New Podcast

Check out my podcast, Vulture Droppings, on Anchor: https://anchor.fm/vulturewriterOn it we talk about, you guessed it, horror. Still rough around the edges, but I finally have my mic set up, all professional-like.So,

So,  I submitted a few stories to a contest of sorts. Every year,  Sustainable Fine Arts hosts a contest for writers who are parents.  I submitted last year as well. Pretty easy since I usually have something sitting around I can polish and send in. However... I'm not sure if my blood and guts and decapitations are usually what they are expecting.

One of the stories I sent in this year was tamer than usual.  More of a ghost story really. The Dark Corner is about a kid facing his fear of the dark.

I am working on building a group of readers of horror,  to which I will submit short stories and whatnot. Stay tuned. Don't forget about the podcast. 

Podcasting for Dipshits

Well, it's happened. I finally started to produce my own podcast. My wife and I decided we wanted to do one together, so in true fashion, I am starting my own.

Greasy Slimy Squirrel Guts is the tentative name. I will be talking about horror and writing. Pretty much what is on here. Hopefully, it won't feel like talking to myself for too long. I will talk about horror movies, stories and generally horrific things. Unlike this blog, it will be my sanctuary from the regular bullshit of life.

But that's what horror is: an escape. A catharsis.


Details to come.

Hail Storm book review

Operation Hailstorm by Brett Arquette

I have never been a huge fan of spy tech novels. I have always thought of them detailed just short of tech manuals.

But this book won me over. 

 The main characters were both likeable and damaged, which made the intrigue and tech more palpable. Still suffering after losing loved ones in a coordinated terrorist attack on five airliners (known as The Five), you wonder how they are not only functional, but have used their obsession with finding the killers toward the greater good.

I feel that the events in this book are relevant to many Americans, namely the tragedy of The Five and looming war with North Korea. And, dare I say gives skeptics like me a sliver of confidence in our country.

While this book has its fair share of specs that would excite any self-respecting geek, I still felt invested in the story. The tense climax is capped off with a Mission: Impossible type ending, that was amusing and just enough of a cliffhanger to make me anxious for the next book.

The Bible: The #1 book about Child rape, murder and sodomy

You 've seen them. The passive aggressive action of the devout: 'type amen if/to/for [fill in whichever cause of the day]'. I had recently seen a meme that asked me to type 'amen' if I believed everything in the bible to be true.

I'm going to make it simple,  because this concept seems be widely misunderstood amongst theists: For something to be true, it has to be verifiable. Just because you say it doesn't mean it's true. It should be an objective observation, if not observed first hand, then through a trusted source.

Take the virgin birth, for example. Before we even get into the details of the story, it doesn't take a diehard skeptic to question the trustworthiness of the story. What is a person called who has not had sex? A virgin. How are babies born? Conception via sexual intercourse (back then, there was only one way to get knocked up-- there were no turkey-baster babies). So, if you believe in the virgin birth, I would venture that you don't put much stock in science. 

Here's where I have a problem with this concept...aside from the obvious that there needs to be sperm and egg and fertilization and all that scary science stuff to make a baby...belief in the virgin birth propagates the evil of sex. The tree of knowledge included Adam and Eve knowing each other's bodies, or carnal knowledge. What happened after they ate the apple? They were made to be ashamed of their nakedness, their sex, and began to wear clothes.  They became wise. 

If you believe that the trinity, then you believe that the father, the son and the holy ghost are one (if you believe everything in the bible is true, that includes this). The father and the son are the same, or Jesus is his own father; then Jesus is the holy spirit and Jesus is god. Fifteen year old Mary was Immaculately conceived by god and Jesus and the holy spirit. Namely, the whole Christian religion is based off an incident of child rape. 

Vulture Droppings: Death is Nothing

I firmly believe when you die, there is nothing. When you die, there is nothing. When you die…you die. I believe, like religion (and maybe because of it), life after death is just a security blanket against the cold and scary darkness. People do not want to admit that the darkness is not dark and it is not scary because when you die, all you know and feel will stop. There is no other way to describe it because no one has ever experienced it and told about it. 

There have been the tunnels with the bright light and relatives greeting them, but I firmly believe that is all wishful thinking. They merely saw what they wanted to see when they died.

I would say death is akin to blowing out a candle. But I think that is not entirely true. When you snuff out a candle, there is a lingering of heat and smoke that is just not there after you die. 

