Hiding Behind Walls

For my final project in Advanced Writing, I wrote two short stories: Of Discovery and Of Life and Death. When posting them together, I wanted a title that correctly encompassed both stories and I felt a similar theme in both works was walls. Both main characters have built was in defense of what they feel, and both men learn to slowly take down these walls. So here they are for you to read.

Of Discovery
Jake is an average high school student, struggling with how he is perceived by other people. In order to complete a school assignment, he begins to journal. And through his journaling, he begins to see himself for who he really is, and comes to a personal discovery.

Of Life and Death
One morning, Chris wakes up to realize his husband is dead, and through the motions of burying a loved one, he begins to understand the emotional pressures placed onto him through what he feels as abandonment. Eventually, he realizes he must face the issues of abandonment he has in order to truly lay his husband to rest.

Hope

Where do I go

to find myself,

to hide myself

from this world I'm living in?

The spring awakens

from a dark and cold winter,

a hibernation from myself

and the places I've let myself go.

Anew and rejuvenated,

I search for that inner peace

to help me find a way

back to that place I called home.

There's something in the air.

I breathe in a soothing scent,

a tropical beach paradise

The place I escape to

Tomorrow I will find myself again,

Today I sit and wait,

observing strangers as they pass by,

rushing off in their daily lives.

A woman carrying her child,

A suit and tie glancing at his watch,

A grandmother crossing the street,

All off in their own little worlds.

No one looks at me,

I understand, I'm not a part of that world.

Not today, but soon.

In time, they will know me.

I hide from a bright and glorious world,

in the darkness I thrive,

but in time that will change,

Tomorrow's a new day.

the fear inside

Lying awake in bed,
Wishing I could have said
something

to keep me from feeling blue
to keep me from losing you

theres something behind those eyes
those pretty blue eyes that hypnotize
if i could just bear the simple pain
to rip off this elaborate disguise

i know it would be so much better
i know i could be so much better
how can i keep the fear in me
from losing you?

the past has left me weathered,
issues keep me tethered
to a pain i feel deep inside
thats why I write this letter

explaining who i am
explaining where i am
but where i want to go is not yet written
and the one i know who keeps me livin

the life i lead would be so much better
i know i could be so much better
how can i keep the fear in me
from losing you?

i apologize for this disguise
its not fair to you or what you want to do
i want to be yours, dont you understand that
my happiness stems from only you?

we were happy before this rift
and we're destined to be again
i know you feel it too
cause babe its me and you

your dark brown hair,
your pretty blue eyes,
a smile to save a thousand lives

i want you to be so much better,
t0 make you feel so much better
the one thing running on my mind
is taking care of you

forget the doubt, forget the worry.
im here babe, im in no hurry.

I'm lying awake in bed,
wishing i could have said
something more.

Just tell me how to keep from losing you.

The Click

The light flickers,

the wind chilly

I turn,

Walking deeper into the abyss

Something's coming

Hard, fast

Lightning cracks the ground beside me.

I shiver.

Wake, wake

the morning comes,

but there is no sun,

only darkness

Where to run?

Nowhere, Anywhere.

The ice is chilling.

I drink.

Ah, that's it.

There goes the click.

Forming Clarity

Unsure of this life,

Caught on the lonesome road.

Dark and desolate,

He waited for the light.

The shiny, soft light,

shades of yellow and green,

round and lively,

bringing him to a sense of clarity.

But it wasn't there.

What he felt, and who he was,

it was sad.

Big moment of sadness.

It's gone. All of it.

Nothing is here.

Where is the light? Where can I find it?

Is it here? Is it in you?

The Heart Brings You Back

Time, Time

Got to go

Go away

Not enough time

Leave, leave

Try so hard

Hard to stay

People always leave

How do I get back,

back to a place

where I'm okay

with everything I am?

When did I lose myself?

Where did I go?

Questions, questions,

All I have are questions.

The answers are there,

I just can't see.

Logic isn't fitting,

only fleeting me.

Time, time.

Plenty of it,

always there.

Not enough time.

Leave, leave.

Don't want to do it.

Never want

to leave.

"Entertainment Now" Interview

Jeff: (to audience) I'm here with Kyle Low, star of the new teen thriller, "Slasher High". (to Kyle) Thanks for making it out, Kyle.

Kyle: No problem, Jeff. Glad to be here.

Jeff: Now Kyle, you play the main character, Chris Keller. What's his role in the film?

Kyle: Chris is the center, man. The mystery revolves around him. The killer is killing off his friends, one by one, and he has to figure out who it is before he's the next one to go.

Jeff: Why is he a target?

Kyle: Without getting into too much detail, he does something pretty stupid to trigger the killer's rage. Basically, he makes fun of an old urban legend surrounding the school, and the killer seeks revenge.

Jeff: So he's an asshole, Chris?

Kyle: Essentially. At the beginning, yes.

Jeff: What changes?

Kyle: The way in which his friends are killed is in direct correlation to how he treats them and what he says. Chris realizes how much of an asshole he is. So, by mid-movie, there's a significant change in him.

Jeff: Does he survive?

Kyle: You'll have to go find out won't you?

Jeff: (laughs) Fair enough. Now, the other lead is the sexy, Kristin Blaire, who plays an acquaintance of Chris', Mandy Hargrove. But she's not very fond of him, is she?

