness.

💖 A small $5 donation could bring hope where it’s desperately needed.

@nasr-daher

Even the smallest act of kindness can create ripples of change. Your support means the world—thank you for standing with us! 🙏✨

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hello,

I hope you’re all doing well. 🌿

I need your help to share my family's story and raise awareness about our struggle. Every voice counts, and your support means the world. 🙏

💬 Please reblog my pinned post or, if you're able, consider donating just $5—it could be life-changing for those facing unimaginable hardship.

Your kindness and solidarity make a real difference. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 🤍✨

@aboodfmly

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hey 💌 I’m Saja — a mother trying to hold onto hope through days that feel impossibly heavy.

I know you probably see a lot online, but if you could take just a moment… I’d be so grateful.

💫 A reblog of my pinned post could help our story reach someone who cares.

🌿 And if you’re in a place to give, even a small donation could bring comfort to my daughter and help us feel safe again.

@sajagz, thank you for listening.

Even gentle support creates strength.

From one heart to another — thank you 🤍

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hi there,

I’m holding on to hope, one day at a time—and today, I’m asking for your support. My family is living through a reality no one should have to face, and I’m doing my best to keep our voices heard.

📌 Please take a second to check out my pinned post.

🔄 Sharing it can help it reach someone who might be able to help.

🤍 If you’re able to give even a little, your generosity could ease a heavy burden.

Your support, your time, your care—it all matters more than you know.

With love and deep appreciation,

@jehadkhaled

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hi 💔

I’m sorry if this message feels sudden—I truly don’t want to bother anyone. I’m Areej, a 27-year-old English teacher and writer from Gaza 🇵🇸, and I’m reaching out because my family is in desperate need of help.

The war has taken everything. We’ve lost our home 🏚, and we live each day under the constant threat of bombing and starvation 🥀. I’m trying to evacuate my family—my parents, siblings, two small children, a newborn , and my sister who is deaf —to Egypt, where we hope to find safety 🕊️.

If you’re able to donate 💌 or even just share our campaign 🔁, it could bring us one step closer to survival. Every act of kindness means the world right now 🌍🤍.

Thank you for taking a moment to read 🙏

And if you'd prefer not to receive messages like this, please just let me know—I won’t message again.

With love and hope,

Areej 🤍🌿

@supportmykids

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hi there 💛

I hope this message finds you well. I'm reaching out with a heavy heart and a hopeful spirit.

My name is Mohamed. My family and I lost our home to the war, and we’re doing our best to start again from nothing. We’ve created a GoFundMe to help rebuild—not just the walls, but the life we once knew.

If you have a moment, please check out my pinned post. Even a simple reblog or share can make a world of difference. And if you’re in a place to give, even a small donation would mean more than I can ever express.

Your kindness, your voice, your support—it truly matters.

Thank you for reading this. I’m so deeply grateful. 🙏

@hamodfamily

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hello, wonderful souls! 🤍🌍

I hope you're doing well. 🌿

Could you help me amplify my family's story and bring awareness to our struggle? 🙏🏻

💬 Please reblog my pinned post or consider donating just $5—your support could truly make a difference in saving lives amidst war and hardship.

Your kindness and voice matter more than you know. Thank you from the bottom of my heart! 🤍🌿

🕊️ @mosabsdr | Every share counts. 💫

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hi there 🌼

I hope it’s okay that I’m reaching out. My name is Rola, and I’m a mother of two from Gaza. Life used to be simple—filled with laughter, home-cooked meals, walks with my children, and ice cream on weekends. But since October, everything has changed.

We lost our home in a bombing. One moment, we were sipping coffee on the balcony… the next, the house shook, windows shattered, and our world collapsed. We had to flee with nothing—no clothes, no toys, no sense of safety.

My children still ask about their beds, their books, their quiet little room. I don’t have answers. All I can do is hold them and keep going.

We’re now raising funds to evacuate—or, if returning becomes possible, to rebuild. I just want to give my children a future that isn’t defined by fear and loss.

If you’re able to help—by donating or even just sharing our story—it would mean everything 💛. Your kindness can bring us one step closer to healing.

Thank you for listening. And if you'd prefer not to receive messages like this, just let me know and I won’t reach out again.

With love and hope,

Rola | @rolafamily 🤍

I'm not in the position to help you right now, but I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Hi there,

I’m reaching out with a quiet hope in my heart. These days are heavy, and my family is living through a reality filled with uncertainty—but I’m still here, doing my best to hold on and keep going.

If you have a moment, please check out my pinned post.

A simple share could help it reach someone who might be able to make a difference.

