26. Fear: What scares you a little? What do you feel when scared? How do you react? Due 25/02/2017

Running, always running but from what? From who? From myself? From the eyes that follow me in the shadows or from those that try to protect me? He, she, they, who knows but I can’t ever stop. They all want me dead. I can’t see how to win this one, not with so much against me.

What can I do? Who am I? I’m just a girl really a woman, a woman who's been told the world is on her shoulders. Humanity rest in my hands, so I ran. I’ll admit it now, I couldn’t at first but I can now, I see it now, I see why I did it. I ran, I ran from the good, the good forces the ones that wanted me to save the world. I ran from the ones who want to stop me. I ran because it is scary. Can you imagine? I’m only 20 something and I’ve got to save the entire world and why you may ask, why does this nobody have to take on this responsibility, well it’s all to do with my lineage. Who my parents are, but they left me, they didn’t want me, so why should I want to take on this familial responsibility. If they didn’t want me in their lives why do I need them and their heritage. Why do I need this in my life?

I guess I ran to the wrong places and the wrong people, I ran to Rowan. He was always there in the shadows, in the darkness watching me. Rowan who loved me, who I loved in return, who I still love. Rowans people are the wrong things in this world. They are sadness, evil, pain and suffering. They fester in the shadows making the world dark and cold, taking the goodness and replacing it with spite and hate and loathing. He’s not like them, I hope. They want to use me for their own means but then there is Tristan who is the light, the guy on the right side, on the good side. He wants to save me or so he says, but he’s after me too. He needs me dead, that’s how they win by my death, by my lack of existence. That’s how the world get’s saved, by dying, not by some magical mysterious way of conquering evil and fighting for the good and being victorious. No! My blood needs to be shed, to soak into this planet we call Earth and become a lifeforce. I also need to be the doer of the deed I need to sacrifice myself. I have to go against everything that I was ever taught by the people that mean the most to me. My family, my adopted family, Adian and René not those parents that threw me to the wind to survive on my own, not these self proclaimed “Fairies” that have decided to claim me as theirs to be their saviour. None of this is real, is it? I just want to wake up. For this to have been a dream. I want to stop running. I just want, I just want to be real, to be normal. I don’t want this, I never asked for any of this! I don’t want to die, I don’t want to go. I guess that’s how I’m running from myself as well as from everyone else because if I’m honest with myself, if I just believe in myself I should be able to this, but I can’t or won’t so I run. I run with Rowan by my side, I run through the shadows, from him as much as with him. And boy can I run.

From here I need to have a plan, Tristan comes to me as I dream and Rowan tugs at my every waking moment to keep moving. I need to find a way around this. My parent were never meant to be you see, they are from opposing sides. One from the light and one from the dark. They never meant to have me, truth be told in the fae world a light and dark fairy shouldn't be able to conceive let alone carry a child through to full term. I hate them, for this, for what they have forsaken me to.

22. Smoke, Fog, and Haze: Write about not being able to see ahead of you. Due 21/02/2017

Breathe

A balloon bubbling in my chestTightening, constricting each single breath

Breathe

Numbness cascading down my armsMy mind grows foggy as my head fills with lead

Breathe

The weight becomes unbearableShoulders droop, chin rests on heaving chest

Breathe

Unable to exhale

Breathe

Squirming fear grows in the pit of my stomach

Wrestling and writhing

Breathe

Nausea comes in waves and swellsMy spine contracts

Breathe

Shoulder blades lock into placePain emanates from contact with the world

Breathe

Unable to see through the smoke

Breathe

18. Cleaning: Hey, even writers and creative artists have to do housework sometimes. Write about doing laundry, dishes, and other cleaning activities. Due 17/02/2017

So today my daughter is going on a school tour involving a 26km Hike through the Wicklow mountains. I've been thinking all day what I'll do when I get home. It's not very often I find myself alone on an evening. Thoughts of trips to the Cinema and going for a drink after work have all flitted across my mind but one thought has taken over and I'm looking forward to it more than any of the others.

Ironing, I'm going to get the baskets of clean clothes that have been getting larger lately and I'm going to delve in and destroy them. Get it all done and put away while watching a horror movie or two. Change the bedding, make the beds. It's 3pm and I've another 2 hours in work and an hour of travel before I'm home, and I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!

