15 Minutes of Christmas.

The first bell of the seventh dawn mass has rung. it's three in the morning and they're still up, in a video call, a hundred kilometers apart. It's their tenth month anniversary, the twenty-third of December. In exchange of jokes, quotes, stories, pranks, silly thoughts and everything else in between, time quickly passed by. The clock has stuck, the cock has crowed, and off to bed they must go. Said their goodbyes, amid sweet sighs, they log out, log off and shut down. Off to sweet slumber she goes, but a restless mind he tows. He wants to see her and he can't wait for the morning to shine on him. The beating of his unruly heart can be heard across the room, his emotions are running wild. He hasn't been this excited in awhile. Once again, he's got this big plan, this big scheme to hatch. But it must wait, for it's early morn and he must rest. Off to bed, lay his head, and slumber came upon him instantly.

But a tired body and a dreaming mind has slept too long, and awoke a little late than planned. He was supposed to be up at Eight - for he had chores to do, things to clean, and errands to run. He was supposed to leave at One - for he had a ride to catch, the traffic to beat, and the day to chase. He was supposed to be there at Three - for the had a curfew to follow, leave at Six and be home by Seven. But he woke up at One cleaned, ate and did all chores till Three. There wasn't really any time left for him to see her. To go or not to go? That is the question. Time and Lady Luck is not on his side, and everything else stands in his way. The risk was too high, the chances are low. Everything was not going the way he planned, and it seems everything is over.

He got on the last ride headed to the City, it was four in the afternoon. From there, he will take a ride hitting the expressway. It will usually take an hour and a half to reach his destination, but Traffic, Time and People extended his trip to two hours. The moment he got off, he rushed to the nearest bakeshop and bought a small cake, the best-looking one he saw in the display. Without skipping a heartbeat, he rushed to another ride en route to her house. It was six in the evening by this time, the clouds were dark, the wind was cold and the Traffic did not help him get to her faster. This was all happening, without him telling her a single clue nor a warning, he wanted it to be a surprise. All this time, they were exchanging text messages, as if nothing was happening. His heart was beating so fast, he wanted to see the look of her face when she sees him.

He called her up as he was walking on the street of her house, starting a common conversation. He asked her to come out, but she wondered why, saying there's nothing to do nor see outside. He insisted, but she hesitated. He hung up, and just called her out. She came out. The surprise and shock on her face was priceless, but a smile mixed with laughter and awe was quick to trace it. She thought she was dreaming. She was too intoxicated with the feeling. There were random laughters and looks of disbelief, she was caught off-guard and unprepared. Exactly what he wanted: Her happiness and surprise. They hugged and kissed, but she was embarrassed by the way she looked. She was not prepared and was dressed in house clothes. But he held her close and kissed her lips, saying that he did not care about the way she looked, dressed, smelled or any other else; he just wanted to be with her.

He just wanted to be with the girl he loved, he just wanted to kiss and hug her. He wanted to see her, regardless of the risks, the time, and the distance. Every ounce of effort was worth it. Every sweat, energy and money spent did not matter. The moment he saw her smile and beautiful eyes, nothing ever mattered. Her hug melted his heart, her kiss was priceless, unique in every way. It was sweet, filled with such emotion and love. He held her body close, he cannot resist her amazing body. He hugged her tightly and cherished the moment, wishing he could stay a bit longer.

Fifteen minutes passed and he had to go. If time could only stop, he would've stopped it. But it continued ticking and will not slow down. It was short, but sweet. They walked hand in hand, towards the station, kissed and bade goodbye. He didn't know if he'll get punished for this, but he was more than willing to take his chances. It was all worth the trouble, the effort and hassle. He rode home, with a smile on his face and a happy heart. The stars shone on him and the moon was nodding, once again, in approval. He got what he wanted this Christmas. He got it early, Ten months in advance.

A Happy Christmas.
Answer Questions

Pharisee.

Wolves hiding under sheep's skin,
they condemn thy brethren's faults
but look away from their own sins.
Liars and Pretenders, all in a single line,
they think they're holy a ninth of the time.

Bow down and kiss His feet,
Worship and Praise him to show your faith so deep.
You exalt in a loud voice for everyone to hear,
Quote his verses, parables and teachings.
You raise your hands up high to give him Glory.

Modern pharisee,
You condemn my wrongdoings.
You revile what wrong your eyes can see,
and you think of yourself so Holy.
You shout, curse, criticize and complain,
But at His presence you stand seemingly without fault.
You taunt me, provoke and coerce,
But at His attendance you act so pious and divine.

I am not acquitting myself of my faults, I know I may have done some wrong.
But do not criticize me as if you have not sinned the same fault.
You Hypocrite, be ashamed of your words and actions.
You are not chaste and innocent at all.
Great Pretender, may your soul torment in Inferno.
You are the greatest sinner,
You are the greatest this world has ever known.

Proof.