If you’re able to give, even the smallest kindness can bring light into the darkest places.

Your time, your voice, your compassion — it all matters more than you know.

With deep gratitude,

@nadinfamily

I'm sorry, but I'm not in the position to help you right now. I hope that you find someone who can.

[a-sparrows-melody]

no nectar, no god

you called me cruel.

how easy, to forget the garden you scorched.

to curse the flower for withering

in the smoke of your swarm.

i was honey-laced hands,

shaking, open, ready to be stung.

i loved you even through the infestation.

even as your shadows hatched in me.

even as your venom bloomed under my ribs.

you hovered

from mouth to mouth,

called it hunger.

said i was cold when i wouldn't pretend

your disease was devotion.

you wanted a whore.

a sweet thing with bent knees

and no memory.

a cow in a collar

nodding for the slaughter.

you were never a honeybee.

you were a hornet.

a wasp.

the kind that burrows,

the kind that follows,

the kind that sings pain into skin

and calls it a kiss.

you haunt.

i rot.

and now,

you wipe your slate clean,

like you didn’t bleed rot into mine.

you buzz and buzz,

try on my face,

echo my ache,

build your little shrine

of secondhand sorrow.

but i do not wish to grieve you anymore.

i drown you in silence.

i press the nest to my chest and set it aflame.

you are ashes now.

there will be no second spring.

no nectar.

no god.

only me.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Sometimes the truth suffocates me. It's even worse than the no-knowing. At least the not-knowing leaves you with the kind of pain when you still have something to be desired. You have a little more to go. But the knowing is just horrible because you know this is the end. There is no hidden curtain, no hope, no doors to open. It's the final, final, final, final end - the kind where the truth slides its knife into you while you are asleep while yelling from the peak of the mountains. What will you do when there are no mountain peaks left to climb? What will you do when it's only you and the clouds and the stars and the sun and the sky and the entire world at your feet? What will you think?

I JUST WANT TO MATTER, OKAY?

I just want to matter. There, that's the mountain peak. You've climbed it. Did you wonder why I look so exhausted every day? You've climbed the mountain peak. You pushed me off it. I am dying because of you.

Maybe I was dying before anyway.

Maybe it didn't matter to me to know the difference.

Maybe I'm made to slink in shadows. Maybe I'm made to never matter. I HAVE NO FAMILY. I HAVE NO FRIENDS. MY ONLY FRIENDS ARE MY PARENTS, DO YOU KNOW THAT? DO YOU KNOW THAT? NO YOU DON'T. YOU DON'T CARE. I DON'T MATTER TO YOU. TO ANYONE. THAT IS NOT OKAY. I DID NOT WANT TO KNOW THAT. THAT IS NOT OKAY.

Sometimes the truth is just that. You've climbed to the peak of the mountain and you're falling.

God I hate falling. Falling means losing control.

I am digressing.

But really, does it matter?

You know, I'd rather have lived thinking I matter to people, no matter the lie. I'd rather stare up at mountain peaks than reach it. The pain is better. It fills you, unsatisfied but still, it fills. The pain of knowing eats into you, destroys you. Self-cannibalism. I don't want to lose myself. I don't want to lose control.

Maybe I'm made of matter (solid, liquid, gas) but I don't MATTER (not as substantial as solid, liquid, gas). I DON'T MATTER.

The truth is wrenched out of me. My intestines are piling up in front of me. I DON'T MATTER.

I'D RATHER NOT KNOW THAN NOT KNOW. WHAT AM I SUPPOSED TO DO WITH KNOWING? OPEN MORE DOORS? JUMP OFF THE MOUNTAIN PEAKS?

I ALREADY DID THAT.

BECAUSE OF YOU.

I'M JUMPING OFF MOUNTAIN PEAKS ONLY SO I CAN MATTER.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Friendly reminder that Percy failed in his defence of Manhattan, spectacularly so. And it isn't even an opinion, that's just the objective truth. As bad as it sounds.

The explicit goal of Percy (and by extension that of all of his allies) was to defend Manhattan and prevent Kronos and his army from reaching Olympus. That's the state goal of this operation. And you knew what happened? Exactly what they set out to prevent- Kronos got up to Olympus.

Not only that, mind you. Kronos also managed to destroy Olympus to some degree. It was damaged badly enough for Annabeth to get the "honour" of rebuilding it. Let that sink in, Olympus had to be rebuilt. The only reason the gods didn't fall was Luke killing himself- something that had very little to do with Percy and nothing with CHB. And I mean, sure- you could say that atleast Annabeth played a major role in having Luke make that decision. But that doesn't change the total and utter failure of Camp Halfblood in their defence.