17. Dictionary Definition: Open up a dictionary to a random word. Define what that word means to you. Due 16/02/2017

Euphorbia

 Definition: Spurge or bastard spurge a genus of plants of many species mostly shrubby herbaceous succulents affording an acrid milky juice Some of them are armed with thorns Most of them yield powerful emetic and cathartic products

1350-1400; 

Middle English euforbia for Latin euphorbea, an African plantnamed after Euphorbos, a Greek physician

16. Addict: Everyone’s addicted to something in some shape or form. What are things you can’t go without? Due 15/02/2017

Mmm, coffee first thing in the morning. A double espresso with a heaped spoon of sugar drank like a shot. Best way to wake up in the morning.

Cuddles with my daughter, even though she's a teenager now and doesn't really want cuddles i still love them and can't live without them.

Supernatural the TV show, Dean and Sammy have been such an important part of our lives that I just can't imagine a world without them.

Lastly, Pizza. I love Pizza. Pizza, Pizza, Pizza.

15. Eavesdropper: Create short story, or journal entry about a conversation you’ve overheard. Due 14/02/2017

"The Foreign ones are just so tiny!"

"I know who would be intimidated by them. You'd think that there would be bigger and stronger ones."

No, no, no you see the smaller ones are all from different countries because of the heat. They are leaner and smaller and don't eat as much so they don't get as big as our ones."

Unknown subject.

38. Fire-starters: Write about building a fire

Samantha found herself standing, staring at a gigantic door way. A large ugly face sat squarely in the middle of the door. Made of the strangest black shiny metal that seemed to just suck away the light. The dark amber eyes followed you wherever you went. From its grimaced mouth hung a knocker made of the same black metal. Where the knocker lay against the door, marks, nicks and scratches from years of being knocked upon covered the surface. Somehow this made it so much more gruesome. Samantha reach out to touch the knocker without evening thinking, as her hand crossed between her and the door she noticed something was wrong, her hands have never been so smooth or Petite not since she was a child. 

Glancing down at her feet also tiny, nearly frail and dressed in white knee-high socks and black patent leather shoes. On the left sock sits a dirty brown scuff just below the knee, Samantha’s mother will have something to say about that. It’s then that she noticed below her feet was no longer the aged wooden planks of the porch but a carpet, only ever seen in really dated home’s, like a grandmothers. Hers was pinks and gold’s in colour, this one was rich blues, ivories and red flowers scattered across the sea of blue. When did she knock, or pass through the door? Time here always seemed so disjointed. Maybe it was her, looking down on Samantha.

 
In later years she came to find out more about the big house by the silver bridge. About who lived there and how on its last day’s the light danced off the Liffey River until dawn broke, the sky was a light so bright that you could tell it was burning from two towns away. Back to this moment she looked away from her feet to the mantel. Standing in the entrance way to the right of a mantle as big as you could get, a fire roared in the hearth and stationed above the mantel was a framed likeness of the most beautiful woman you ever did see. 

Her hair was as black as a Raven and just as sleek; her crystal blue eyes pierced your heart when you took them in. She was dress in all her finery and sat stiff and hard. As she probably knew that she would be sitting there, perched above the mantel. You could smell the smoke now, and something more. It burns her throat and catches her breath. Crackling and popping sounds emanate from all around. 

 
As Samantha has done for the past 21 years, sitting she took a deep calming breath, coughing a little. Reassuring herself “I am in my own bed, in my home”, she repeats this over and over to herself. “The house is not burning; I am not burning.” Heart finally stops racing, her recurring dream struck again. This is the house that burned down before Samantha was born.

14. Read a book and circle some words on a page. Use those words to craft a story 13/02/2017

Beautiful Creatures page 157. Complicated, Eating, Assumed, Chicken, Carrots, Lunchroom.

12.37 on a Wednesday afternoon, the Lunchroom is typically packet and today is no different. The line is the length of the room and I'm doubting why I even came in this far. I guess it's because I assumed my friends would want to eat their lunch with me. Though as I'm here by myself, I can guarantee that it will stay that way for the rest of Lunch break.

It's complicated really, I don't really fully understand it myself. The gist of things are as follows. Martin is the leader of sorts, whatever he says is usually law but if he's out it falls to Diarmuid. Who on a different note is a total jerk and if I ever have the opportunity to slice his tires I will. the mate is mutual. Now if Diarmuid makes plans and Martin comes back the plans don't change. But if Martin makes plans and then isn't hear you can bet Diarmuid will change them in a heartbeat.

