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Dying Stars By Pin Valley
His hands slid across the spotless counter as he slowly walked to the light in the center of the room. With the smooth floor as cold as the thoughts crowding in his mind, frostbite gently nipped at his feet. Blood lovingly dripped from each limb, but he was persistent enough to make it. An oddly placed field of grass lay before him, a single white orchid wilting in the center. With his legs shaking as they were forced to move, the flow- er just seemed to distance itself. Following his presence was a darkness looming over his shoulder, whispering into each ear. Only a loud static was audible to him, the flower’s music drowning in it. No one has heard an orchid sing, so his mind refused to listen. Pins and needles licked the sides of each leg, his arms not yet in their reach. A loud thud played over the static as his legs gave in beneath him. The flower stopped running and
he crawled to its symphony. With his speed immediately tarnished, the darkness crept on top of him. His breathing was harsh and unsteady, who knew the lack of light would be so heavy? It taunted him, slightly in the lead. The flower’s light dimmed more with each inhale he made. The grass grew under his cracked hands, each blade helping him crawl along the floor. His body threatened to fall limp, leaving him to be drained out and hol- low. The pins spread to his arms, each crack and blister bleeding from his palms. Deter- mination shrinking to exhaustion, his motivation was wearing thin. The grass shriveled under the blood spilling from his body, his only assistance running away from him. The static reached the lonesome orchid, teasingly dimming its light. With the white noise slowly disappearing, his ears screamed for his heartbeat to stop. The flower’s music was gone now, leaving complete silence to add to his insanity. He turned to lie on his back, looking for dying stars. With the last light burnt out, the stars revealed themselves. His shaky breaths slowed and came to a steady stop.
“The stars are beautiful tonight; I wish you could see them.”
By Wyatt Smith