Do you need a ring around your finger for you to know how I feel?
Do I need to swim the deepest waters for me to prove that this is real?
Do I need to give a thousand roses for me to show you what love is?
Do I need to kneel at your feet, crying, for me to prove to you that I'm not lying?
How many songs do I have to write and sing, for you to believe what I'm feeling?

What should I do to make you believe what I'm telling you?
Your endless doubts, our screams and shouts,
Our infinite insecurities and anxieties will never get us anywhere.
What amount of effort do I need to show to prove to you I'm not letting go?

If proof is what you need,
then take a look at every part of me.
take a look at everything I've done,
remember every memory of our past that has gone.
If evidence is what you want,
then take a second and maybe you'll realize,
that I have given every effort I could ever give and more,
If you're happier now as you were before.

This is my proof, I rest my case.
It's up to you to see the evidence lying within me.

Dear Morning.

Dear Morning,
I find It hard to wake.
It's difficult to get up from my bed and start my day.
I was having those dreams again, and in this dream,
My heart was crushed to see, she was kissing someone else other than me.

Dear Morning,
Why have you come again?
I find no reason to start my day, won't you please just go away?
Please don't let the Sun shine, for I have lost what was once mine.

Precious, Merciful Morning,
These Vultures are waiting for my death,
they're flying above me, circling 'round my head.
My mind is wandering, filled with thoughts of her
while my heart keeps bleeding with every memory remembered.
It's slowly killing me, my head slowly being severed.

Ever Dearest Mourning,
This might be the last.
My darkest hour has come, and It will not pass.
Depression of this heart has taken its toll
and has taken one's life, once and for all.

Astronaut.

Drifting into nothingness,
Been longing for this time of loneliness.
I've been hurt, damaged, and with injury.
Succumbing to fatigue, distress and disease.

Let my wounds heal,
Let my scars disappear.
I want to be in a state
Wherein would no longer feel the pain,
Wherein would no longer feel that kind of shame.

Astronaut en route to Mars,
I need some space.
I need some breathing room,
I'll be back not-to-soon.

I'm closing my doors,
and I'm pulling the blinds.
Spend a moment or two in the dark,
It will take quite some time.
If you wish, you can wait for me outside,
Where the sky is blue and the sun shines.

hate | red.

Resentment and Hate in my heart,
Breeding loathe and agony.
I have banished all love and understanding,
I refuse to believe in your Ideologies.

I do not wish this feeling, no,
I would truly suppress it if I could.
But I have broken down, my walls have failed me.
A score of suffering and hurt,
I finally came to the point of no return.

I have lost,
Lost respect for him.
Lost the love i felt,
Lost the admiration I've held.
I have lost,
a treasured comrade.
In return, found Anger,
Found Hate and resentment.

It is hard to find forgiveness now,
I cannot bear the thought of it.
I hope and wish that maybe someday,
I'd find some peace and finally forget,
all the hurt, anger, suffering and sorrow I have met,
and truly be free.

Taken Dignity.

Cornered, back against a brick wall.
The night is dark, the world is fast asleep.
Shadows of the night creep close by,
there is an exodus of pure souls tonight.
the Demons have taken over their idle minds,

Loud shrills of fear and agony fall on deaf ears,
there is no rescue, this nightmare is reality.
Struggle, clawing for resistance and defense,
such sacred act tarnished and tainted by anonymity.

Taken dignity without permission,
taken chastity without hesitation.

Lovers without a face, she was left without grace.
Betrayed and forsaken,
Left there, used and abused by men and fate.
she lies there helpless and distraught.

Justice, she cries out,
but it may never be served.
Justice, she screams out,
But is never heard.

Blue Gray.

From blue to gray, the skies' colour changed.

The blowing winds were cold; it beckoned Rain.

The weeping tree raised its hands up to the heavens,

asking for its glorious blessing, begging for its sacred tears.

All was silent; anticipating the downpour to come.

All was still; waiting for the first raindrops.

Everything was peaceful, lovely and sweet.

It seems like the turning of the world stopped.

And there it came.

The sudden sound of rain pouring filled the empty space,

Everything was soaked in its magnificence, flooded in its grace.

The thirsty ground opened its mouth to drink,

to quench its thirst and weariness from the sun's temperate.

The feeling of Nostalgia and Melancholy was inevitable.

It was gloomy and dim, the day longed for some Intimacy.

In between whispers and sighs, you could hear

the sound of smiles and delightful eyes.

While the world was being cleansed

with the purity and joy of the Rain,

Souls celebrated, sang, and danced,

It washed away all the sorrow and pain.

And again, silence came.

The pouring outside stopped, the sun is here again.

Slowly, it crept up behind the clouds, and over the sky,

bringing its glorious sunlight to end the rain.

Only a memory of the sweet precipitate remains,

And now must we welcome the dawning of a new day.

It had come so quickly, but ended not in vain.