Hell, you know what makes this even worse???? They didn't even put up a good fight. They put up a horrid fight in fact. Because they somehow managed to lose despite everything being on their side.

As it stood CHB was defending a city they atleast knew the base layout of against an enemy that did not have that. A city which, in this case basically functioned as a huge maze where they could attack from every angle considering they could shoot out of windows. They had enough preparration time to booby trap tunnles- time they wasted btw, because Kronos decided to go into Manhattan in a single charge. Didn't even sorround the city or shell it, just head empty, eyes a head, single wave charge. Aka, an equally stupid military decision.

And what did camp halfblood do with that obvious military advantage and an enemy using equally as dumb tactics as them? Exactly, nothing. A Cabin full of kids of Athena, and they did nothing. No sharpshooters or other far ranged fighters ontop of buildings afaik, no bottlenecking the enemy, no tricks and no ambush attacks. Just.....absoloutly no use of their clear and obvious advantages. #

And people still want to say like Percy saved Olympus. CHB and him didn't even hold half a day in their defence.

[a-sparrows-melody]

Yesterday while I was walking through the meadows to get to real life I saw my heart.

Well, I knew it was a heart that was vaguely familiar in the way the blood splattered down from the arteries and flowed in rivulets through the grass. I just didn't know it was mine till I sat down next to it and talked to it.

I took a little detour to satisfy my curiosity.

"Hey there. Why are you out here?" I asked it, confused and a little scared as to why there was a real human heart, almost as big as I am tall, just sitting in the illusory meadow and pulsating with so much energy that the air around it crackled.

"Why shouldn't I be?" it boomed back at me, it's voice louder than anything I've ever heard in my life. I covered my ears, feeling the migraine coming on.

"Can you talk a little softer? My ears are hurting," I told it, wincing.

The heart didn't have eyes but it looked at me then with such censure that I resisted the urge to run away.

"I will talk as loud as I want. You do not need to listen to me."

I nodded, convinced, and starting picking at the hem of sundress for a while, staining my fingers with grass and dirt and pigment from the weed-flowers. In the pulsating of the heart next to me, and gore and blood on my fingers, I felt a profound sort of peace and a horribble parching thirst for knowledge. I knew I was not to disturb the heart, for it was such a large being that demanded respect if only for the space it took up, just existing, but in the end, I could not help myself.

"Can I ask you something?" I asked the heart again. When it didn't respond, I decided to ask a question anyway.

"Who's heart are you?"

The heart waited a bit, almost contemplating.

"Everything, really. Why did you want to know?"

"Don't you want to know where everything comes from and goes to?"

"Not really. All I know is the blood in my chambers and what I must do with it. Sometimes I am curious, yes, but if I learn too much information then I get overwhelmed. You must know how the feeling is like."

No, I did not. When you live such a short life as I do, no knowledge seems enough. But there was some truth in its words.

"What do you mean by everything? Not everything has a heart, and not everything's heart is the same."

"You misunderstand me. I cannot be the heart of everything, I cannot pump everyone's blood except for the one who's body I reside in. But I am as metaphorical as I am literal. My body feels that I am so big because it feels for everything. So I am the.

"So you have a body? Who's body do you serve?"

"I am not a servant. I am a master. The master of a body. In fact, you are my body. I am surprised that you did not know this."

"Me! But I have my heart right... here..." I pawed at my chest, feeling for my pulse. I could feel nothing, no beats, no fluttering. I pressed my hands, my neck, and still I felt nothing. My rubbed my chest again and then I could hear my two ribs rubbing against each other, clacking and cracking.

"Why are you out here? Why are am I not dead?" I asked, alarmed.

"Well, you, my body, feel so many emotions that you think I, your heart, must be that big to compensate for the space. You are not dead because this is not real life."

"Are you telling me I'm full of love?"

"Yes, I am telling you, you desiccated husk of human emotions, you, who has turned wherever your footsteps land into ash, you have suffered so much, are full of love."

I turned around to see what the heart - my heart - was referring to. Sure enough, the green meadow behind me had a dark trail of smoke passing through it, pooling around my skirts and finally ending. The tendrils of smoke were curling upwards, as if naughty children chasing each other. They touched and sizzled and all I could feel was shock. That I burnt the meadow.

"But how - how can I be full of love when I burnt the meadow in that manner?"

"Isn't it not what is gone but what shall come? You might have destroyed but you love, so you rebuild."

"But that isn't an excuse!"

"Surely. But you try - no, you do. That is enough. As long as you love, any kind of love, you live."

I live.

I live.