#I LOVE rapunzel's ANGY FACE

[candyopals]

goth deity child found kicked out of a window in corona

[highlifeboat]

It was rather late in the night when Alcina got back from her meeting with Mother Miranda. It had run much longer than intended, though she supposed that was partially her own fault for engaging in petty arguments with her idiot little brother. Heisenberg had been getting on her nerves seemingly more than usual as of late. It didn’t help when Angie jumped in with her high pitched laughter, chanting for them to fight as if they were school children. That hardly mattered now, though. She was home, and ready to crawl into bed to sleep the rest of the night away with her darling wife in her arms.

But first, she had to check on her girls.

The first room she passed down the line was Daniela. Her youngest daughter was fast asleep, feet where her head should have been and muttering incoherent things under her breath. Alcina chuckled softly to herself quietly walking into the room and fixing the redhead’s position. Daniela stirred a bit at being moved, but didn’t wake as Alcina placed a soft kiss on her forehead. Her youngest snuggled into the warmth of her bedsheet as she exited the room, and went to see Cassandra.

The brunette was out like a light as well, fingers twitching slightly as she dreamed. A small growl escaped her, and Alcina could see her ears twitching under the mess of hair. Cassandra was feisty, even in her sleep, and it was absolutely adorable to see. Sneaking over just as softly as she had with Daniela, she planted a kiss on her middle child’s forehead, brushing a strand of hair from her face. Cassandra let out something akin to a satisfied sigh, and seemed to settle. She muttered a quiet “I love you.” to the brunette, who mumbled into her pillow, and off Alcina went to check on her eldest.

Surprisingly, she didn’t find Bela in her own bedroom, instead she found the blonde asleep on the chair in Rosemary’s room, legs swung over the arm and a “Brothers’ Grimm” fairytale book laying open on her stomach, Rose fast asleep in her crib. Alcina could only assume Bela had been reading to the infant, and smiled fondly at the thought. She was still surprised Bela had taken a liking to her step-sister, she’d half expected her eldest to be more upset over getting a new sibling. She gingerly took the book and placed it back onto the bookshelf, then quickly checked over Rose when she heard a small groan from the blonde.

“Mama...?” Bela yawned, opening her eyes a little.

Alcina smiled. “Yes, little fly. It’s me.” She hummed, watching the girl stretch.

“What time is it…?”

“Late.” She answered as she lifted Bela out of the chair. “You should be in bed.”

“Oh, ‘m sorry….” Her eldest yawned again. “Rosey wanned a story….” She explained, closing her eyes again. “Rapunzel…. She likes that one….”

Alcina chuckled, carrying the girl across the hall to her own bedroom. “I’m sure she does.” She set her daughter in bed, brushing the hair away from her face. “And I’m sure she loves when you read it to her.” The blonde gave a quiet hum in response, fully settling after Alcina kissed her cheek. “Goodnight, Bela. I love you.”

“Mm love you, Mama…” Bela muttered. “Goonigh’....”

Alcina let out a faint sigh as she shut the door to her eldest’s bedroom. Now that she was sure they were all sound asleep, she could finally get to her own bed and rest.

She quietly opened the door to the bedroom, taking off her hat and setting it on top of a nearby hook, only to pause at the position she found her wife in.

Mia was on top of the covers, dressed in a t-shirt and a pair of black and white boxers, curled up and cuddling into one of the oversized pillows. Alcina could hear her soft chuffing, her face half buried into the soft cushion and arms wrapped tightly around it. The bigger woman smiled at the scene, taking a moment to admire just how cute her little darling was before she went to remove the makeup from her face and slip into her nightgown.

She was humming softly to herself when she returned, taking another second to look at her wife as she removed her earrings. Mia had shifted slightly, having moved one of her legs onto the pillow, and Alcina let out a quietly huffed laugh. Sometimes she truly felt blessed to have such a person in her life. Mia brought on a certain kind of chaos Alcina couldn’t explain, and she loved it. Even when the woman was sound asleep she managed to make her smile. She almost hated to ruin the sight before her. But she was still tired.

Plus, she would need that pillow.

Alcina didn’t really want to wake her wife, instead she tried to simply untangle Mia from her pillow. “Alci….” The small brunette muttered. “Don’ go….”

“Oh…” The taller woman smiled. “I’m not going anywhere, darling….” She cooed softly, getting a small whine as she freed the pillow from her wife’s sleepy grasp.

“Nooooo….”

Alcina rolled her eyes, pulling the covers back before getting into bed. She pulled Mia in beside her, watching the smaller woman readjust herself until she was comfortably tucked under Alcina’s arm. Her eyes never opened, she simply buried her face into the bigger woman’s shoulder like she had done with the pillow, letting out a long sigh against her skin. Alcina kissed the crown of her head as she herself settled, one hand coming up to tangle itself in Mia’s hair.

“Goodnight, my love.” She whispered, getting a quiet mutter of words in reply as she closed her eyes.

She couldn’t imagine sleeping alone anymore.

[vigor-the-visionary]

once a handmaiden thoughts

THIS EPISODE STIRRED A LOT OF FEELINGS IN ME SO I JUST HAFTA... LET IT OUT,,, sorry for rambling,,, it just really,, made me,,, feel,,, so MANY things  ; ; ;; ;;

under read more!! because this is LONG YEEHAW

First of all. team awesome??? making weapons ??? that little fist and butt bump they did???? blessed.

Eugene’s face when he was asking permission for project obsidian,, and zach’s voice acting... made me ‘aww :’)’ and ‘awww ;-;’

OK cass finding the missing glass shard felt kinda... ‘eh’ for me ?? would ramble a WHOLE lot more on this case but i wanna focus on the positive things in this episode so lets leave that for another time, (or another person)

REALLY loved the bit where cass saw flashes of zhan tiri when she touched her,, quality animation 11/10 

THANK YOU TANGLED CREW FOR THE GOOD OWL AND CASSANDRA INTERACTIONS THAT WAS DELICIOUS. (it was one of my fav wishes to see them interact so this was genuinely one of the BEST things in the episode for me)

is the real faith okay ??? where is she, i wanna hug her

(ngl the entire episode billie eilish’s im the bad guy kept threatening to break through my brain until it was the only thing i could comprehend the whole episode)

FUCK GOTH GREMLIN LADY. fuck u, i hate u. bitch.