Lets' say there is life after death. I know that Catholics preach it. Why is death such a horrible thing? Why do they lament over a loved when when they die? I believe funerals are a selfish thing developed to make people feel better, so they can better deal with something they do not understand. 

It is contradictory. The church preaches eternal life after death, but allows its parishioners to mourn the deaths of loved ones. 

*Vulture Droppings are, for lack of a better term, rants. 

The awakening of an atheist

God Concept was dead for me a long time ago. I remember questioning it during mass when I was younger, maybe around the age of 12. I listened to the sacrament of Eucharist, and that’s when it started to make me feel uneasy. All throughout Catholic school, I had been taught the word of god is right and true. So, the church’s attempt at wiping away the blood had become clearer to me, and I thought, ‘why?’ Why give yourself to your children in the guise of flesh and blood? Why was eating their flesh a sign of your love and gratitude for them?

It wouldn’t be until much later that I started to connect its rites and customs with those of religions that predated christianity. For many years, I could have given a shit about jesus, god or anything to do with religion. It was something I had been indoctrinated into and did it to appease parents, grandparents, clergy, etc. Growing up, we were never overtly religious as a family, unless you counted the fact that my brother and I went to Catholic school for twelve years. Unless I had to do it for school, I never read the bible. I read it more now than I did in all my twelve years of Catholic school. When I went to college, I went to church on the weekends, and later not at all.

It wasn’t until after my first son was born that I really started to take a hard look at religion and its role not only in my life, but in the lives of those around me, then society and the world as a whole. My father had asked me when were we going to baptize our son. My wife and I had talked about it before the baby came, but this was the first time that faith had come up when I was an adult in anything remotely resembling a conflict. He asked me if we were worried about his soul, that if it would go to hell. I told him that is not what we believe and that is something we want him to decide for himself. And that was it.

That, I think, was the beginning of my real research. In college, prior to being married and having the baby, I had written a paper on Simon de Beauvoir for a writing class. I read quite a bit on existentialism and religion. So, as an adult I had a starting point: existence. This was when the flood gates opened. I started to question everything.

What was our purpose here? How did we come into being? How did the world come about? What about the universe? Is there a god? As an adult, I hear the normal, ‘thank god,’ ‘god bless you,’ other sayings that I had always taken for granted as just part of everyday speech.

In a nutshell, that's how I 'became' an atheist.

When is Bullying Okay?

Never.

So, the post that is going viral about Keaton being bullied has been under scrutiny because his family are supposedly racist Trump supporters.

There are pictures up that look pretty damning, but the mother, Kimberly Jones, has denied being racist (Dayton Daily News) and that the pictures were 'meant to be ironic."  She was quoted as saying: "I've spent most of my life being bullied and judged because I wasn't racist," she said. Whatever. If she's racist, there's not much someone can do to change that. And if she isn't, it's yet another negative about SJWs. 

Do you know what disgusts me more than racists and Trump supporters? People who advocate the beating up of a child. Keaton supposedly called kids n****rs and that is why he was bullied and beat up. The kid shouldn't be allowed to say that. My son used that word a couple times, and each time he received punishments.

You can't condone violence on a child. That should really be the end of the post, but, there's more. Excusing the boy's bullying for what amounts to his parents' beliefs and saying it is alright that Keaton got beat up, is still wrong. 

I am an atheist, but I am going to use the god card.

We are supposedly a 'Christian nation.' Suppose for a second that is not a crock of shit. Just for a second. We seem to exhibit nothing even remotely resembling Christian morals and charity.

Deplorable.

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On Facebook:  idiotmurca   atheistaf    I hate cute puppies   verumapparatus 

WTF, Trump Supporters?

By Creativa Images

Dear Trump Supporters:

Point out abhorrent behavior, and it is ignored or explained away.

I have run into this issue with more than a few people of different views and beliefs. When I enter into a dialogue with any of the aforementioned, either the conversation is civil, but most times I encounter anger. If the latter, they then become defensive. They might feel persecuted, or just plain pissed off that anyone would make them question their beliefs. 

Everyone of us you have encountered have been incorrigible know-it-alls. Pretty soon, you get to the point of 'why bother,' excusing yourselves for believing what you believe. You call us names (libtard, snowflake, etc.), but become more irate when and if we retaliate with the same.

