A shot rang out, and then another, and then what sounded like a machine gun rattled the calm atmosphere. This was followed by, what I could of sworn were, grenade explosions. Even though this was all happening quite a bit behind schedule, all my guests were still just as thrilled. That was a relief. I was worried that the murder would never begin.

This would be my “Going Away Party/Feeling Twenty Two/Sweet Sixteen Murder Mystery Extravaganza.” I originally had planned for this party to be done on my sixteenth birthday all the way back in 2008, but in a very sixteen year old fashion I fell victim to a moody attitude and canceled the whole affair. It wasn’t until this year that I actually found the kit I had paid 200 whole American dollars for and decided to finally bring this party and all of it’s wacky characters to life.

Who could forget such classic personalities, like country singer...

You are more open minded than I am, at least on a subconscious level. You, I think, are very fortunate in that regard. Your heart has the capacity to be stirred by many things and just as many people. My fortune was the fact that I was one those people . However, like me and completely opposite to me, the world isn’t nearly as tensile. The thoroughfare wasn’t built with your gift in mind… only a small portion of it.

You are a geomancer. You hike trails others aren’t able to see. You seek arrowheads and ancient roses. I didn’t expect you to be able to find me through all the branches and thorns, but you reached the clearing and took my hand. The wild became docile and the dark became radiant. We held each other tightly until we couldn’t continue. Paths this far from the summit are made to split. Veer East and bend West.

Our roads will intersect once again, but there are checkpoints...

Tomorrow I have a haircut appointment. People who know me well will understand that this is all I’ve been thinking about for the past 24 hours. When I’m bagging groceries, I’m actually thinking about how short I dare to cut it. When I’m stocking the organic rustic tunisian olive oil I’m actually trying to decide if I wanna ride out the blonde look or go back to my original color in preparation for the Fall. When I’m making barely intelligible small talk with a hot customer I’m most worried about if guys like him like side ponies or not.

I’m kind of a mess about it. I think most people know that my hair is super important to me, probably based on the number of times I twirl it in a hour, but I don’t think many people understand WHY these thousands of dead cells hanging off my head mean so much to me.

To me, my hair represents completely embracing myself for who I am. I’ve spent so much...

It’s time to leave Eden, but my journey isn’t retribution nor my destination wicked.

The road getting here has been as long as my life itself. The amount of time I’ve spent working towards this goal is, at this point, immeasurable. Now the only obstacle standing between me and my dream is a few hundred hours. I’ve jumped through many hoops and passed many checkpoints to get to where I am standing now. The view from up here is hard to describe and I’m not sure of the correct ratio when it comes to gazing forward and looking back.

A new world approaches

新しい世界が近づく

The people I’m going to leave behind are the ones I mourn the most. The people who encouraged me. The people who looked out for me. The people who laughed with me and the people who cried with me. The people who danced. The people that didn’t. The people who opened themselves up to me, and were thankful when I did the same...