im happy cry over the fact that cass still wants to be friends, but is still clearly struggling to process Feelings (tm)

the MAIN TRIO HANGING OUT JUST LIKE SEASON 1 DAYS MADE ME UGLY SOB YOU REALLY DONT KNOW WHAT WE’VE LOST UNTIL THE SHOW JUST DANGLED IT IN FRONT OF MY FACE. PLEASE JUST MAKE UP ALREADY HOLY FUCK

frederick in a handmaiden dress..... effervescent. (CASS’S FACE WHEN SHE TURNED INTO EUGENE HAD ME WHEEZING)

the comedy when cass was having trouble w the cloak is ten times more hilarious when u actually try to pay attention to what eugene and raps was talking abt in that scene. believe me, listen to it....

god..... the cass and eugene banter,,, it was barely existing but it was there,, and i want to cry....

the new gopher was TOO MF CUTE and IM DISTRAUGHT OVER THE FACT THAT THEY DIDNT EVEN USE HER KJDFHLKDF

‘RAPS’ MADE ME DIE INSIDE.... it really was always cass’ nickname for her.... never really suited anyone else calling her that (not even eugene)

the play was an absolute disaster and I LOVED IT let me slurp more of that angst juice lads (i was dying at catalina and angry costumed as black rocks,, u go rock em girls)

OK O K OKOK OKOK OKO KO THAT FIGHT SCENE. THAT ANIMATION. THE VOICE ACTING. THE EMOTIONS ON EVERYONES FACES. THE MOMENT ZHAN FUCK TIRI REMOVED CASS’ CLOAK YOU COULD CLEARLY SEE THE GENUINE FEAR IN RAPS’ FACE AND IM CRYING

(small tidbit i 'AWWWED’ when the camera panned to eugene and varian and the latter was riding fidella, tf, too cute)

seriously. fuck zhan tiri.

the biggest thing i was disappointed about in this episode,, is cass saying gothel’s line, ‘you want me to be the bad guy? etc etc’,  exact word for word. do i need explaining for this, i dont really thinks so. :(

EUGENE GUSHING TIME. 

the way our lad was handling everything,,, made me feel so proud,, and so sad,, at the same time.... here you have his first real job as captain of the guard, tainted by the strained relationships with cass and the sort. he’s struggling to put his feelings into light too, you know he was more keen on giving up on cass, but..

when his voice slightly broke when he was speaking to her ‘you were like a sister-’ i dont know man.. i think he’s just sad and tired of losing people he cares about,,, :’(( 

though i dont have much hope for it, id really love a eugene and cass scene where these idiot siblings just talk heart-to-heart out w each other,, that will be,, the biggest wish i have for the finale, tbh

lance: appears, me: oh right u exist

ZHDFKHDKFH FOR REAL I WAS REALLY SURPRISED WHEN HE JUST SHOWED UP

THEN SUDDENLY ADIRA AND HECTOR WERE THERE TOO TF ???

but quirin??? missing??? WHERE

AND THEN EDMUND APPEARED AND MY THEORY JUST WENT OUT THE FUCKING WINDOW LMFAO

idk if im missing anything,,, but ok.. time to cool down a bit. 

eugene’s voice,, calling out rapunzel’s name.. just made me ;__;

the DRAMA of the camera pans when rapunzel was running to look at what happened to corona,, thank u sm that hurt

new dream hand holding!!! yeehaw. 

raps’ face. no talk, she angy

OK. next episode?? i have high hopes! (i think its 2 hours ??? i am crying for this finale lads) until next time, tangled,, u have crushed my heart countless times but hopefully we’ll have a happy end yet :’))

[alababwa]

breakdown of walt disney world’s magic kingdom’s new nighttime firework show “happily ever after”: 

-- very long post under the cut. pic above is a screenshot from the DIS on youtube’s recording of its opening night performance on may 12, 2017

i tried to break it down by segments with character appearances and different music changes. i didn’t go too into detail about all the fireworks as most of the focus was on the castle projections. also mentioned where new animations were. i apologize if i missed anything, please feel free to send me corrections.

Prelude instrumental music

Narrator voiceover: “And they all lived happily ever after. Each of us has a dream. It calls to us and when we’re brave enough to listen and bold enough to pursue, that dream will lead us to a journey to discovery who we were meant to be. All we have to do is look inside our hearts and unlock the magic within.”

Intro of “Happily Ever After” by Jordan Fisher & Angie Keilhauer

The castle facade changes different orate designs and colors with fireworks going off to music

Castle facade transitions to the castle with large windows to show a starry sky -- firework shoots across sky in the back of the castle in an arch like the old Disney logo

Balcony below clock shows pink, Tiana in her blue dress appears in the balcony singing about the Evening Star “Down in New Orleans (Prologue)” (New animation from Mark Henn)

Music of When You Wish Upon a Star builds as it transitions to Part of Your World then back to When You Wish Upon a Star

facade looks like an ocean scene as Ariel swims past then up the tallest tower, 

facade transitions to a view above Paris where you can see Chef Gusteau’s and the Eiffle Tower. 

Facade transitions to a share the look of Rapunzel’s tower, where she’s leaning out of from the castle’s tallest spire.

“Out There” from The Hunchback of Notre Dame

facade transitions to the big stain glass of Notre Dame with a silhouette then showing his face of Quasimodo singing and jumping around the castle to the song

Quasi climbs the tallest tower and pulls the bells to the song

"Touch the Sky” from Brave

Facade changes to forest-y scene and the crests of the Dunbroch are dropped down as well

Merida, riding in on Angus: “Your destiny lies within you. You just have to brave enough to see it. Then your journey begins.”

Merida aims bow to shoot a arrow skyward toward the top of the castle, to which a firework goes off  as if it’s the arrow shooting off into the sky

Dandelion seeds rain down facade to transition to a waterfall; Lightning McQueen and Cruz Ramirez (for Cars 3 promo) look to audience from a bridge then drive off

Carl Frederickson’s house floats up with the numerous balloons from behind the front part of the facade

Bottom half of castle changes to under the ocean, where Marlin, Dory, and Crush swim by

“How Far I’ll Go” from Moana

Facade changes to a more fiery background with torches and the structure mimics tapa and the housing of the village of Motunui, showing Moana discovering the canoes

Scrolls of tapa designs & Maui’s tattoo of Moana shows as clips from the movie play. Part of the castle has Moana’s sail as well.

At the climax of the song, Tala as a manta ray swims up from the bottom of the castle toward the sky

Friendship Segment

Castle facade looks like it’s made of toy parts, but is darkend to spotlight a giant Genie lamp sitting on the balcony

Aladdin: “Trust me, having a best friend by your side opens up a whole new world of possibilities!”

