"Alright, I get it. You're not going to talk to me. Can I just take you for a walk" Harold said to Edith
"No, who are you?" Edith Snapped.
"I'm your husband and we're going for a walk."
"Fine, you're still not my husband though." Edith said as Harold got her walker.  
Harold laughed to himself.
"Not her husband? I visit her everyday. Jeez. 50 years of marriage and this is what I get," Harold thought.
"I don't need that thing. Let me do it by myself." Edith said.
She pointed an old, pink nailed, dry finger at the walker. Harold strongly doubted that. He looked nervously around the room. No pictures on the walls, no quilt on the bed, nothing in the fridge, only a neatly made bed and a brown wood table.
"What a place to die," Harold thought.
She was his everything. At least, he thought she was. Had Harold been living a lie for all those years? Edith was already hobbling out of the door. He quickly followed behind her. As much as she hated him, he would be crushed if anything happened to her. Harold caught up with Edith as she was exiting into the courtyard, which was hardly a courtyard; it was just a bunch of plants on concrete ground. Harold reached for her hand; a fall on the concrete would be bad. Edith weekly pushed him away. And then, it happened. All Harold saw was a flash of navy blue rhinestone sweater hit the ground.
And a scream, "Harold! Help me!"

"Ba-Bump, Ba-Bump, Ba-Bump, Ba-Bump, BEEP!" The pulsing green line on the screen of the heart monitor became straight. It was all over. She was dead, Harold's wife of 50 years. Gone. Harold's hands flew to cover his eyes. Ha felt the warm wet tears streaming down his face. He felt his feet floating him toward the hospital bed, which was surrounded by nurses. The nurses were wearing all white and didn't look sad at all. Harold knelt down on the cold, linoleum hospital floor. He rested his head on Edith's cold legs. She didn't turn away, this time. She couldn't have. She was dead.
"No, Edith, she's dead!" Harold sobbed. "Please, someone, save her!"

Nobody came to save her. The only people who came were more nurses, to take the body of his wife away. When you're an innocent bystander in a crime you're just watching the madness go by. That's how Harold felt. It was a controlled madness, though. A million other old ladies had probably died in that very room. Harold stood sobbing in the middle of the room. His hands in the pockets of his pleated khaki pants. Looking for a tissue. What Harold found made him sob even harder than before. He took his hand out of his pocket. In his hand was a thin ring with a diamond. Edith's wedding ring, in his hand. It was beat up and the diamond was small. Edith must have slipped it into his pocket when she was mad at him. Harold closed his hand around the ring, in a tight fist. He brought his heavy hand to his heart. The world seemed to stop turning, the flowers seemed to stop growing, the lovers seemed to stop kissing, and Harold's heart seemed to stop beating. And that was the very moment that Harold knew he was alone without Edith.

-------
green eyes, blue skies
natural disasters when she cries.

NOTE: This was written the day after my uncle Scott committed suicide. I don't know if that helps me or hurts me in the contest. I just wanted to dedicate it to him here. R.I.P. Scott Daniel

-------
green eyes, blue skies
natural disasters when she cries.

The hallways and classrooms
were filling up.
Only brightness was left.
It resonated off of my Apus*

She is not a stranger to her  
beauty
and of light she is  
the greatest.  

Back and forth between the  
different planets
swelling and diving not unlike their heavy rings.
Their heavy things that make me wonder.

Books told legends-
Maps told of positions
I could not find her;
My Apus was gone.

And suddenly I blinded,
so I took my gentle rocket
I attempted to win Apus
The star nudged me back.

But truely she did deceivingly  
for I stuttered my next thought
Houston, please come in,
This is Apollo 11.
_

*Apus is the constellation of the bird of paradise.

Post edited at 9:50 am on July 10, 2008 by Wakeupcall

-------
I want David Blue.
Right now.

Dance!
Like your heart pumps with no other blood
Than that of a wild beast,
Caged.

Tearing in your very soul,
Red fury,
Splat!
On the walls and tables and chairs.

Move them out of your quickening feet's path.
They need it to
Dance!

Finally a soothing Melodie,  
And a gentle flutter at your creation
Perhaps on video?

Make nothing touch this moment.
This precious, precious sweat.

-

A poem dedicated to the birth of my niece.
Will gladly explain the concept further if asked.
My poems reflect events in mine, or other peoples' lives.

Post edited at 9:58 am on July 10, 2008 by Wakeupcall

-------
I want David Blue.
Right now.

