Rock and Roll Saved My Soul

I Am Me By Kate Marie Robbins My name is Kate and I belong to the LGBT community. Does that surprise you? It shouldn’t. And you know what else? It shouldn’t even matter. Who I choose to love is my business and no one else’s. Just like it doesn’t matter that I choose to write with my free time. What I do is my business.      I didn’t always know I was pansexual. It’s not even something that I can pinpoint the exact moment when I knew. It was always a part of me; it just took me a long time to realize who I was. It’s taken me a long time to even love myself, so why should my sexual orientation be any different?       I’ve dated men and I’ve dated women. That doesn’t make me a bad person—not by a long shot. Being pansexual is a part of who I am, but it’s not the only thing I am. I am a friend, I am a daughter, and I am an aunt. I am a woman with many talents and skills that I use to put good back into the world. So why should my sexual orientation dictate...

For Colon Cancer Month, we are sharing a story that can be found in Invisible, Not Imagined from a colon cancer survivor.  You Don’t Look Sick Anymore By Colleen Robbins My story starts a long time ago, but it is only recently that my illness has become something that I’m going to have to live with for the rest of my life. You wouldn’t be able to tell by looking at me what I’ve gone through, at least not right now. I was diagnosed with colon cancer in August of 2010 for the first time. This is my third time having it and as of right now, it’s not going away.   This part of my story begins in August of 2016 when I went in for CT scan to check if the cancer had returned—it had, in two of the lymph nodes and a small spot in the lining of my stomach. The spots are VERY small, which is good, but the fact that it was back wasn’t. And the prognosis wasn’t any better. I began chemo again because surgery impossible and because surgery was impossible there was no get...

Silent Screams By Kate Marie Robbins From Dark Fantasia  The tree in Gracie’s backyard shook as a gust of wind blew through, chilling her to the bone. She instinctively pulled the hood of her hoodie up, covering her curly red hair.  It did little to warm her, but at least her hair wasn’t blowing in her eyes anymore.  Huddling near the large oak tree that sat on her parents’ property was her only salvation from the cutting wind.  “Chase, you better get here soon, or I’ll kick your ass,” she mumbled under her breath. “You really wouldn’t,” came a voice from behind her, quietly whispered into her ear.  Gracie jumped, the voice frightening her, even though she knew it belonged to her best friend, Chase.  “Don’t you ever do that again,” she hissed and spun around.  Her arms crossed tightly against her chest, a scowl on her face. “Aww, c’mon, Gracie, lighten up a little.”  A grin was plastered on his face, his black hair stuc...

Breathe By Heather Kirchhoff From Haunted: Fact or Fiction My eyes snapped opened as I jerked awake. I sat up quickly, glancing around, assuring myself that I'm safe. I was laying on the couch in the living room, the TV that was on is now silent. A blanket was covering me and I tossed it aside, watching it fall into a heap on the floor. I waved that away, trying to shake the remaining parts of my dream out of my head. It doesn't really work. I sighed as the memory of the knife plunging into my throat just seconds before I woke up replayed again. I got up and walked to the kitchen, going to the refrigerator to get me a glass of milk. I filled up a glass cup before replacing the milk where I got it from and taking a small swig of my drink. I took tentative sips, staring at the wall when I heard my dog come racing into the room. He came to a sudden halt and I looked over in time to see him skid a little bit. I snorted softly and shook my head, rolling my eyes at Rasc...

Thor: God Of The Night By Cassandra Jones From Dark Fantasia He stared up at the sky. Dark, ominous clouds covered the full moon. No normal man would be out on a night like this. He was no ordinary man, not by any means. He was a god, or he used to be. He wasn’t sure what he was anymore. Thor took a deep breath. He had been the Norse God of Thunder. How had he become this monster? How could he let this happen? They had caught him off guard. He had just been watching for signs of trouble. He hadn’t heard them coming until it was too late. Now all he could think about was the hunger. The need to feed on anything human or animal. Wasn’t he supposed to protect the people? Instead he wanted them to feel pain. How could he stop this urge to drain them of their blood? He would never get used to being a vampire.He wasn’t a normal vampire, since he still had his pwers to control thunder and lightning.They only made him stronger. “Have you thought about wh...

My Last Night By Boyd Miles From Haunted: Fact or Fiction I have my rope. I have my note in my pocket. I was ready. All I needed now was to find a good, stout tree limb. It is getting dark and there is a chill in the air. I better hurry or I will be trying to do this in the dark.  There, that limb might do. Just toss the rope up and over and tie the end around the tree. I don't know many knots, but this one will hold well enough. What was that noise? There is something moving over there. I back up behind the tree to let whatever it is pass and stumble over a rock. I almost laugh. It is not just a rock, it is a tombstone. I am in some old, abandoned graveyard. The perfect place. I look around the tree to see if whatever made the noise is still there. It is getting dark enough that I can't see a thing. I listen and hear nothing. Must have been a bird or squirrel.   Back to the task at hand, my last task. The tombstone will be just right; I can ...

Endometriosis (A Poem) By S.B. Carnes Every day the pain is the same and even more painful than the last day Never a day of being pain free without medication Daily pains are my normal now Others like me fight every day to be heard on their “Invisible illness” My normal is sucking up my pain everyday Everyone tells me “you’re fine, you don’t look sick or in pain” The truth is yes, I don’t look it, but I feel it every day of my life Respect me when I tell you I can’t hang out I need my rest because this illness takes a lot out of me Or deal with the constant complaining of how tired I am the choice is yours Sometimes I feel I am the only one going through this I know I am not alone. There are millions of women that have Endometriosis just like me. So, let’s spread awareness and be heard END ENDOMETRIOSIS FOR US!!! To read the rest of the stories and poems, pick up a copy of the anthology on Amazon today! All proceed...

Breaking Silence  By S.K. Brandon My girlfriend Lesley smiled up at me. “I was wondering when I get to meet your parents,” she said. “Is it your mom and dad? Or?” she asked curiously. I really didn’t like people asking about my family.  “I was raised by two dads,” I informed her, closing my eyes as I tried to not remember my pop. I hadn’t seen him since I was fifteen, now at twenty five, but that didn’t stop the flashbacks. It was like I was right there again. I closed my eyes tightly, hoping I could get some sleep before pop got home from work. He was usually angry, drunk or a mix of the two. I closed my eyes tightly as I heard him coming up the stairs, I was already starting to shake.  “ Please, Jerry, please, leave him alone,” My father started and I knew he was trying to protect me again. My parents mostly fought over me and how pop treated me. I felt the overwhelming urge to protect my da...