Castle brightens and looks to be a moving toy with lots of moving gears as instrumentals of Never Had a Friend Like Me plays

Music transitions to Trashing the Camp, characters, mostly the gorillas, from Tarzan make appearances all over the castle

Bugs crawl over the castle as music transitions to Hakuna Matata, where Timon dances and Pumbaa and young Simba appear

Facade changes to a much more toy-like version of what it was as “You Got a Friend In Me” plays, Woody and Buzzlightyear interact on the balcony; other toys like Jessie, Mr. & Mrs. Potatohead, Slinkydog, Rex, etc appear in various places around the castle

Toy castle crumbles as music changes to “Bare Necessities”, the castle is more green as Baloo, Mowgli, the baby elephant, and other monkeys dance to the song

Castle changes to a more candy like appearance as Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope on his shoulders appear on the balcony

Baymax and Hiro appear as facade changes to the first toy-life facade on the bottom of the tallest tower with music transitioning back to “You’ve Got a Friend In Me”

Facade shows seal of the ZPD as the Big Donut bounces by

Facade changes to the headquarters of Riley’s Mind where you can see Sadness and Joy before memories orbs start falling from the tallest spire

Choir singing “That’s What Friends Are For” from the Jungle Book”: “And when you're outside, looking in Who's there to open the door? That's what friends are for!”

Sully and Mike show up on balcony with many doors fro Monsters Inc

Giant Door opens as “open the door” is sung

Toy balcony facade returns, balcony comes to life to sing in a spotlight “That’s what friends are for” in a solo low deep voice

Choir starts singing “Never Had a Friend Like Me” while facade changes to a more neon and lights appearance like the movie’s scene, with various girls from the same scene dance around the castle as Genie performs; voices transition to Genie’s instead of Choir

On finishing big note, tallest tower rockets off into the sky

Family segment

Facade looks more like a castle with big open windows again, Olaf appears on a snow-covered balcony

Olaf: “Some people are worth melting for” with a sigh

Slow acoustic cover of “Love is an Open Door” plays, a big moon rises across facade

Wall-E and Eve fly across facade

Music transitions to an Instrumental version of “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”

 Facade looks pink, covered in flowers, and waterfalls as Simba and Nala nuzzle

Music transitions to a cover of “You’ll Be In My heart”; family scenes flash across facade

Kala hugs baby Tarzan

Riely and her parents are playing around

Baby Dory is hugged by her parents

Russel runs into Carl’s arms for a hug

Dumbo gives his mother many kisses

Judy hugs her parents

The Parr family shares a group hug

Romance Segment

Facade changes blue and purple, silhouettes of Disney couples appear across the castle 

Ariel & Eric

Tiana & frog!Naveen (WHY IS HE A FROG IN THE ROMANCE SCENE???)

Cinderella & Prince Charming

Belle & Beast

Aurora & Phillp

Snow White & her Prince

Jasmine & Aladdin

Rapunzel & Eugene

Aladdin (as Prince Ali) and Jasmine fly across facade on the Magic Carpet as instrumental version of “A Whole New World” plays briefly before transition to “I See the Light”

Lanterns from Tangled start to appear, floating up the castle, it darkens toward the end

Silhouette of Rapunzel and Eugene at the bottom of the castle, glowing before they let go of two last lanters that fly up to illuminate a couple of the couple sihouettes once more

Small instrumental of “A Whole New World” finishes the song

Villains Segment

Facade transitions to the Emperor of China’s palace

Emperor appears on balcony: “A that flower blooms in adversity is the more rare and beautiful of all.”

Shan Yu appears in the tallest tower before Mulan as Ping appears in the balcony fires off a rocket, which launches off the castle and flies off as a firework

Syndrome appears at the tower and shoots a bolt of lightning at an Omnidroid, which starts destroying the castle’s facade and blowing holes in it, the Parr family appears in those holes

Ocean rises up from the bottom of the castle before a giant Ursula wearing Triton’s crown and wielding his trident rises up from it, her tentacles wrapping around the castle spires (New animation from Eric Goldberg) Prince Eric is standing the balcony before he jumps into the waters as Ursula shoots lighting at him from the trident; she returns under the depths as a bolt of lighting cracks and the water recedes

Orange smoke rises from the bottom of the castle, revealing Pride Rock in flames as Simba and Scar duel and silhouettes of hyenas and lionesses watch; giant shadow of them fighting is in the background as well

Orange smoke plumes quickly up to reveal Jafar as a giant snake. Aladdin drops down from one of the mid-level spires with a sword. Jafar lunges at him with fangs bared as he jumps to the next spire and swings around it before jumping down to swing his sword at him. He jumps down once more off to the bottom of the castle where Jafar follows (New animation from Randy Haycock)

Facade quickly changes green as black thorny vines wrap around it, Maleficent appears, cackling in a blast of green fire as the castle is shocked with lightning. Prince Phillip on Samson rides across the bottom of the castle. In purple smoke, she changes to her dragon form and blows green fire at Prince Phillip’s shield in the balcony

Fire changes orange as music (which had been playing their respective instrumental soundtracks to the fight scenes) transitions to the Pirates of the Carribbean theme. Castle is on fire and you see a silhouette of Jack Sparrow and another pirate (i’m not quite sure who it is) swordfighting, various silhouettes of known characters that fight flash across the facade like 

Eric at the wheel of his ship(?)

Aladdin with a sword 

Merida with her bow

Mulan with a staff from I’ll Make a Man Out of You

the Parr Family

Phillip throws his sword into the heart of dragon!Maleficent

Facade darkens to a rainy scene with a dying fire at its base as sparks fly up

Hero segment

Face of Mufasa appears in the dying flames at the mid-level of the castle as the music of “I Can Go the Distance” starts building up

Mufasa: “Look inside yourself. You are more than what you have become. Remember who you are” the “remember” fadingly echoes twice

Castle facade darkends as cover vocals of “I Can Go the Distance starts”

Aladdin appears at the bottom of the castle, looking sullen for a moment then stands proudly looking in the distance (New animation from Randy Haycock) - he fades away

Tarzan appears opposite of him, standing up like he finished fighting Saboor then fades

Mulan appears in the bottom of the tallest tower holding the village girl’s doll and kneeling down to place it before fading

A glowing, newly-annointed-god Hercules appears in the balcony holding Megara in his arms as he rescues her from the underworld

