River Elm

“Stranger” by River Elm

TW: CHILD LOSS, SMALL SELF HARM (hit head on purpose- no blood.)I sat in the middle of traffic, hot tears streaming down my face. A small sob escaped my throat. This would not work out. He would blame me. Say it was my fault. This was a cruel world, no one knows why it works this way.I could not believe it when I got the news. This would ruin my world, my life, my mind. My hand went to my stomach. She was in there. Not breathing. Not alive. Her life over before it had even begun. Another sob. I knocked my head against my steering wheel a few...

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“The Whisper in the Dark” by River Elm

TW: GORE “I forbid you to go outside. Do you hear me? Mikael. I said, do you hear me?” I rolled my eyes. “Yes. I hear you. I don’t understand why I can’t go outside!” My mom grabbed my face in her hands. “Because there is something out there, and it will take you the very first chance it gets! Do. Not. Go. Outside.” “What is even out there? What could possibly be out there that is so bad?” “I don’t even know what it’s called, but please, son, trust me.” “Whatever.” She nodded her head and let me go. After leaving my room, I heard her gr...

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“The Heart's Twilight” by River Elm

I remember the day that he left. He had just gone without warning, right in the middle of the school day. I remember being extremely confused when he arrived in the middle of my class period to hug me and say goodbye. He came right over to me and stooped down to hug me and whisper in my ear, “I love you very much, Cecil. I’ll miss you.” And then he left. Just like that. I didn’t even have the time to process anything before he swept quickly out of the classroom, and was gone forever. It crazed me. Unbelievable. About 3 minutes after he had ...

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“The Rainchild” by River Elm

TW: LOSS OF CHILD Sitting on my living room floor, at the coffee table, I looked at my typewriter. I was waiting for the moment that I could put another chapter into my story. I looked out the window. The deep grey clouds loomed in the distance, dark and menacing for most, but extremely welcome to me. Because I knew what those clouds meant. The clouds meant something that would release the grieving pressure off my chest, something that would allow me to live correctly once more, even if only for a short time. I knew that the clouds were my...

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“Caged Bird, Free Bird” by River Elm

Asher had broken me down. From day one, he had controlled me and kept me in his “cage.” I don’t know why I ever loved him, but now, driving away, driving anywhere, listening to the rain, I realized that it was my time to be free. As I drove, Maya Angelou’s poem I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings ran through my head. I listened to the methodic sound of the windshield wipers as they cleared the water from my vision, and whispered to myself the most iconic lines of her poem. “The caged bird sings with a fearful trill, of things unknown but longed ...

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“He Left Me Into Perfection” by River Elm

The words he texted me resonated in my mind. “It’s not you. I just need to get my priorities right.” They replayed again and again in my head. I could not escape from them. Before I slept, I heard them. In school, I heard them. Everywhere. Even being around people did not dampen the sorrow that fogged my mind. I could not play my favorite games anymore; I’d played them with him. I could not eat at my favorite restaurant anymore; I’d eaten there only with him. Then the text again. “It’s not you. I just need to get my priorities right.” Laying...

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“Burnt Noodles” by River Elm

This is about a child who carried on her mother's legacy of insanity and disturbed mental health.The day had come, I was ready to demonstrate my ability to ‘cook’ to my mother. I lived alone with my mom. I’d always taken care of her, as she was usually unable to take care of herself. A few nights ago, she made noodles for dinner. I watched her very closely to see what she’d done. But not too close, as I knew I’d get a beating if I was in her way, or if she even caught me looking at her wrong. I sat on the couch, pretending to watch the tv, b...

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“Watts” by River Elm

Submitted to Contest #96

The room was lightly decorated in shades of white and gray, and small accents of gold and silver. There were sparse furnishings or decor. This place didn’t have a name, other than “the room.” At one point, it was empty. Nothing was in it. When at last it was decorated, which was not for many years, this room somehow decided it would change itself depending on whoever was staying in it. No room it decided to be was the same room twice, unless it was the same person staying in it. The room was the only unique thing about the house that it was ...

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“Doors of Animal Beasts” by River Elm

The doors loomed large in front of me. A dark, maroon colored one on the left, a bright, light blue one on the left. I have no idea how I got here. I'd been in my room, listening to music on my iPod, with my earbuds in. Closed my eyes, and suddenly my surroundings had changed. There were no signs or labels to show me what each door held, or where it went. There was nothing around me. A largish rock cavern was all that was here, apart from the wall that held the doors, which was made up of dark wooden planks. I spun around in a slow circle, l...

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