By Romolo Tavani

Why the anger? I have asked this question to no avail. I either get silence or ‘let’s agree to disagree.’ But in such cases, I’m not even trying to argue. I see a man who is everything I teach my kids not to be, and I see people follow him and eventually vote him in to the highest office in the land. 

It is mind boggling to me. 

I know that you don’t understand why we like universal health care, or why we are big believers in equal rights or that religion should not be forced on people (i.e., in public schools)…You might not know you don’t understand, but I think it is coming across as the aforementioned anger.  Believe me, many of us have a problem grasping how you are so against people getting healthcare, equal rights, or maintaining the right to choose whether or not our children have to take time out of their school day because certain people want to pray. We might make the predictable, if not logical,  jump to the conclusion that you hate.

Or, is it actually hate? Are you that angry about what we want, about our differences that you are truly hateful of us? Do you ascribe to all the qualities to which we apply to Trump? Do you actually want people to lose their health care?  Do you actually want people off assistance? Do you realize that, in many cases, the aforementioned could result in people falling seriously ill or dying? 

Feel free to answer any or all of the questions above, but the main one I want answered is, Do you overlook the bad behavior of the president, or not even see it as bad behavior?

Thanks for reading.

America, the Hypocritical

It seems like the world is full of womanizing bastards. Only some have gotten the axe and others have not.

There are some actions that should be obviously wrong. Basically, if that person's not your significant other is a good starting point. Even if you work with your spouse, there should be a modicum of decency. I am married and I am groped daily. But, both my wife and I know the difference between who to grope and to whom we can talk inappropriately. Depending on the severity (i.e., whether it was just touching or penetration of any kind, or a rude comment), there needs to be some communication. If I would make a crude comment to someone, I would expect them to ask me to not speak in that manner. I wouldn't expect to be served with notice. If I were to accompany said comment with a touch or a grope, then I would expect to be fired.

Were these women vocal about their distaste? Were the actions obviously borderline? Was there history? Had he touched her inappropriately before? Had she previously told him not to?

These are a lot of questions that need be asked, but aren't because we are so stuck on our sides, we can't decide what is good and what is bad. So, we go with extremes. She said he harassed her? Bastard. He's accused of murdering them? What an evil dick. We are quick to judge to make ourselves feel better.

There are many times I have seen women welcome the same actions these men are being fired for. Does that mean all women like to play grab ass? No, of course not. Should men not do that, regardless? Definitely not. But, again, no one is asking these questions.

When Matt Lauer had suggested that Meredith Vieira continue to bend over, any responsible adult should know that is inappropriate. But, WHAT IF the women have been reciprocal in the past. No means no, I get that. But what if she had commented on his tight pants showing off his bulge? Might he not have thought it okay to talk to her like that?

I know that this sounds like 'Maybe she was asking for it,' or that I am defending this kind of action. There are sleezeballs who treat women like that, but then there are just socially inept men who can't read people for shit. 

And because I can...There is video evidence  and are more first hand accounts of Trump groping and molesting and whatnot. 

Where's the Fucking outrage? 

America, the hypocritical

Movie Review: He took his Skin off for me

http://hetookhisskinoffforme.com/

by Tom McLaughlin

2015, NR Directed by Ben Aston

Cast: Sebastian Armesto (Anonymous, Star Wars: The Force Awakens), Anna Maguire

Think twice if you have ever said you 'would do anything for love' (unless your Meatloaf). This is a tale of love and scorn all wrapped up in a nice 11 minute package.

I have always been one for 'What-the-fuck-did-I-just-watch?' films. I could see why someone might say that about this short (and I would be inclined to agree with them, in part), but I think it would be a mistake to discount this piece as a mere horror short. It uses horror movie conventions, but twists them into something beautiful and menacing

Disfigurement is a staple of monster movies. The most commonly misunderstood beings that populate our favorite monster flicks suffered some form of disfigurement, either by ill-conceived justice or at the hands of some well-meaning, deranged scientist, etc.. In this context, the disfigurement is made horrific only when you are reminded of what he (Him) did for Her. You don't see it, but even the less seasoned horror show fans know the basics of flaying. The first view you have of him after skinning himself, he is smiling. Meant to convey happiness, it in and of itself is frightening. You expected to see him without skin, that's not what is scary.