Interstumentals build as flash of triumphant scenes show like 

Moana cheering

Snow White being embraced by her Prince after waking with the dwarfs cheering

Ariel in her silver dress being spun in Eric’s arms 

Cinderella waving from her wedding carriage 

Vanellope receiving a trophy

Aladdin sealing Jafar and Genie ruffling his hair

Elsa and Anna hugging

Tiana and Naveen running down the aisle after getting married

Facade turns gilded as slowly the windows start being covered by stain glass featuring with Choir singing “I Can Go the Distance” ending chorus:

Cinderella with her glass slipper

Aladdin

Tarzan

Woody

Merida

Elsa & Anna

Mulan

Peter Pan

Alice

Snow White

Pinocchio

Moana

Tiana in her green dress, holding frog!Naveen

Aurora

Beast

Belle

(and a few more I think; youtube videos make it hard to see those tiny details)

Narrator: “And so our journey comes to an end but yours continues on. Grab hold of your dreams and makes them come true for you are the key to unlock your own magic. Now go; let your dreams guide you. Reach out and find your happily every after.”

“Happily Ever After” starts playing as fireworks go off, the stain glass facade changes to the ornate castle.

A Brief transition in the song changes to “You Can Fly” as Tinker Bell flies out of the tallest tower across the sky and the song goes back to “Happily Every After”

The ornate design of the castle keeps changes colors in bursts with accompanying fireworks until finale

[mrevaunit42]

Somewhere, beyond the sea

Hi everyone Mr.E here with a special story. but fiiiiirst! HAPPY BIRTHDAY @hains-mae *throws confetti* i hope you enjoy this story. That’s right it’s a birthday fic, one of two i owe but one step at a time. Mae requested a mermaid au *not little mermaid, sorry crab lovers* so i did it. but i had to build it up, give good reasons why things happened and leave it open to come back to next year when she asks for part 2 as a gift. 

so the story here is Marco is the prince of mewni, a kingdom that was once destroyed and reborn when Marco’s family found the deserted land. the ocean side palace is threatened by a powerful, unstoppable pirate force that threatens to destroy everything. marco, desperate to do something, attempts to pray to appease the old gods of anicent mewni though ends up finding someone else instead.

and that’s it. i hope you all enjoy it. @hipster-rapunzel and if you would like to be on my tag list (a list of people i’ll tag when i post stories on tumblr) please let me know.

That’s it for me, have a fantastic week and stay amazing people! thank you if you read my story and thank you if you don’t. bye!

“Father, please...” Marco began but the only response the agitated flutter of his father's cape.

“Marco this is not the time.” Rafael replied, his hands anxiously tapping against each other “You do not understand Mijo”

“I don't understand?” Marco shot back with a harsh edge, eyes flaring in disbelief “I understand father. I am not the simple schoolboy you believe me to be. I am prince of...”

“You are the prince of Mewni” Rafael boomed over him “And I am its king. I am trying to protect you but you do not seem to realize...”

“What?” Marco snapped, arms crossed against his white elegant military tunic and crisp black dress pants, his blade hanging lazily at his side “What don't I understand? That there is a massive pirate fleet on the way? Ready to steal our food, precious goods and raze our kingdom to the ground? Is that what I don't understand, dad?”

Rafael frowned at the Marco's chose of informal terminology. He let out a mighty sigh, slumping into the simple yet refined throne tiredly, his crown sliding off to one side of his head.

“Marco, it is too dangerous.....Your mother and I....if something were to happen....”

Marco huffed in disagreement “I am the crowned prince of Mewni. I cannot simply stand by and let my people, our people die! You said it yourself: Every able bodied man must answer the call...”

“Marco, I...”

“And I” Marco said with an edge of finality “Am an able bodied man. With or without your permission, I will fight.”

Rafael sighed in defeated “Marco....how could we possibly hope to hold them off? Ocean surrounds our palace on far too many sides.”

Marco paused uneasily, unsure how to solve a problem that had persisted through his entire lifetime and that of his father's. When Marco's great, great, great (many greats) ancestors found the rotting shell that was once the kingdom of Mewni over thousands of years ago, raiders and pirates were small bands, troublesome but hardly a threat. By the time such groups became a formidable size, the kingdom had grown far too large to be consider a target. Any attempts to take or pillage the oceanic palace were a Pyrrhic victory at best and a devastating loss at worst.

Something, however, changed.

The once orderless, aimless wanderers of the sea became focused, determined and worst of all, powerful. Someone or something across the waves in far off land was gathering the most vile, cutthroat and savage of those who roamed the sea and marshal them into a deadly force that spread like a plague, threatening to claim all who call the ocean home.

The reports had been around for decades of course: Written accounts of the forces brutality first hand, recounted with horrifying details. But back then it had been an unfathomable distance away, a problem that was over there, harmless to Mewni. Mewni would survive. Mewni would be safe.

Mewni was on the verge of being wiped off the face of the map now. Another forgotten land lost to tragedy and time. The reports were no longer of far, inconceivable distances but mere miles away from the palace. The kingdom swelled in size as survivors poured in with every passing breeze, each bringing a renewed sense of dread and fear that infected the populous with terror.

“Father....” Marco murmured softly “There must be a way....something we haven't thought of. Perhaps if we ask for aid...”

“None of our neighbors can spare anything more.”

“Umm...perhaps we can train our men to....”

“The attack” Rafael muttered quietly “is fast approaching. We do not have enough time to ensure all able bodied men will be able to use a sword properly let alone cannons and rifles.”

Marco froze, his mind whirling a million miles per hour. He hated how useless he felt, he hated how each plan he came up with would only end with failure. Mewni had face innumerable, impossible odds before and survived but it seems this time the gods favor....

“Wait!” Marco cried out “Wait, I have an idea.”

Rafael turned wearily to his son “Marco?”

“The gods. T-the old gods! From before. Let's pray to them....”

Silence filled the room, unsure and concerned eyes fell upon Marco as the once hushed, invisible gathering of people who remained quiet during exchange now murmured with barely contain whispers.

“Marco, we've been over this” Rafael firmly replied, rising to his feet angrily “The old gods are just a myth, a remnant from a civilization long past as we will be if we don't figure out a real plan”

“But dad, the texts! They speak of...”

“I KNOW WHAT THEY SPEAK OF MARCO!” Rafael roared, slamming his fist against his throne.

Silence fell once more, even Marco was unable to respond to his father's outbust. He had never seen such a thing before and only now did it dawn to him how scared his father must've truly be.