As I'm relatively new to the school I'm at the bottom of the totem poll and have no say, also Diarmuid never lets me in on the updates. So here I am with my Chicken, Potatoes and Carrots served on a tray, sitting in the corner of the lunch room all by myself. I'm thinking I need new friends!

13. The Letter: Write letter 12/02/2017

Dear Seventeen year old me,

This year is going to be one of the hardest years of your life, but you will get through it. Better than just surviving you will flourish. Don't get me wrong it's not all smooth sailing, there are going to be some seriously hard times and broken hearts along the way, but you will get there.

This year you will lose friends, make some new ones. Discover that you've been fooled by the person you think you love. You will suffer the deaths of close family and friends, you will be blessed with the joy of a child. Your life is about to change. You will need to grow up really fast.

The people you think will be by your side for the rest of your life aren't the ones who are here now.
Looking back to 1999, there's only two outside of your family that you have ever been able to count on. And they are not the ones you think will be there forever.

Do me a favor and believe in yourself. You are funny, kind, caring and compassionate, trust me. Trust yourself.

Just a little not to your future self.

When you meet a guy who has a girlfriend, walk away. You won't be just friends and the saying is true

If It Starts With Cheating, It Will End With Cheating

He doesn't really love you because he can't. You won't fix him because he's not broken. It won't be different with you because it's still him. Even if he has left her he hasn't, he's just moved on to the next girl in a long line of girls.

Focus on what you can do, you can love your daughter. You can be there for your family. You can work hard at school and get a good job. No-one will provide for you, you need to that for  yourself and believe me the day you start to realise the truth in those few words you become a better stronger person.

Just be happy.

And if you ever doubt what you're wearing ask yourself if you'd be embarrassed to visit Nana Vida dressed like that.

I love you for who you are and I believe we'll get through the next 17 years just fine!

Lots of Love

Thirty Four year old you x

37. Puzzle: Write about putting together the pieces of puzzles. Due 08/03/2017

It's always so frustrating, trying to get my fingers to do what my mind wants. I can see the jigsaw puzzle piece with the yellow flower. A perfect fit for the bit I'd spent the past two hours putting together.

My fingers just can't grasp it, I try and try but to be honest I'm tired. I only have a few good hours a day and even though the jigsaws make me feel better, I just cant. Pushing the board away with my knuckles, Joan doesn't ask anymore. She dutifully picks up the tray and places it on the side board. Just out of sight.

Maybe tomorrow I'll get it done.

Maybe, but right now I'm going to rest my eyes.

My hands contract, the muscles worn out. I curl involuntarily into a hunched ball in my chair the heat from the fire soothing my soul. Tomorrow will be better.

33. Jewelry: Write about a piece of jewelry. Who does it belong to? Due 04/03/2017

Through a dust coated window a ray of light forces it's way to the locked away room. No-one had set foot in here for close to a hundred years, and it would have been the case for a hundred more if a small pipe hadn't sprung a leak that winter. Water had invaded the old house and the caretaker had to set things right.

The stairs creaked here and there, the carpet on the landing was threadbare and faded. It was once Royal blue, now it resembled a washed out grey. The lock protested as if it didn't want the ladies secrets to be told. A shove of the shoulder and the door gave way.

Her things still laid out waiting for her. An unmade bed of soft pinks and lavenders, a silk dressing gown lay on the arm of the chair. Drawers pulled out in disarray. On the dresser stood bottles of perfumes and potions, to the right of a clear crystal perfume bottle sat a squat little dish. In the dish held the finest yellow gold pile of links chained in an intriguing lines and swoops.

When laid upon the collar bone it was designed to grasp tightly around the throat on the first pass, droop slightly lower on the second, coiling over it's self and branching off three more strands each swooped lower than the last. The final stand bore a delicate butterfly with crystallised wings and a bejeweled body. The butterfly was to light at the hollow of the cleavage, resting. 

The wings were slithers of watermelon tourmaline, the crystal edges of dark green melting to purple. Gradually becoming pink. The natural grain in the stone looked like veins in the wings. The body ways decorated in tiny polished pieces of amethyst. When the light caught the pendant just right it would be mistaken for a pink glasswing butterfly, a Cithaerias pireta.