Suspense is there, but it is dampened at the beginning because you realize that the act of losing his skin must not have been unpleasant, so he must not be pissed off. So, there is nothing to anticipate. You are lulled into a sort of surreal peace when you realize he is okay with it and couldn't be happier.

But, I think he took off more than just his skin. He depleted himself for her. In doing so, he took away from them. The feeling he was trying to convey was itself depleted through his act of love.  But the story takes a definite turn when she realizes he has changed. "Either He had less to say now, or He felt he was already saying it." After she said this, I thought, 'well, she's fucked.'

Toward the beginning of the short, the first morning after his act of love, she wakes up with his hand on her throat. The final scene, he tugs at her skin and she knows she must compensate. The abrupt ending is not so abrupt when you realize that the narrator is not so much telling a story as much as she is reflecting on events that led up to her own skinning. You think the love story this short started out as is intact, and you have your happy ending. Until you remember that look of contempt on his face before he pulls at her skin.

Quaint and beautiful piece of horror.


Be sure to subscribe for more horror movie reviews.

NetNeutrality: Is the Sky falling?

by Tom McLaughlin

This is more of a request more than anything. I would love to know more about what you think about net neutrality.  I am still developing my own opinion of it, trying to make sense of items that aren't spoonfed to me by biased sources.

Read the plan here. 

Tired of my Own Shit

Vulture Droppings: 

So, I am letting myself do the unconventional stuff. Normally, I think I don't work because the ordered part of my brain sees the bulk of stuff I have to do as busy work. But, if I want to increase my social media presence, I need to be online, and at the very least on social media platforms to see what is trending. If I want to write movie reviews, I need to watch movies, (sometimes more than once). If I want to write about religion and atheism, I need to get into tussles and discussions every now and then. I have realized that I can't just regurgitate information and stories, and expect people to want to read them. If I want that, I need to, for lack of a better term, go with the flow.

I recently told my wife, in a flurry of information about myself apropos to nothing, that I am doing the opposite of what I decide to do. Of course, I went off on a tangent (not dissimilar to this one), and said that if I decide to go against my decision, I will never make a decision.

My point was, my decisions and habits are what have gotten me to this point in my craft: relatively nowhere. I feel like I am playing catch up.  I feel similar to someone trying to empty a lake with a bucket, all the while acknowledging that there is a waterfall emptying into the lake. If I want to cower or curl up in a corner because the mean world is too scary, I get up and I get to work. If I want to watch a movie instead of write, I will compromise and read a book.

 "You know better, Tom" finally makes sense. 

Yesterday, instead of signing up for a course that, if I followed it through to the end, would help me increase my followers and revenue, I decided to not sign up for it. I realized the only reason I was even thinking about signing up for it was that the 'deadline' was quickly approaching (it was just the deadline for the current class). 

The first time the deadline was approaching after an intro seminar, I reminded myself that I had not followed through on the last course I signed up for. I decided to use the basics the instructor had already given me, follow through and see where it lead me. It happened to work. Granted, it was on a much smaller scale than I would have expected at the conclusion of the course itself, but damn it if I didn't see a difference. I just didn't want to spend the money. That was it.

I listen to music. I leave the music on when I leave the room, even when there's people home. I read. I sing. That's my environment conducive to creating. I guess I have just become tired of my own excuses.

Give it Up

Vulture Droppings


I have been taking stock in what I do as a writer. I am literally doing things the opposite of what I have been doing to see if that will move me ahead a little. Something as simple as, 'you need to work.'  'I don't want to' '...' 'Okay, I'll work.'  Or, instead of not writing, I write. I try to complicate things. I don't want to fail, but I have been making damn sure that if I do, I can point back to myself or something else I control so I can say, 'there...it's [xxx]'s fault.

You [whoever is reading] are going to be subject to a lot of shit as I sort through what I do and who I am as a writer. I am trying to post regularly.

I just have to out think my lazy.

Writing without my floaties

Vulture Droppings (brainnuggets)

I started my new schedule today. Which means that I started a schedule. Just like any addict, I have to remove myself from situations that encourage relapse. In this case, I am seriously addicted to procrastination. I just hope I put as much systematic effort into my schedule as I have into my procrastination. Writers are usually inspired to write by something or someone. Either it is an ideology, a work ethic, not to die (the premise of one of my stories)…or it is a fictional manifestation of that ideology or work ethic. It is whatever motivates them. I believe Stephen King’s is, according to his book On Writing, a fat guy in a tutu smoking big fat cigars.