Rafael took a deep, calming breath, his shoulders sagging once more “I know what you want to believe Marco. I know you want to believe in all powerful deities who could save us with a flick of their wrist. I knew you wished the guardians that live beneath the waves to exist but they do not. They are not real, they were never real and they're never going to be real. Marco, we need a plan, not fairy tales.”

“But....” Marco weakly began but he far too tired and lost too much of his momentum to go on

“Marco, my son. Please leave us be. We have a war to plan.”

Marco sighed, the weight of the situation pressing down on him far too much for him to fight back.

Marco gave a polite bow and strode out of the room, defeated and dejected.

The doors creaked open then shut behind him with a deafening thud.

Marco rubbed his eyes tiredly, leaning against the thick wooden throne room door “Oh man....what I am going to do?”

“How about pray?”

Marco flailed wildly, grasping his sword though struggled to free it of its sheath.

“Whoa, honey, honey calm down!”

Marco felt tense as a pair of hands grip his shoulders gently. He turned only to find himself staring into the face of his mother, worry etched into every inch of her face.

“Moooom!” Marco spoke with a childish whine “How many times did I tell you not to sneak up on me? You almost gave me a heart attack.”

Angie giggled, patting her son's cheek lovingly “No, if I told the ladies of the court how much you love singing you'd die of a heart attack.”

Marco pulled away from his mother though he did not break her hold on him “You joke far too much.”

“And you” Angie countered “far too little. You're a young man, not a cranky geezer. You need to relax”

“How can I relax when our entire kingdom is threatened? How can I be at ease when our family, our people could wiped out of existence. Father needs me....”

Angie pursed her lips as she held Marco tightly.

“Marco, we'll be fine.”

Marco sighed “I want to make sure. Even if it's pointless, I want to do something....anything. I can't just sit here and just pretend”

“Well” Angie asked quizzically “What did you have in mind?”

Marco shifted uncomfortably “It's stupid.”

“No, running down the hall in your undergarments is stupid, your idea is not.”

Marco chuckled, giving his mother a small grin “I do want to pray.”

“Umm...didn't I just...”

Marco shook his head vigorously “No, I mean...to the old Mewni gods....”

“oh.....oh”

“I know it's stupid....” Marco whispered “but....I...

Marco stopped as he felt his mother pat his head, rubbing away his well kept hair.

“I understand. I mean as long as you know nothing is probably going to happen, I can't see the harm in it.”

“Really? But dad said...”

“Dad” Angie replied firmly “is under a lot of stress. He's not exactly in the right state of mind. Here, I'll show you how to properly pray to a non-existent god.”

“Gee, when you say it like that, I sound a little crazy.”

“All those with faith are a bit crazy dear.”

Marco shivered as a harsh, chilled wind swept against him, howling furiously as his boots crunched against the sandy shore, the waves that crashed against the land soothing yet thunderous.

Marco was at the base of the cliff that held the palace aloft, its surface gray and roughly carved by the countless centuries the wind had thrown itself against it.

He glanced about under his riding cloak, a small container wrapped gingerly in his hands as he made his way to the location his mother told him about.

“34....35.....36” Marco told himself “37 paces from the dirt road.”

Marco looked about, unsure what he was looking for. There was nothing here but rocks that washed ashore, patches of random grass and weeds that managed to survive the salty air and an uneven cliff face. There was no tunnel, no cavern to the reflective pool that his mother said existed.

“Mom” Marco rolled his eyes irritated “ugh, you just told me this to keep me busy, didn't you?”

Marco scoffed, taking his frustration on a nearby rock, kicking it as hard and watching it as it lazily sailed through a nearby bush.

What Marco expected to hear was the sound of solid Earth ricocheting off a larger piece of rock. What Marco heard was the far off echo of rustling and the thud, thud, thud disappearing into the void.

Marco pulled away the obstructing bush to find the mouth of a cavernous tunnel that sloped downward, deep into the ground.

“Okay.” Marco nodded to himself, carefully taking a slow step forward “Either ancient Mewmans were paranoid or I'm about to find some really creepy cultist crap. Please don't be a cultist crap, pleeeeease don't be cultist crap.”

The shadows grew around Marco the further he ventured, the illumination brought by the mid-day sun swallowed whole by the emptiness of the dark, the only sounds of life were his own footsteps and the moaning of the breeze.

Marco coughed though refused to remove his grasp on the container.

The tunnels deepened, curving slightly ever downward in subtle and confusing ways. Marco lost track how long he'd been blanketed in shadows and he began to fidget anxiously.

“This was the stupidest idea I've had” Marco told himself “and I once thought putting roast beef between two slices of bread was a good idea. I mean how am I supposed to use a fork with that? Sigh, I should just go back. I don't know why I'm even doing this, it won't even ah!”

Marco flinched as, without warning, a warm light basked him in its glow. Marco's strained against the sudden shift before focusing once more.

“ugh, I....whoa....”

All about him were multicolored crystals, large, thick towering pieces spreading through in every direction, splashes and hues blending together and covered the enclosed cove in every possible color Marco could've ever had imagined and many more he wouldn't never dream of.

Far beyond the sandy, cold sand under his feet was the ocean, the cool sea breeze chilling him to the bone while it raced throughout the hidden cavern.

There wasn't much left in here: broken, discarded pieces of items once used for worship, weapons that have long rusted and dissolved away, papers and books that seemed complete but would crumble into dust once Marco attempted to move them.

The only thing that remained of the ancient Mewmans that once lived here was a smooth, carefully carved stone altar that was sunk halfway where the ocean and land met.

“Okay” Marco muttered to himself, slowly edging closer to the stone monument “Mom did not mention an altar but it's okay. just because it's here doesn't mean it has to do anything with a cult.”

The soft, wet crunch of Marco's boots mixed with the natural ambiance of the ocean, a harmony of peace as Marco gently placed his offering upon the stone.

He carefully unwrapped his gift, his stomach rumbling loudly as the mouth watering smell of melted cheese wafted into the empty cavern, triangular chips held in an elegant royal bowl.

Marco's signature dish: Super Awesome Nachos.

“Hey” Marco started, his voice awkward and constrained from lack of use. He coughed loudly, feeling more and more embarrassed with each passing moment “Man, only I can get humiliated in an empty room.”

Marco closed his eyes, his breath calm and relaxed.