Strings
Dodge and dive
The bitter hands of aged,
Practiced calibers
Like guns;

And like gun-smoke
They hang in the air softly
While the mind is whipped back
To a conscious state
When it before had drifted, face-up, floating;

Cool water
On the backs of silent victims
Who dwell in memories of sound
That at one time inspired
What they now kill.

-------
Let go.

You took my dignity
You stole my pride
Now theres no point
In being alive

You told me you loved me
Yet took all my self respect
You wiped out my memories
Still faced with neglect

You stripped me of love
Now im too cold to care
I was once your 'little princess'
Your 'little princess' is no longer there

You made me feel stupid
My memories denied
I told you I love you
I love you?.. I lied

You took my dignity
You stole my pride
All because of you
Your 'little princess' died

baby
You're hanging from a rope
But why did you do it?
I couldn't cope

Baby,
Why do you always write on your wrist?
With a knife...
With one small twist

Baby,
You know if you do this
There's no turning back
My heart will be broken
and I'm likely to crack

Baby you promised
You obviously don't care
You're dead on the floor
And you'll never be there

Baby, don't say that
You know full well I care
And if you ever need me
I will ALWAYS be there

Membername: Arcarius
Title of Piece: Floor Thirteen
Type of Piece (Memoir, Poem, Short Story etc.): Short Story
Piece:

I paced across the room, ski mask on and a Glock 19 compact pistol in hand. My hostages were kneeled before me as if worshipping a god. We were on the thirteenth floor of the Davidson Building, a large office complex devoted to the Davidson Banks strewn across this city like confetti.

One of the men in my line of acolytes looked up at me, his big blue eyes shining with the glow of tears as he said "Why are you doing this to us?"

I smirked under my black mask as I walked over to him. The footsteps from my boots were echoing unnaturally through the room. I kneeled down. My mouth closed in on his ear and I spoke in a gentle whisper, "I'm doing this to you because you deserve it."

At that I stood up promptly, letting the butt of my gun smash into the man's skull. He fell to the floor with a thud, crimson blood pooling around his head. The other hostages gasped at the sight of him. I shot a bullet into the ceiling to shut them up. The bang that emanated from my weapon suddenly turned me back into the center of attention. I couldn't stand these people.

In truth I was here because of an incident that happened quite awhile ago. Six months before my lock-down of this building I was fired from my job. Fired because my bosses son insisted that he work in management and apparently I was the weakest link.  I'll never forget how my prick of a boss waddled into my office like the fat little fuck he is. He took a seat on the chair in front of my desk, his fat body caused the seat to creak loudly as if it was in pain.

I remember I was reading some paperwork that was due later that week. Paperwork that I had used my valuable time to do; wasted my life on. He opened his little asshole of a mouth and said "I think we should talk."

I got up from my desk and walked over to him and asked "Alright sir. What is it we have to talk about?" Sir I called him. That prick didn't even deserve to be called a maggot.

He put his stubby hand on my shoulder "I'm going to have to let you go. My son applied for a job here and he fits your position perfectly. You've been slacking and I need to just cut you off. I'm sorry."

The rest was hazy after that but I remember him on the floor, the light blue carpet  beneath him soaked in his blood as he screamed for security to escort me out through the palm covering his mouth.

That's why I'm here. To right the wrongs this bastard committed. I came here today with my pistol in hand and my mask on to show these people what happens when you fuck with the wrong guy.

I rose my gun up to the head of one of my former coworkers. My arms didn't even shake with hesitation. He let out a scream that was quickly muffled by the explosion of gun powder. He dropped to the floor, dead. I could hear the sirens outside as police men yelled over megaphones to let these filthy demons go. I wouldn't have it. My life died that day and it is each one of their faults. An eye for an eye I always say.

Thus far I had killed twelve of my former coworkers. Twelve of the people who used to greet me on the elevator or smile at me through the halls. Now they were nothing but a currency to me. I didn't plan on letting anyone escape this floor tonight. Most of the building has been evacuated except for floor thirteen and I intended to keep it that way.

I walked my way down the line of the eight roaches that were left. I only brought two magazines at fifteen rounds each. I had two bullets left in my first one; two more people that needed to die before I had to reload. I let myself laugh, noticing the scared little creatures shudder as I did. They didn't even make eye contact anymore.

As I walked down the line I saw a beautiful tight brunette that I had noticed in the office during my time there. She was maybe twenty years old and had the most beautiful tits you could have ever imagined. She was wearing a nice dark green short sleeved shirt that exposed her incredible cleavage and a sexy brown skirt . I pulled her up off the floor and took in a whiff of her perfume, my nose almost touching the skin on her neck. She let out a scared moan and jumped back a bit. Nothing had ever turned me on so much before.