Today, I didn't Google 'scheduling' or search for an app that helped me do it. I sat down, like I normally do, to a blank page. I woke up Mr. Logic and asked it, 'what do I want to do?' The reply was, 'I don't know...stuff.' I realized that my teenaged self fell asleep in the library again. So, I shuffled him off to bed and asked my question again. 'You want to write. More specifically, you want to order your day so you can write and not be distracted by all the other stuff you need to get done.'  

I made a list of general things I need to do: fiction, content, email (check, delete), learning, and social media. I decided to not slot times for them. No one's the boss of me, except for my wife. I hate having a schedule. It's too constricting...it's a tool of the man, man.

So, to stick it to the man, I decided that each day I am going to take the general things I need to do during the day and prioritize. Today, it is content; learning; fiction; social media; email. At the end of each day, I am going to look at all the things I did/didn't do and all the notes that I jotted down while getting the prioritized things done, and prioritize for the next day. Always stop and write down new ideas. Even if you are in the middle of writing something else. Have a pen and paper if you want to keep current and unformed ideas separate. I have a new document open so I just click, type and come back to my current work. This might or might not work for me.I have a sporadic mind, but I also tend to be ‘meh’ about things that I have otherwise deemed to be important. I have realized that I am not ‘meh’ about the work itself, just the idea of having to work to get what I want. I am still very much the ‘little rich boy’ growing up in a white suburban neighborhood. I have come really far away from that. I tend to gravitate to small, rural towns where the idea of a book might be to go really fast down a hill, or people wonder what the benefit of a library really is and can they not spend the money on (at the very least) maintaining a legal association to a library (touchy issue; I won’t get myself started).

To make things work, I also have in my notes things that work and don't work. If something I know is distracting keeps distracting me, I write it down. I don't worry about solutions. They are just notes for later. 

Atheist AF: You Have Been Chosen

When I decided to learn about the bible, I did not know that the most difficult part would be actually finding one. In my search for a class, I have included links to churches offering study in case you want to check it out yourself.

The first one I tried was the International Bible Teaching Ministries, which is run by by the  International College of the Bible.  I had to read and then take a quiz. I bypassed the answers and commented. I said, 'I'm not going to BS you.' I'm not here to debate, I just want to learn the bible from someone else's perspective.

I have to wait to be matched with a teacher.


Bible Study Fellowship offers actual classes where you can question, discuss, listen and learn. You explore daily questions in the scripture. Then you discuss the passage with the class. Then you listen to the lecture. I sincerely want to go, and will if my schedule allows.


Master's: An International Online University offers not only university level classes, but also masters degrees. Being an independent course, which is another way of saying you on your honor, you need to apply for a certificate. By ordering the diploma, you "are affirming that you actually completed the course for which you are requesting the Official Certificate of Recognition, and that you understand that the fee is non-refundable." So, there's that. 


I found that at least a couple of these suggest that you pray to start out each lesson, or ask what church you go to, what your affiliation is, etc. A friend cautioned me that there are a lot of Christians who aren't very 'Christian.' Should make in-person meetings interesting. That will also play a big part in my decision in exploring other religions.

Joining an online bible study

Atheist AF: So, I am now in the habit of collecting religious publications. You know, those little publications that demonstrate what happens to the righteous and the wicked? I also have three bibles now (and like a naughty, baby-eating atheist, I even stole one...from a little free library, but, you know...)

At first, I was not sure why I wanted to collect what people normally throw away.
Now...I know.
I think I've found my calling.

via GIPHY

Just kidding. But I have been trying to find a reason to write. I'm going to join a bible study.

My intention is not to ridicule, not to argue. My intention is to follow a natural progression of thought. To learn.

That being said, I do have a sense of humor. Should be interesting.

Happy, sunshiny nothing (Vulture Droppings)

I'm trying to sift through the word salad that is my brain early in the morning. I tried to read, but a group of words kept floating upon to the top trying to get out of my think pot, trying to be noticed. I am beginning to feel that none of my thoughts are worth anything. No longer am I sitting in a void, surrounding myself in nothingness like a blanket. Feeling secure in sorrow is not enough anymore. I am letting myself fee that I contribute, but what I contribute is worth far more than any theory of relativity or cure for cancer. My contribution is that I actively contribute, with full intention, nothing.