“I...I know you're not real.” Marco spoke “I know you're not probably didn't exist.....I...I don't know what else to do....I...I'm scared.....I need a way to save my family, my people...but I don't have anything else.....please....help.”

The only response Marco received was the howling of the ocean breeze and the washing of the water against the sand.

Marco shook his head. Why was he even here? Why did he even bother? He should be with his father, attempting to figure out some sort of way to save their home, not in some sort of creepy cave from a time that no longer existed.

Marco's steps faded away as the young prince made his way through the darkness, disappointed in himself for such a childish endeavor.

The waves crashed carelessly against the shore of the cove as they did for countless years and would do so for countless more but something else lurked beneath the surface.

A dark humanoid shape shifted anxiously in the darkness of the water, inching closer and closer to the nachos left on the stone altar.

A pair of sky blue eyes peered from the water, looking back and forth for any signs of life but finding none.

The figure approached carefully, eying the treat with great wonder.

The head of a young woman rose from the water, her long bright blonde hair wet and clung to her back. She took a large whiff of the strange food before letting out a content sigh

“hee, that smells amazing!” the girl cooed to herself, approaching the altar carefully “I didn't think anyone left any food here any more.”

she lay there, her upper half free of the watery grip of the ocean while her lower half remained below

She reached for it, nearly taking hold of the treat before stopping

“Whoa Star” She scolded herself “You can't just eat weird food, randomly placed an offering altar no one has used in your lifetime. Psst, wait! Sure I can”

Star took a chip from the bowl, marveling at the orange substance that lay across. She took a little nibble.

Her eyes widened as her taste buds exploded with an amazing sensational taste she never experienced.

She let out a content moan before rapidly digging into the food, shoving as much as she could into her mouth, her hands dripping in the cheesy, gooey sauce as she ate like a ravenous animal.

Crunch, crunch, crunch.

Star stopped at once, her eyes darting back and forth wildly as someone approached.

“Oh crud”  she tossed the bowl back onto the altar haphazardly before diving back into the water, her pink fish tail displacing water about before disappearing into the inky dark.

Marco trudged back, aggravated and annoyed.

“I can't believe I forgot the bowl” Marco scolded himself as he came into back the hidden cove.

Star watched as the strange creature came into view, walking on two stumpy, strange looking fins.

Star glanced at her tail, her fingers over her smooth pink scales in awe and wonder

“Could my fin be like that? Ooooh two fins? I could swim twice as fast!”

There was a muted thud. Star's attention snapped back to the surface and the stranger that came closer to the water's edge.

Star let out a gasp of surprise, leaning forward as she caught a proper view of the beautiful stranger

He was about old as she was. He wore some sort of cloth that covered his body with varying colors. His hair was well kept, slicked back and as brown as some of the algae she found near her home when she went looking for treasure or caught with general wanderlust. He bent over, picking up the bowl from the sand, glancing about curiously.

Star caught her breath as his gaze fell onto her. Well not onto her since she was hiding within the depths of the ocean but she felt like he was. Like he was seeing her and only her. His dark brown caramel eyes were hypnotizing and Star found himself reaching towards him.

“Hello?” Marco called out but there was nothing here. No signs of life, no footsteps. In fact, other than the fact the bowl fell off the altar on its own.

Marco frowned, suspicious of what could've caused the bowl to tip over...and emptied.

“Hello?” he shouted again “I mean you know no harm....but admittedly you're freaking me the hell out.”

Star swished back and forth anxiously, nervously biting at her lips.

The soft crunch, crunch, crunch of the stranger's funny looking land fins dully echoed throughout the water, keeping Star fixated upon the handsome man.

“Hello?”

Star waved under the waves.

“I'll come back tomorrow” Marco told no one “Maybe you'd like to talk then?”

Silence.

“Yeah....and I'm talking to myself....”

Star watched eagerly as the handsome man glanced about the empty cove uneasily before being swallowed whole by the darkness.

“HI!” Star leapt out from the beneath the water, waving frantically to catch the attention of the stranger “I'm Star!”

No response.

“Shoot” she pouted, smacking the aquatic substance that surrounded her “Right, I got be faster. Tomorrow, tomorrow for sure!”

The next few days were interesting to say the least and not because Star had yet to talk to the beautiful stranger that graced the cove but because she found him fascinating

He was a creature of habit, always arriving at the same time with the same outfit and the same wondrous snack that made Star's stomach rumble hungrily.

He was timid in his movements almost he was afraid of being ridiculed and mocked despite the fact he was 'alone' in the cove.

The first day or so, he placed the snack back on the altar and waited a respectful distance away. Star wanted to greet the man but she found herself nervous and her throat dry. How does one exactly talk to someone who didn't look exactly like you?

The man would stay for an hour before sighing in defeat and taking the treat back to wherever he came from which always caused Star to whimper sadly.

The next he came, he was far less formal, opting to dress in a simple white tunic and dress pants. Instead of laying the amazing food at the altar, he gently placed it where the ocean met the land and laid beside it.

This time he spoke and Star couldn't help but listen.

His name was Marco Ubaldo Diaz, he was the crowned prince of Mewni and he was feeling a bit trapped about a situation that threatened his kingdom though he never clarified what was the problem

He would stay there for hours, just talking and with each word out of his mouth, Star's fascination with him only grew.

He talked about how lonely it was being the crowned prince, the constant need to pretend, how he longed to do what was right and just.

He described the world he belonged to: The green grassy knolls, the beautiful flowers that grew in the spring, the nachos he made by hand.

Star listened, eager to learn more and more about Marco and his world though she could've done without him teasing her about the nachos. He chewed on them happily and Star could do nothing but fume.

Today was the 7th day and this was the day Star was going to introduce herself, hell or high water.

Marco approached as usual, nachos slung under his arm.

He planted the bowl in the middle again and took a calming breath.

He had long since given up expecting some sort of mystical entity to appear from the sea. He convinced himself some creature smelled his food and ate it. He must've scared it off when he returned for the bowl. 2 plus 2 equals math.

Still, Marco came every day, finding peace and solace in this isolated, hidden place. There was something therapeutic about sitting here and talking about his problems to the world, to nature without no one to judge him.

“ You know...” Marco began, looking lovingly to the ocean far in the distance “Non-existent person who I kept referring to so I have some sort of focal point for my thoughts. I always wondered what lay beneath ocean? So much of it covers our world....yet no one knows what is under the sea.....I wonder often and...”

“I can answer that!”

Marco jumped, tumbling backwards against the uneven sand as an unexpected splash echoed through the small cove.

