I've started practicing writing, and I joined a queer writing group recently. Here's 3 of my practice writings using prompts from the group.
The Abyss Calls
I peer into the abyss looking behind me,
As I swim upwards to breathe in the air at the surface,
I feel the pressure from the sludge of the abyss pushing me further down,
I kick my feet harder, and push the water behind me with my arms,
As reaching the surface, and not struggling is the end goal,
I see the reflecting shimmer of light dancing above my eyes on the surface,
And I feel the warmth of the water temperature change as I get closer to the surface,
I feel a tug on my legs, and look behind me seeing twine covered in sludge grasping my ankle from the abyss,
I panic trying to get my ankle free from the sludgy twine,
I feel myself losing air, as I struggle to get free,
Finally freeing myself i swim to the surface inhaling deeply fresh air,
I bask in the bright warmth of the sunlight, and swim towards a buoy,
Upon reaching the buoy I climb a top catching my breath, and rest,
I find myself looking towards a future I've never thought I'd have, but sometimes I still hear the call of the abyss beckoning me to join it again.
Next practice piece I used a prompt that was to write something using the line "did you know the dead could fall in love?"
Love After Life
Did you know the dead could fall in love? If you were unlucky enough to find your soul mate in life you still have a chance in the afterlife. Lady Persephone has told us, "if you feel your heart beating it's a sign you're near the one."
While lying in the fields of asphodel I found truth in Lady Persephone's words. As I felt a beating heart sensation that I haven't felt since I was alive. I sat up upon hearing an euphonic voice from beside me asking, "May I sit beside you?" My heart skipped a beat as I looked into her warm golden light brown eyes full of joy I replied "I'd love nothing more than to share this space with you." As she sat beside me she asked for my name, and I told her my name was Thalia, and asked for her name in return. She responded her name was Iris, and then spoke "Forgive me for my forwardness, but I noticed you for some time now, and I saw this flower that made me think of you." She handed me a beautiful twilight sunset colored violet resembling everlasting love after death, and I accepted it graciously heart beating wildly as I did. Then Iris, held out her hand to me offering half of her pomegranate, and I accepted it. We sat in the fields of asphodel eating our pomegranates together knowing we were each other's fated soul mate.
Then this short fiction I just finished over the weekend using a prompt that was "When you leave, please take me with you"
Take me with you
“When you leave, please take me with you,” pleaded my sister. I took a look at her puppy eyed face begging me. Life in a rural town wasn’t so great for twin witches, who both happen to be queer. I being a bisexual trans woman, and her being a lesbian. My social transition was an absolute nightmare having being betrayed by a close friend whom I asked to please start referring to me with she/her pronouns, and to start calling me Rhiannon. She went behind my back, and told the whole school that I was a sick boy who needed help. Then from there of course the church, and our parents found out. I was devastated, and learned the hard way to not trust as easily, and that the only people I could trust was myself, and my twin sister, Lara. Lara held me in her arms, soothing me by rubbing my my shoulders as I sobbed. She brushed my tears away from my face, and she told me that she saw me for who I truly was, and that she would always have my back, and so would the Goddess. Remember when I told mentioned it was a nightmare living in a rural town for twins who were queer witches? Well Lara, and I are both practicing pagans, and sadly growing up in a christian family, and a christian town it’s left us feeling pretty alienated, but we both have our sacred alter hidden in a secret room that we found in our attic as kids, and kept it as our secret twin club space. Now we’ve decorated space with purple led light strips around the room, and a make shift altar that we created outta boxes, and put a pentagram cloth over along with candles, amethyst, clear quartz, and rose quartz with some runes that we use for divination. I owe so much thanks, and appreciation to the Goddess Aphrodite, as I’ve prayed to her, and left her offerings of sea shells, and an apple for me to be able start transitioning, becoming more of my true authentic self as a woman, and wanting to fulfill my womanhood.
I know that my prayers were answered when I met Peaches, at a strip club one night. Lara, and I sneaked off together to go to our first strip club together. It may seem weird that as siblings together, huh? But we strive to have as many new experiences shared together, and we both happen to be sapphic women. I was mesmerized by the strength, and skills of the dancers on the poles, and honestly these women have major core strength muscle skills! I feel as though pole dancing should be an Olympic sport. While people watching I could help notice the men drooling, and basically being putty in these women’s hands. Men such easy targets, I thought to myself while rolling my eyes. “Hey, Rhiannon, come to the bathroom with me.” Lara said to me in my ear as the music was too loud for us to hear each other. We headed towards bathroom, and once we enter Lara started washing her hands, and then her face, “The way the men treat, and look at the women here made me feel dirty, and like I needed to wash up.” “Ohh god, I know! I figured it’d be weird, and gross witnessing the male gaze, but it’s worse than I thought.” I replied. “We are at a strip club after all. What did we expect? I was thinking what if we sneak into the dressing room area, and cast a protection spell over the strippers here?” Lara asked. “That’s kinda weird sis, even for us, but they definitely could use the protection. Lead the way.” I replied
Lara, and I headed towards the door that said “Employees only”, and we peaked around the corner, and saw that the dressing room was empty, and so we went in. The dressing room was a big room with multiple stations with mirrors, and a wardrobe. I noticed Lara going over to each station, and collecting hair from each dancer’s hairbrush, and calling over to me to join her grinning as she waved me over, “I swear the things you get me into” I say to Lara as I sit beside her. “Hey don’t judge me we need something personal of theirs for the spell, and what better than hair from their brushes?” responded Lara, as she was taking black candles, lighter, amethysts, and herbs out of her drawstring bag. “Boy you came prepared almost as if youi planned this.” “Ohh I definitely planned this. Now let’s get started.” Lara wrapped an amethyst stone with the hair strands of a specific dancer for each dancer. Then I sprinkled some mint, rosemary, eucalyptus, and lavender over each amethyst. Then Lara, and I held hands, and Lara flicked the lighter, and lit the black candle. Then we started chanting, “Earth, fire, water, air, and spirit. We call upon the Goddesses Athena, Artemis, Soteria, and Hecate to bless, and bestow protective energy from each herb into each amethyst to protect each person whom we give these too. Protect them from any harm, malicious intent, and negative energy. So mote it be. Blessed be.” Then we blew out the candle at the same time.