Within a few hours the room has been sealed once again , sunlight glinting through the spot of roughly cleaned glass. As the sun kisses the wings a beautiful pink glow sparkles all around the room, bringing life back, yet no-one will ever know.

34. Sounds: Sit outside for about an hour. Write down the sounds you hear. Due 05/03/2017

It's starts with the gentle tumble of water over  rocks, a churning toil. Not aggressive more meandering babble. A little Robin calls out , he close by. The tussling of a branch gives away his location. Minutes pass and in the distance his call is answered. His reply is just as sweet, the soundtrack of morning. No traffic can be heard, but the breeze through the trees, birds calling out and the babbling brook making its way through the sleepy little village.

35. War and Peace: Write about a recent conflict. Due 06/03/2017

"Once more, I swear. If I have to repeat myself once more I'll declare war!"

The phone interrupts Michele's outer monologue.

"Jesus!"a hair flick and an eye roll follow. Michelle storms to her office, she doesn't want to be privy to yet another caller without a clue.

"Bert's office, how may I help you?" the superficial voice booms through the mouth piece. The key to dealing with clients over the phone, Margaret has announced time and again to anyone who will listen,  is to smile, it changes the inflection to your voice. Kill them with kindness girls.

The squawking voice of a regular complainer can be heard by all in the room.

"Mmhm, now last time you were on to us we informed you to send it in, in writing. Have you done that?"
A selection of beeps and grunts travel through the telephone cord.

"Well I am legally obligated to inform you that this call is being recorded. I will not be continuing this call as you have been verbally abusive."

Beeping intensifies followed by one word.

MANAGER!

The room goes silent, all eyes are on Margaret.

Shoulders set, eyes look up, followed by a Cheshire cat grin.

War has been declared.

"Please hold while I pass you to my manager."

The internal dial tone is followed by 4 rapid beeps of digits being pressed.

"Michelle, Anne Balling is on line 3, requesting to speak with the Manager.

All eyes on the switch, the number three flashes intermittently. 

It's glows brilliantly as Margaret places her handset down. 

Muffled bangs of vocal shots can be heard. Then silence. The glowing yellow light ebbs slowly to a steady black.

Ann Balling is no more.

Margaret storms out, no more calls are to be answered. The divisions can sort out their own mess. I'm done.

36. Frame It: Write a poem or some phrases that would make for good wall art in your home. Due 07/03/2017

Be the self you dream to be.

8. Dream-catcher: Write about a recent dream you had.

Dream

Two best friends living in a big city.

Aliens, living among us happily.

Out on the street there's a gun fight . Unbeknownst to the alien besties they just witnessed the start of an intergalactic war.

Lots of screaming, people running.

Friend 1 uses his watch which has cloaking abilities to investigate further. On recognising one of the bodies as a species from a very advanced but peaceful colony of the chart 8 district he hauls the body back to his apartment.

The shooter sees a disturbance and takes a calculated guess that's it's stealth wear from the disates. All the while the other bestie is watching from their apartment complex door. When a bleeding girl falls into the doorway which would be weird enough without her bleeding green blood.

Fast-forward- dragging the girl and the body up to their room. Pacing and frantically trying to stop the bleeding.

They decided to rent the empty room upstairs so there's no connection to them. They use the green blooded girls fake ID and cards. Bestie 2 goes down and shifts into her likeness. They then move them up to the top floor and carry on pacing.

First contact happens as the sun hits the horizon. A static noise comes through the dead guys belt.

“we have your comrades, give up your location and we can end this without any further incidence”

This message repeats. Greeny is still out cold from the blood loss they can make decisions for an other race. They have no intergalactic charter to quote the regulations to either side. This is why they came to earth to get away from all the red tape and rules!

Decision time, wake greeny let her decide what's best for her.

Cold water splashes her face, it does the trick. With a startled breath she sits upright and grabs her wounded side. She looks at her captors and sees the body of her captain on the floor. Connects the dots and ...

7. The Rocket-ship: Write about a rocket-ship on it’s way to the moon or a distant galaxy far, far, away.

"At 0530 hours all team leaders need to be present at the mess hall." the PA system screeches through each and every floor stationed speaker. There's nowhere on the base that you can avoid hearing the announcements, designed that way I suppose.