Marco eyes widened as a beautiful woman appeared from out of nowhere, her hair damp and wrapping over her shoulder, the only thing covering her bare skin and...

Marco felt his cheeks reddened, averting his eyes at once “I-I'm sorry, I didn't think...”

“Umm, why aren't you looking at me? Do I have something on my face?”

“N-no” Marco stammered “I mean no disrespect miss but you're...you're...umm....”

“Did my shells come off? Oh that's embarrassing”

Marco snuck a peek despite how horrible of an idea that could've been and true to her word, the girl was not naked as he feared but was wearing two strategically placed shells as some sort of makeshift outfit.

“...oh good” Marco let out a tense sigh “Wait, how did you get here?”

The woman laid on the beach, propped on her elbows and looking at him as if he was the most interesting thing in the world “Oh I swam here.”

“How...? Marco questioned, taking a step forward to the enchanting beauty.

“Duh, my fin.”

Marco jolted awake, his eyes blurry and his head spinning

“are you okay?”

Marco moaned groggily, something bright and yellow leaning over him.

“I...”

“I didn't mean to freak you out.”

“I...?”

His vision cleared and there lay the girl from before, her sky blue eyes brimming with joy and relief, her sunshine blonde hair hanging loosely over her shoulder, held back only by a hand brushing it behind her ear.

“.....I....! Fish!”

“Fish?” Star perked, looking around excitedly “Where?

“You!” Marco backed away “You're a fish!”

Star pouted, her tail fin smacking the retreating tide “psst, I'm a mermaid, not a fish.”

“...W-wait, mermaid?”

Star peered curiously at Marco's stunned face

“Yeah? Never seen a mermaid before?”

“No!” Marco cried outloud

“Well, just because you've never seen a mermaid doesn't mean we don't exist.”

Marco ran his hand through his hair “I can't believe this...h-how long have you been watching me?”

Star happily chewed on Marco's cheesy snack, letting out a contented moan

“all week'

“All week?!” Marco's voice cracked “Wait, you heard everything?!”

“Yep!”

Marco clutched at his hair, feeling faint at the idea someone witnessed how exposed he allowed himself be.

“Could you tell me more?”

Marco stared at the...girl? Who leaned further on her elbows, eyes shimmering with wonder and awe.

“What?”

“Your world” Star beamed “It sounds amazing....could you tell me some more?

“you're not going to make fun of me?”

“Make fun of you?” Star raised an eyebrow “Why would I do that?”

“Because I'm a loser?”

“Loser? You're amazing!”

Marco flushed at her kind, genuine words, her bright smile bringing one onto his own lips

“I....”

“please?” Star pleaded as her hand snuck into the bowl for more nachos.

Marco sat before the mermaid, trying to prevent himself from passing out again.

“Umm...sure. I'm Marco” he offered his hand politely “and I'm talking to a mermaid....”

Star glanced at his hand and gingerly took it in her own, giving it a small shake

Marco marveled at how soft her skin felt against his

“I'm Star. Now share these nachos with me and tell everything. Don't leave anything out.”

[vferrw]

Out of the Fire (Mar. 2018)

It was 4 A.M. and Angie had finally fallen asleep despite having gone to bed hours before. This was her new routine. She’d lay in bed for hours staring at the shadows in her messy room. Sometimes the pile of dirty laundry in the middle of her floor looked like a hell hound. It always startled her until her eyes adjusted to the dark and she would make a mental note of putting her clothes in the washer first thing in the morning.  A mental note that she knew she would ignore. It became hard for her to do anything, even eat, after she lost her twin sister in a school fire the year before.

Angie tossed and turned while sleeping, making a knot with her bed sheets until they wrapped around her like a boa constrictor.

           “Casey,” she mumbled in between deep breaths.

           “CASEY,” the room felt hot and she cried her sisters name. 

In her nightmare she could see her sister standing in the middle of a fire, unharmed. Her long, wavy caramel hair danced behind her as the flames avoided her, moving all around her, never touching her. Angie could see her, trapped inside the room, and all she could do was watch from the other side of the door. Casey. Beautiful as ever, wearing a long white gown. Then Angie could feel it. The fire burning her legs, pinching her arms, then filling her lungs. Angie was now in the room, wearing the gown, and Casey was on the other side of the door watching as the flames surrounded Angie.

           “This is what it felt like,” Casey would say behind the door, but Angie heard her as if she were whispering into her ear.

           “You left me,” Casey’s voice taunted her, while Angie could feel the heat eat away at her skin.            

           “I’m sorry,” Angie yelled in her dream, “I’m sorry!”

 Angie woke up to her mother shaking her awake. Her bed sheets were soaked with sweat and she felt as if cats had been scratching away at her throat.

           “Angela,” her mother said, “it’s just a dream. You’re awake, you’re here. Calm down, sweetie.”

           “Water,” Angie said. “Please.”

           “Sweetie, you’re burning up. Why do you have the space heater on?”

Her mother got up to turn it off. Angie reached for the water bottle on her nightstand, and noticed her mother had put her meds next to it. She grabbed the pill bottle, put them in the first drawer of the nightstand, and said nothing else.

           “Angela, please. You need to take your medication to feel better. It’s been a year, sweetie. Your father and I miss her too, but we’re concerned for you,” she took the pills out of the drawer and set them on the nightstand again.

           “Maybe they’ll make the nightmares go away,” she ran her fingers through Angie’s hair like she used to when she was five and couldn’t sleep. Angie remained quiet.

           “Just promise you’ll try, okay?” She kissed her forehead and left the room.

Angie put the pill bottle back in the first drawer and turned the light off.

                                                             ***

April 2nd, the anniversary of the fire. Students were returning to school after spring break. Posters were hung up in every hall encouraging students to buy tickets for the upcoming school play. Last year, Casey would have been buzzing about the show and rehearsals. She was going to be on Broadway, she’d say. Even if she would only make it as a tree in the background. Angie stopped and stared at a poster hung next to Casey’s old locker. How could they put on a play this year after what happened? It’s as if the fire never took place. As if a year ago some careless kid didn’t light candles next to the costume rack and forgot to put them out until the entire backstage was up in flames. This year would have been Casey and Angie’s fourth high school play. Their senior year. Angie tore the poster down and left the building. She walked home before the bell could ring for first period.