I pushed her hard against the cubicle wall behind her. She made that noise again. My dick was harder than the first time I'd gotten fucked in High School. I slid my hands up her stomach and massaged her breasts. I don't know how I would be able to kill such a beauty like this. In the end though I knew she was just a lie. She may be incredibly gorgeous but under all of that she was nothing but a filthy animal. Filthy animals needed to be put down.

I slid my hand down her skirt and she let out a small little "No."

I almost came right then.

I moved my mouth to kiss her neck but then I felt something in the pit of my stomach. The feeling you get when your boss comes in to tell you his eighteen year old son is more qualified for your job then you are. I felt a rough cloth slide over my neck and pull hard. The cloths I had used to tie these bags of shit with. The air escaped from my lungs as my eyes watered immensely from the lack of oxygen. I shot off my last two bullets randomly, hitting the brunette in front of me as I was pulled backwards.

My vision began to get hazy as the hostages looked with sheer horror on their faces to see what the outcome of this struggle would be. I sent my right elbow flying into my assailant but the grip he had with the cloth on my neck didn't cease. My face felt like it was going to explode as my eyes bulged out of me, veins pulsating.

Suddenly I heard the crash of glass. The cloth was off of my neck as I gasped for a breath. I was finally aware of the situation as my gun slipped out of my hand, following me. I spun around as everything closed in. I thought I would have been able to be the hero this time, cleansing the world of these disease ridden fools. It seems that evil always wins in the end anyway.

I closed my eyes.

-------
Redemption comes.

Part One

I walked into the dimly lit room, licking my lips with excitement. The space was small, almost like how a walk-in closet would be. There was a desk in front of me that held a black briefcase upon it. A large man sat on the other end. He was dressed in a pinstripe suit and had a typical crewcut. How charming.

The man opened the briefcase and within lied a beautiful machine gun specimen.   I moved my hands to grab it but the case was closed abruptly. I hate people who don't give me what I want.

"Four-thousand." The man said with a hard tone to his voice. He stood up to seem intimidating, I guess. I couldn't help but let out a cackle that echoed through the room more than it should have.

The man's face was barely visible under the faint halogen light in the room but I could tell he had quite the look of discontent. I wiped my mouth with my hand and I spoke slowly "You know... I find the Human race to be an insult to the world." He looked at me like I was crazy. Such a look was not so out of the norm anymore. I continued "There are certain people who are the deciders. The ones who choose to change things. I happen to be one of them. Maybe the only one?" I cackled again "So now I ask you if you would please just do me a little favor and hand over the gun. No charge." I smirked at him under the light.

He grabbed the collar of my three months unwashed gray shirt and pulled me up to his face. "You pay four-thousand for this or I break your fucking head in. That's what we fucking agreed on"

My smirk still lingered on my face as I hung a few inches from my seat. "Man of action, I see?" I said to him. He pulled his fist back. He was ready to destroy me right then but I just couldn't let that happen.

A bang had erupted from my vest pocket. The man's eyes swelled as he dropped me back into my seat and clutched his chest. "Ya see..." I said with the same smirk spread across my face "...I don't happen to have the money you're asking for, and you need to understand that I always get what I want." I pulled the briefcase off of the desk and made my way to the door behind me.

I clutched the handle but before I turned it to let myself out I heard a little sputter from behind me. "You...you motherfucker." Those were the big guy's last words. He slumped to the floor, dead.

I walked out of the area and my body was consumed by the darkness that filled this tight hallway. My footsteps echoed all around me as I found my way back to the entrance of this place. It was a shitty warehouse on the south-end of Manhattan; totally abandoned. Broken glass was strewn everywhere from the former windows of this building.

I took in a deep breath of 'fresh' city air as I pulled out my cell phone and dialed one of my associates. "Yeah. You know where I am. Just come pick me up. I have everything." I hung up with him and looked down at myself.

Over my gray shirt was a vest clad in plaid patterns. The right pocket now had a hole in it. I also wore black business shoes and gray slacks. This had been my attire for about three months now. I didn't give a damn about myself anymore and there was no reason for me to do so.

I pulled the compact pistol from my right vest pocket and kissed it. The only thing I could depend on was a good gun in my hand. Five more minutes had passed and my ride arrived. I pulled open the car door and sat down, letting myself meld into the seat as my associate began to question me on the events that had taken place.

"So he's dead?" he asked as his foot pressed the gas pedal, guiding us forward at a steady pace.