I no longer take everything in and lie amongst the waste, the detritus of broken promises and dreams, but I repackage it and sell it at no cost to anyone around me. The worst part is, they have no idea they are buying it. I could be sharing it with everyone else...I could be bilking them of all their money.

Life imitates art, or art imitates life. Everything is reprocessed, repackages and resold anyway. Everyone is mindlessly running toward the end. We argue and prattle on, fighting for and debating and making sure we 'win' to notice that the we are the fodder for the world's churning toward the end.

I'm my own monkey

Yay. I'm positive again.


Elated, can't you tell?

It's no accident. I noticed I was starting a day off on a good foot, and jumped on. I know why I am not known for being positive.

It takes effort. I also realized what a dick I was being to my son. All the time wondering why we always got into arguments, knowing he is autistic and  his triggers. I always had this ideal set for him. An ideal I knew was not fair. Maybe I was subconsciously trying to normalize him...I say subconsciously, because I abhor the same practice in others. I have finally let myself see him as the awesome kid he is.

Another thing that happened is that I have been steering clear of my own triggers for anxiety and depression. This takes effort, which I knew because I never wanted to take it. I believe I grew accustomed to setting the bar low. When expectations are low, I succeed more. More importantly, I am less likely to fail. But this had  the opposite affect on me. Years of skating by on misconceptions and assumptions, I viewed every mistake as a failure. A big part of it also is inventing or leaning too much upon 'afflictions'. I'm not saying the depression and anxiety are fake. I have had quite real anxiety attacks and had to dig myself out of deep dark holes to say that. But I would find myself writing off problems to my depression and anxiety. Using them as an excuse allowed me, not to keep the bar low, but to make sure I stayed under the bar. A more simplistic way of viewing overall issues, I let pity take over my life.

I realize that life is a series of ups and downs. More downs than ups, and along with my low bar lifestyle, I have grown cynical. I am sure this has also contributed to my depression, constantly analyzing things and pointing out the flaws in everything cherished by society. However, that last one, constantly analyzing things and setting things to the light, are things I have found I quite enjoy.

That's the hurdle I'm concerned about conquering. Going back to the easy and convenient tools of existence. A good analogy is an addict relapsing. Drugs and alcohol are probably the most accessible crutches out there. People have been avoiding problems and falling back on alcohol for who knows how long. The crutch makes life easier to the person using it, while avoiding the issue.  I used to smoke and drink, but how do I keep the monkey off my back when the monkey is me?

Doubt and Faith: Watch your attitude, mister!

I recently found myself in a conversation with a flat earther a last week. Right off the bat, I felt as though he was angered, maybe threatened. But here's the thing: if you don't want to argue or if you want to be among people with whom you agree, then go to church.

In the attachment, you will see that he initiated contact via private message through my Facebook page, Atheist AF (There's also Atheist AF Group for private discussions). The FB page is a place for nonbelievers to read things about atheism, agnosticism, the fallacies of religion and funny stuff. I have shared it and posts from it on my personal FB page, but I don't push it, and will attempt to continue to not promote it. I want as an authentic audience of this site as possible, whereas anyone who can find the site can look around and engage. So, this is exactly the kind of conversation I wanted.

I was overjoyed that someone had messaged me through the site. As I previously mentioned, the
gentleman was pissy. It made me smile. I mean, I would rather people not call me names and condemn me to hell (I am honored that he took the time to say it nice and pretty), but it kind of proves my point as of late.

The few times I come out of my shell and engage people on the issues that are important to me, there is a short exchange before they say, 'Let's agree to disagree.'   People have different attitudes toward discussing things in which they believe, or faced with contrary opinions. Some leave it alone, but others become incensed. 'How dare someone I don't know have a different opinion than mine, not to mention the fact that I have no obligation to respond to them.'

So, those of you who follow the page Atheist AF (go like it if you haven already) may have already seen these.

Enjoy.

Scarlet Gown

Blood coursed from her veins, seduced by the warm bathwater.

Diffusing through her liquid tomb, it billowed around her legs and hugged her body. It flowed out of her as had his love for her from the cavity left by his decayed heart.

Red from white, her skin released her gown for their dark wedding. As he drank the poisoned present she left for him, she floated in her spent life. 

They both slowly faded. 

A red bride and empty groom, scarlet and hollow they would be.  

Forever. 






Photo Credit: Subbotina Anna (Adobe Stock)