It's currently 2100 hours, lights out is in 30 minutes. The silence on the base at night is deafening, I can hear the wall sockets buzz with electricity, water churning it's way to the recycling tank. Mom says its nerves because it’s getting so close. She'll find out everything tomorrow at 0530 hours, not long now. I guess I'm lucky that I get to be teamed with my Mom. She's not like most Moms, especially mom's here on the base. Base Mom's are known to be super strict and won't even consider bending the rules, not even the tiniest bit. My Mom sneaks ice-cream, Mac and cheese, chips and nacho cheese into our living quarters. It's not as if anyone is going to be pulling an inspection on the chief engineer for the rocket. Everyone on base is to adhere to a specific diet, but the minute they leave base they head out food.

She whispered to me the first time we had ice-cream on base.

"This could be the last time you get to taste this. Enjoy it!"

I guess we break the rules because we can't leave the base unlike everyone else here.

The speaker in my room vibrates static before bursting to life "Base Wide Announcement -beep-beep-beep- Lights out" the static lingers slightly before disappearing. The light dims from brilliant white to a swamp green. Like clockwork Mom pops her head in.

"Night sweetheart, want me to get you before I leave?"

"Yes please. What's the orders for tomorrow?" Smiling eyes look down on me, she always looks so happy to see me.

"Well Cadet, after reporting to Lieutenant Hughes I'd like you to meet me Rocketside at 0700 hours."

"Yes, Commander." Pulling the blanket over my shoulder her hand rests on my arm and leans placing dry warm lips on my forehead.

"Sleep well, I love you."

"Love you too Mom."
My room plummets into darkness, it doesn't take long for me to fall asleep.

Morning pass in a blur of procedure. Wake up, wash, eat. I join my group of 1st class cadets, standing at ease we all seem uneasy. Lieutenant Hughes stands impressively in front of us, he's a towering figure of easily 6'6", his chest is probably close to 3' in width.

"Cadet Waters" blue glacial eyes lock with my warm honey and amber ones. I stand to attention.

"Yes Sir!"

"Commander Waters has requested your presence at Rocketside for 0700."

"Yes sir."

"Well Cadet, move on."

Standing Rocketside is a privilege, usually it's only science officer's and engineer's. I've been here once before, when the vast Bay 1 containment area was empty. Now it's capacity was full to bursting. Stand to attention as the Bay 1 door opens.

"At ease Cadet. How was your morning?"

"Good sir, and yours?"

"Well mine was very busy, part of the reason for calling you away from duties is to show you what I've been showing all the lieutenants."

Opening the door and stepping through to Bay 1 I follow closely behind at first there's nothing to see just a deep matted black imposing omnipresence. Commander Waters stepped to the side opening my view of the USS Serene first of its class starship. Going on spec she was 768 meters long 340 meters in height and width, living quarters for a crew of 250 and housing for 100 guests and delegates. She was kitted out with luxury in mind for guests and crew. This was going to be a long voyage, no point in having everyone cranky with nothing to do.

Without thinking I reached out and ran my fingers along the cool external plating, a smooth texture a telltale tingle of the self generating shield. I must have utter an ooh or something similar, Mom laughed and ushered me towards the gangplank.

"No drooling on the carpets OK?"

"I cannot promise that!"

She smelled New, and clean. I could taste the clean air system already up and running. Last thing you want on a big ship is dusty vents getting clogged and causing machinery to overheat.

Everything was smooth and bright, the colours reminded me of the sunrise. Communication panels dotted conveniently along the passageway. We came to a set of Sicco doors, the same ones as we have on base. Each personnel member on sign up has a tiny chip placed in the back of your hand. Each chip gets updated with your living record. If you're given privileges you can access them with your chip. Opening doors, lockers, checking into class is all electronically tagged in your hand.

"This works much the same as base Winter, Winter are you listening?"

"Yes sir, sorry Mom. This place is just fantastic."

"As I was saying control and communication panels work like on base, you'll have your privileges set up before we take command of her . Of course there will be restrictions like all Cadets and Ensigns, but as your quarters will be by mine you'll have slightly more access than others."

"Sir, may I ask a question?"

"Of course Cadet."

"When are we going to take command of her?"

"Good question Cadet, Captain Smyth has requested that the passing out of Cadets get moved up to tomorrow morning, from there we start boarding. All going to plan take of will be exactly 46 hours from now."

"Then we head to Trappist -1."