Freedom.

I've been living a life I did not choose to live.

Manipulated, - Controlled,

I've been forced upon my half-hearted decisions.

I have never been free,

Freedom is an unfamiliar word to me.

I have been held prisoner in the same walls I call home,

Having no control over my own Destiny.

I want to break Free,

Free from these chains of slavery,

Free from limitations and boundaries.

I want to control my own life,

Wherein i hold my own Fate and Destiny.

I want to break off and break out,

Be finally who I really want to be.

Let me Fly away,

Cut off these ropes that bind me.

I want to Escape,

I want to be Young and Foolish.

I can't wait to live my life,

Outside the box that I've been set into,

Outside these walls that hold me down.

I want to Run,

I want to Escape.

Give me my Freedom.

Terminal.

She awoke in the middle of the night.

Traces of tears were still visible on her cheeks.

She had fallen asleep beside her ailing mother,
patiently keeping vigil at her feet.

The room was filled with much gloom,
suffering, anxiety, and sorrow.

She was inevitably going to die,

She was about to give back the time she borrowed.

A plastic heart and a half-dead mind,

The only things keeping her alive.

Mechanical lungs pumping and wheezing,

the only things keeping her breathing.

Her skin's purple from the prescribed drugs,

Her freedom and energy robbed.

Two years, lying and living on a bed,

Her life was almost no different from death.

It's a struggle to breathe.
Her Shaking heart and its weary beats.

The Soul and Mind are strong,
but the Body and Will are weak.

It is not Immortality,
but rather it is Peace that she seeks.

Two years, fighting and holding on.

Two long years, youth and health long gone.

Time was catching up, inches away.

Losing grip, trying to veer away from Death's blade.

She gets up and wipes her tears,
looks at her bed-ridden mother with pity and despair.

Nods her head and heaves a sigh,

kisses and bids her good night.

Goes to the kitchen and gets a knife,

kisses and bids her goodbye.

Drawing Lines.

(*Three's A Crowd Part Deux)

I'm finally up next.

I've been waiting in line for the longest time.

Save the pressure and the setbacks,

I've been wanting this baby to be mine.

I took all the opportunities,

Almost ended up looking like a fool.

But I erased all doubts and uncertainties,

And now, I'm sure.

I've got the requirements, I made the grade.

I was patient, waited the whole day.

No more Red Lights, only Green signals came.

No more Stop Signs, the price has been paid.

I got the Job, they even fired the Incumbent Manager for me.

Not the dream employment, but who's complainin'?

I'd do my best, to solve every single test,

And prove to you that I'm the Best.

I still got the Touch and Class, my luck's finally turned.

Now I know why they say, don't make those bridges burn.

Who would've thought, that my former Employee,

Would even pull some strings just to hire me?

The Ironies of Life,

Same Name, Different Personalities.

Same Name, Different Perspectives.

Different People, Same 'ol feeling.

Different Similarities, Similar Differences.

I'm Drawing the Lines once again,

This Heart's Occupied.

I'll call you when we have an opening,

See you around, 'till then.

Area One.

From ashes we came and to dust we will go,
Destruction and Death is Inevitable.
The time it comes, no one knows.
Skyscrapers and tall buildings will fall,
Those mechanical birds will crash.
The skies will be filled with dark smog and ash,
The world will be torn asunder.

There were prophecies of Armageddon and Meteor,
The sinking of the Everest, the overflowing of the Pacific.
The Coming of the Savior. Judgement.

Panic and Fear roam the streets.
People crying, on their knees, begging for mercy,
While non-believers try to make the most of this mess,
Indulging in their sacrilegious actions, heresies.

War and Conflict is everywhere,
People are committing murder on broad daylight,
The fresh corpses lie on the street, stepped on, run over.
They've all gone out of control.
Gunshots, Bomb blasts, Rain of Fire.
The fine line between Terrorist and Police cannot be defined.

****

Insanity. Madness. Ultimate Chaos.

****

And here It comes.
A Light from the heavens,
shining like a Thousand Suns.
No one could explain what It was,
They all stopped, dropped everything they were doing
and looked up in astonishment and awe.

Is It Jesus? Is It A Meteor? Has the Sun blown up?
Questions in their minds, but none of them spoke.
Destruction and Death is Inevitable.
The time it comes, no one knows.
but maybe this is the time.
Armageddon and Judgement.

Then. Complete Silence came.
It was more silent that you could ever imagine.
The Light shot to the ground and spread like wildfire.
Everything turned Immaculate white,
Everything was turned to dust.
No One was left. Nothing was Left.
Everything was Gone.

*****

A million years after,
there rose a being from the ashes.
He retained speech and sense, but he had no memory.
He was confused, as if he had been asleep.
Where Am I?
He ran. Ran to the highest peak he could reach.
and from there, he saw, a steam-punk era metropolis.
A place named A.R.E.A. One.

His name was Adam.