“Y’all aren’t suppose to be in here.“ Said a voice startling us both. The woman wearing lingerie, with a garter belt, and fishnets walked over to her station, and sat down taking off her stiletto heels. “Well this is a first. We’ve had creeps sneak in jerking off in the corner, but never someone sneaking in the dressing room doing witchcraft.” “Excuse us both. We’re sorry…” I stammered outta nervousness of being caught. “It’s fine don’t worry, it’s the thought that counts after all.” She said as she packed a bowl with weed. “Besides, I won’t tell if y’all won’t tell. Management doesn’t want us smoking inside, but it’s too sketchy for us to smoke out back. May I borrow your lighter?” “Yeah of course.” Lara, replied walking over to the woman, and handing her the lighter. “Thanks, Love.” said the woman lighting her bowl, and inhaling the smoke. She held the smoke in, and let out the smoke “I’m Peaches, by the way.” she handed the lighter back to Lara. “How old are y’all?” she asked us. “We’re 18. I’m Lara, and that’s my sister Rhiannon.” replied Lara. “Thank goodness, I was worried y’all might be minors. That’s the last scandal our club needs.” Peaches said relieved. I picked up the Amethyst stone that was wrapped in the same pastel purple hairs that Peaches’ hair color was, and walked over to her handing her the crystal. “This one’s for you.” Peaches took it from me, and smiling, and laughing to herself “Y’all actually took our hairs? That’s so creepy” she said. Lara went over to the rest of the crystals, and while looking at a note she placed each crystal at the appropriate station. “Well do any of you want a hit?” Peaches asked offering her bowl after repacking it. I took the bowl from her figuring why not as first time smoking weed with a stripper would be a great story in the future. I lit the bowl, and inhaled coughing immediately. Peaches chuckled “First timer I see.” I looked over at Lara blushing, and she winked at me while packing up her stuff, and then came over to join us, and took the bowl from me. Lara lit the bowl, inhaling holding in the smoke, and then coughing as let it out.
Lara handed the bowl back to peaches, and Peaches took it, and cleaned out the bowl. “I can now scratch smoking with twins off my list of things I’ve never done before. So Rhiannon forgive me for being forward, but do you plan on medically transitioning?” asked Peaches. I was taken by surprise, and felt awkward being asked the question, and responded “I would like to, but I can’t afford a therapist to get my hormone letter, and our parents would never pay for me to see a therapist.. How’d you know I was trans?” “Hun, your hair is at that awkward growing hair out length where you need to get trimming to clean up your hair at least. Plus you’re flat chested, and you remind me of me before I started hormones.” “You’re Trans too? I never would have guessed” “Yes, I am, I been transitioning for 8 years. I strip mainly to cover my hormone costs. It’s expensive, and sadly we don’t have any informed consent clinics around. So I been ordering my hormones online. Here I’ll make a preposition for you because I like the gull the two of you have to sneak into strippers’ dressing room stealing our hair to cast a spell, and then get caught by one of us, and take her up on her offer of taking hit of her bowl. Plus I remember being your age, and I wish I was able to transition at 18. I’ll buy some extra t blockers, and estrogen, and give them to you. What do you say?” I was stunned, and taken a back to what Peaches was offering me, “Wait really? That seems to be too much to offer. I mean I’d be absolutely appreciative, and thankful, but how could I ever repay you?” “It’s no problem at all hun, I more than enough money, and besides I also had an older trans woman help me, and guide me with how to safely diy transition. I’ve been wanting to pay it forward, and also help a young trans sister too. Besides I like the vibes I’m getting off you, and your sister.” responded Peaches winking at us. “Wow thank you so much Peaches, yes please, I’d love to take you up on your offer!” I replied all smiles. Lara hugged me, and kissed my cheek whispering in my ear “Your prayers have been answered sis, and I’m so happy for you.” Peaches, Lara, and I hung out, and chatted some more getting to know each more, and then when Peaches break was over she hugged Lara, and I, and escorted us back to the club so we wouldn’t get in trouble. Then Lara, and I left the club heading back home.
After being on hormones for a year I wasn’t able to hide my breasts anymore even though they were only around almost an A cup, but not a full A, and my face becoming softer, and more feminine looking I ended up sleeping over at Peaches’ place as my parents started to just act like I didn’t exist any more, and it got mad awkward being home, and not even spoken to, or looked at anymore. Lara started staying over at Peaches’ place too more often as well to spend time with her girlfriend as Peaches, has become like an Aunt to Lara, and I. Once I started working Peaches, offered me to move in with her, and I took her up on her offer. “When you leave, please take me with you.” pleaded Lara. I looked up at her puppy eyed face begging me, and I stopped packing up my room, and replied “Of course I’m taking you with me! I already asked Peaches, if you could move in too, and she said yes. I made a deal with her to cover your rent portion until you get a job. I’d never leave you behind.” Lara started happily crying, and I hugged her tightly.