I looked at him showing no emotion on my face. "Are you seriously asking me that? Would I be here if he wasn't dead?" He quickly closed his mouth and concentrated on driving. Within a few minutes we stopped at an old apartment building and exited the car.

We walked up the yellow, sickly looking staircase and reached a door that had the number fifteen hanging from it. I slid my key into the keyhole and turned the knob allowing us entry. My partner went to his quarters and closed the door.

I walked into my room and pulled off my shoes, flicking on the television set as I plopped down onto my bed. The television was always set to channel one news. My personal entertainment station. I was sure that my little stunt from today would end up on there. Most of them did.

I drifted off to sleep. Tomorrow would be one of the biggest days of my life.


-------
Redemption comes.

The group says togehter "Hi James"

and James continues his story. "Sure, getting my powers was fun at first.......I mean, I could FLY! anywhere...y'know how cool that is? but I had ot keep it a secret lest it would edndanger my family.......as the whole unwritten rule of heroes goes.....but come on I could FLY! I had to.'let loose' once in a while............that's when the tough stuff started. It hought it'd be great fun to be a hero, like the ones you see every other day y'know? Even came up with a "OH SO original name.....Flightspeed......REAL innovative huh? I had my run of the mill villains too y'know? Bag Boy, Kill-o-Watt, Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum. It was all in the honeymoon phase for a while....But when that was over is when it started to get bad.

"Had my first team up, and brawl with anothe r hero. Almost get killed cause HE thinks i'm a threat,.I get involved with the near end of existence and what help am I? I a friggin messenger boy while everyone else is on th front line battling, al cause i'm too scared to fight the end of the world.....then when I get back tomy normal life things arne't the same. I had shadowy govt agencies and terorrist organizations wanting to manipulate my power to their own ends, me having to duck out in the middle of school to save lives or pay attention in class....selfish me I let some people die cause I didn't feel like getting up!"

*James pauses, and everyone stares*

Then it turns out the person i got my poewr from, had come to earth to "challenge me for hte right to see if i was truly worthyof my power" and by challenge me he meant, endanger everyone I know and love until I fought him."

James pauses, before psekaing again

"my dad ended up in a wheelchair"

"My mom is STILL in the hospital from this Alien vs predator reject"

"And my girlfriend.......well, she's better off......in a way"

"Afterwords, meand this monster finished our fight, and he said, in some mocking otne I was worhty after all...I had lost everything, and NOW iI was worthy to have his stupid power? I said screw you an left him for the cops, FBI, CIA whatever they use to deal with him.......i'm done was al It hought. No more....this ois too much for one person"

James then sits down. "My name is James, and I a........was a teenage superhero"


-------
pressure becomes real only the moment we acknowledge that it can affect us

When we were born.
This word was my Mothers.

When we were five.
This word was my Fathers.

When we were were teens.
This word was my Friends.

But now I'm grown.
This word means You.

-------
I want David Blue.
Right now.

---

Membername: Wakeupcall  
Title of Piece: Love
Type of Piece: Poem  
Piece:  

When we were born.
This word was my Mothers.

When we were five.
This word was my Fathers.

When we were were teens.
This word was my Friends.

But now I'm grown.
This word means You.

---

I like this. It's so simple and sweet. :)

Membername: Wakeupcall
Title of Piece: Mummy.
Type of Piece: Poem
Piece:

Mama! I can see you Mama. I love you Mama.

***

Mummy, remember that time mummy?
Remember that time,when I didn't know
What it meant when a boy and girl kissed?

I know now Mummy! I'm confused,
Mummy, why aren't you here?
I kissed that boy now Mummy!

Mum, I found a boy and we love each other!
Remember Mum, when I thought boys were icky!
I don't think they're icky anymore!

***

Where are you Mummy?
I can feel your hand...
It's cold. Please be warm again Mummy.

I can feel something Mummy,
It's pressing on me Mummy,
I don't like it.
Please save me. Please! Mummy.

Mama, There is water now Mama,
I'ts on my arm...
It's warm Mama. It's red.

I thought my bottle would help me Mama,
Your bottle helped me.
I'm afraid of the dark Mama.

I can see you now Mama.

-------
I want David Blue.
Right now.

    You're mine, Mr. Butterfly. I'll never let you go. Ever. You're mine.
    I shall keep you in my palace.
But that's not fair. You're struggling for breath. Clearly you're not ready for my chambers.

     So I take you to your empire, Mr. Butterfly. Feel free to come back.
     I let my gates open. I let my heart grow warm as you go away?
     Go Away?

     No...

I tried to get you back, Mr. Butterfly.
But you're already 2000 miles away...


-------
I want David Blue.
Right now.