Kyle: No, Mandy is deinitely not on the Chris train. While his friends and girlfriend all swoon over him because he's the star of the football team, Mandy keeps it real.

Jeff: So what happens to put you two together?

Kyle: They're lab partners. Chris does a dick move and ruins their experiment during class, so a few of them have to stay after school to et it done.

Jeff: And that's when the killer shows up?

Kyle: That's when the action starts, yeah. Someone mentions the legend. Chris is a douche. And the killer begins his killing spree.

Jeff: With all these killings , it seems like Chris learns his lesson. So it's more than just a slasher?

Kyle: There's some depth, yes. For those who love a good horror flick, there's plenty of that. For those that want a little more, there's some of that, too.

Jeff: Sounds good. Now, this is your first big role in a movie. How does it feel?

Kyle: It feels great! I still can't believe it. I've done a few minor characters here and there. But nothing like a lead role. I love it!

Jeff: What other projects are you working on?

Kyle: I've got two other films in post-production, where I'm more of a supporting character. "The Darkness Within," where I play the best friend to a guy teetering on the edge of psychosis. It's a really dramatic role and was interesting to see Matt Goldberg go through his character's psychosis. And in "Kings & Thieves," I play a more comedic role as one of the henchmen to a business typhoon who's a bit dirtier than he portrays. Dylan Lutz is the main guy in that.

Jeff: Why the big switch between drama and comedy?

Kyle: I just wanted to try my hand at different types of films. I'd like to be a well-rounded actor. Show directors I can play an arrogant football player, concerned best friend, or a crazy henchman. I think it'll open up more doors to show different sides of me.

Jeff: Well, sounds like two very interesting movies. (turns to audience) "Slasher High" comes out this Friday, April 15. (looks at Kyle) We look forward to seeing you in it, Kyle. Thanks for joining us.

Kyle: Thank you.

Jeff: (turns back to audience) We'll be back with some more entertainment news after the break.

Firework

Do you ever feel like a plastic bag drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?

She walked down the hall silently, books in hand. Around her, people were shaking hands, bumping fists, hugging, and kissing. The sounds of chatter stung at her like annoying bees. She aught the eye of a cute blond boy waving at her. She smiled and waved back before realizing he was waving at Kendra McClain behind her.

She put her head down and continued walking, not noticing the "Caution: Wet Floor" sign beside her. After a few steps, she lost her footing and her right leg slipped straight out from under her. Books flying, she landed hard on her butt before tapping her head on the ground.

Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin, like a house of cards, one blow from caving in?

Kendra gasped and rushed over to help her up.

"Oh my gosh! Are you okay?"

She looked at Kendra, surprised. "Y-yeah." The blond girl looked astonishingly concerned. She almost couldn't believe it. She gave a shy grin. "Floor's s-slippery when w-wet."

"Yeh, they should really do something about that janitor," Kendra said, helping her to her feet. "I mean, who mops a floor right before class change?"

She nodded weakly. "Yeah."

"Do you need any help to your next class?" Kendra asked, grabbing her books.

"I-I t-think I'm g-good," she said, taking her books from the other girl. "Th-thanks."

"No problem." Kendra smiled. "Hey, if you're not doing anything for lunch, you can totally--"

Do you ever feel already buried deep? Six feet under, screams, but no one seems to hear a thing.

She opened her eyes and looked around. Kendra was already down the hall. Her books were strewn out around her. She sat up as the bell rang and people began scattering to their next class. No one seemed to notice that she had fallen, or cared to, anyway. She tucked her hair behind her ear, and began reaching for her fallen books, placing them in a stack.

Do you know that there's still a chance for you, 'cause there's a spark in you.

A tear fell from her eye as she reached for her last book. But it wasn't there. She turned and noticed a pair of white shoes next to her, and looked up to find the blond boy holding out to her the final book. She quickly wiped away the tear.

"Thanks."

"Nasty fall," he said, helping her up.

"S-slippery when wet."

He chuckled. "Yeh. Dangerous."

He grabbed her books and began walking down the hall.

She paused.

"Rachel," he called back, turning around and grinning. "You coming?"

She smiled and walked toward him.

You just got to ignite the light and let it shine. Just own the night like the 4th of July.

"You know my name."

He laughed. "Of course. We've been going to school together for two years now."

He pointed to a door on the left. "Osborne. Geometry. 1st Block, freshman year."

She looked down in a shy smile. "Learn, you will."

"That's right!!" he said, laughing. "She did have a thing for Star Wars. didn't she make us find the circumference and area of the Death Star?"

He nudged her. "And you were the only one to get it right."

She put a hand over her arm and kept walking. "That's me. The nerd."

He shook her head. "No, no. It's better than being an idiot. Like Kendra McClain. That girl actually applied to Cal U. Like 90210? She said, 'If it's good enough for Kelly Taylor, it's good enough for me!'"

They laughed. Rachel felt at ease.

"Here we are," he said, stopping at a door to their right. "Bio, right?"

"How'd you--?"

He smirked. "I have my ways."

He handed her the books.

"Thanks Tyler," she said.

He nodded and gave her a smile. "So, see you at lunch?"

She grabbed the handle and pressed down, still staring at him. "Sure."

Smiling, she turned and opened the door, walking in to the classroom.

Baby, you're a firework! Come on show 'em what you're worth.