At home, she stared in the bathroom mirror, remorseful of what she saw. Ever since the accident, she avoided her reflection as much as possible. It was unbearable to look at herself and see the same face as her best friend. To see her sister staring back at her in the mirror, despite her being gone. Angie and Casey loved being twins. They were nearly identical, except for a small beauty mark above Angie’s left eyebrow, they wore the same face, same hair, same build. They always kept their hair long, falling down to their hips.          

           “Like Rapunzel,” Casey would joke. “If one of us ever need to sneak out or in, we can just let down our hair.”

Angie opened the bathroom drawer and grabbed scissors. She looked in the mirror and put a section of her hair between her middle finger and her pointer finger, holding it next to her chin and snipping. She did this for ten minutes until ribbons of caramel hair mounted on the floor and in the sink. She stared at her reflection now. Her hair framing her face in a tight bob.

           “That’s better,” she said.

 On her way to her room, she stopped in front of the door next to hers. The door with Casey’s Hollywood star decorating it. She hadn’t gone inside since returning from the hospital that day. She was scared if she did that she would get lost. Lost in her thoughts, in her memories, in Casey’s tomb. That’s what it was. A tomb. A place where all of her sister’s belongings remained, where her bed was still unmade and stray hairs probably still lined her hairbrush. Casey held onto all of their childhood pictures and sisterly memorabilia in a box under her bed.

           “Why do you keep it all in a box?” Angie asked once, after printing a few pictures from their winter break for her sister to add to her collection.

           “So that it’s all together in a safe space,” she answered. “I don’t want to lose it. The memories. I’m going to need to remember you when I’m on a media tour for the big Hollywood movie I’m going to be in,” Casey laughed and crinkled her nose in the way she usually did when she knew she was exaggerating.

           “Oh, sure,” Angie laughed too. “As if you could ever forget me.”

Angie thought about walking into the room quickly to grab the box, but the thought of it made her lightheaded. Instead she went to her room and opened her sketchbook. The last drawing was dated March 2017; over a year ago. She always opened the book with intent to “express her emotions through visual art” as her therapist and parents had advised her to do, but instead she always found herself staring at a blank page. The blank page would turn into daydreams and visions of red and orange. The colors wrestling, no, dancing with one another to the melody of a failing heartbeat. Angie could see it all clearly, hear it, smell it.

Without dreaming she would hear her sister cry for help.

                                                            ***

Angie remembered running backstage after the fire reached the curtain. She was the stage manager for the show and over the headset heard someone say there was a fire backstage. She was trying not to trip over piles of set equipment and avoided the burning wooden planks that were left backstage for the unfinished set. Everyone was evacuating, but she was trying to find her sister. She had been rehearsing her lines, dressed in her character’s full costume, a beautiful white gown. There was too much wood and equipment backstage that helped the fire grow and travel faster. Angie’s skin was painted in ash, and it became impossible to breath. Before she could reach the dressing room, a firefighter came in and carried her away from the disaster. Away from her sister.

She remembered screaming, her throat feeling dry and ripped apart. She remembered the firefighters empty promise.    

           “I’ll go back for her,” he kept reassuring her.

She woke up in a hospital bed hours later with mild burn marks all over her arms. She received the news of her sister shortly after and didn’t speak to anyone for a week. For a while, she would play with a lighter, often holding it up to her skin, hearing the words from her nightmare.

           “This is what it felt like.”

                                                           ***

Angie closed her sketchbook. Drawing anything other than the fire would be impossible. It was all she could think about, but she couldn’t dare turn that into art. She looked over to her nightstand and opened the drawer. Her pills and a lighter. She took out both. She flicked the lighter on. This fire she could control. On and off. On and off. After six months of therapy after being diagnosed with depression and PTSD, she stopped trying to harm herself. There’s no point. It won’t bring her back. She opened the bottle of pills and put two in her mouth, but spit them out shortly after. These don’t help either.

For months, after the accident, her body sometimes felt like it was in and out. Like a fading TV signal, fluctuating from pixels to a solid image. Empty. Now, she just felt like something was missing, something other than her sister.

Closure?          

How do I get closure from someone who’s gone?

Angie walked towards her sister’s door again and reached for the door knob. She stood there for a while, gripping the golden handle hard enough for her hand to turn white. She leaned her head against the wooden frame and slammed her fist into Casey’s Hollywood star as her face became damp with tears.

          “Why can’t I do this,” she let out.

          “Let me in,” she sobbed and fell to her knees. Sitting in front of the door, she finally let herself cry, something she hadn’t done since the funeral.

The front door opened and across the hall Angie’s mother saw her daughter crying.      

           “Angie, you should be in school, what’s wrong?” she quickly approached her and held her against her chest.

           “What are you doing in front of Casey’s door? Your hair, Angela, you cut it?” She asked the question knowing the answer.

Angie broke, “I miss her, mom. I miss her so much and I haven’t even looked at a picture of her or gone to her grave. Today is a year, and I miss her so much.”

There it was. That’s what she needed. She needed to admit it. Admit to herself that she hadn’t tried to accept the loss, she did nothing to seek out her sister. To keep her alive, not physically, of course, but in memory. While she complained about the school and the students moving on as if the fire didn’t happen, she could barely even walk past her sister’s room.

           “We can go, sweetie. It’s a year today, let’s go visit your sister,” Angie’s mother wiped the tears from her daughters face.

           “I need something from her room first,” Angie said. “A box under her bed.”

           “Okay, I’ll grab it. You go wash your face, and get ready. Whatever you need to do, okay?” Her mother waited for Angie to walk away before opening the bedroom door.

 Angie walked to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She stared in the mirror and appreciated her reflection, glad she could still see her sister’s face. When she walked out of the bathroom, her mother was holding Casey’s box, closing the bedroom door behind her.

           “Wait,” Angie said, “can we leave her door open?”

           Her mother was surprised, but smiled, “of course, yes, that’s a great idea.”

Angie took the box from her mother and before leaving stopped once more in front of Casey’s bedroom. It still smelled like her favorite cucumber watermelon body spray. She looked inside, her eyes washing over the posters of Casey’s favorite Broadway musicals, framed photos of them together lining her dresser, and her army of fake succulent plants displayed on her window sill.

Angie couldn’t tell how she felt at that moment, but knew something had washed over her. 

          “Don’t worry, Case, I’ll keep adding to your box so you don’t forget me, wherever you are.”          

She turned away and for the first time in a very long time she no longer felt alone. She knew it would still be a long time before she could feel completely okay again, but now she felt like it was actually possible to heal.

She walked away from the room, and held the box close to her chest.

           “And I won’t forget you either,” she said.