sweet, bold lips cover me
in the absence of yours.
infidelity . . .
such a strong word
for something as bold yet
as cowardly as cheating.
a charmer would know
how to keep me
not how to lose me.
a charmer would know
why I’ll stay and not
force me to leave.
are you sure
you’re ready to claim
a label you may not
live up to?
Tag: Fear
Brought Back to Life (Revised)
Microfiction
Sold into flames, fiery pits sing of the determination of willful souls who know only the battles of their homeland.
Dead then alive, then dead again, human resurrection; phoenixes rising up, resisting the shackles weighing them down. We move to get away from ourselves. We seek peace in other lands — eager to take over other worlds. Will our legs carry us to places unknown?
Temptation comes in two forms; young or old. We crave them both. Is this life’s crown? Are we waiting to be brought back to life while we struggle to live?
Are we?
Revised version originally published in soliloque via Medium.
5 Things I Do Now While Grocery Shopping
Unhinged
Going to the store now for me is like . . . like playing tug of war or escaping the fiery keep of a dragon. I flit around the store, flailing my body about the square footage as quickly as possible. All the while, in my head, I sing, “Get in. Get out. Get in. Get out.” It is a test of my stamina. How fast can I retrieve the seven items I came in here for, hmm?
I am friendly, but from a distance. I watch the people around me — looking at what they’ve touched — avoiding it. My senses are enhanced — heightened, somehow. I am a supreme ninja jutting through tight spaces, maneuvering myself through the lines of an obstacle course made of rotating germs and aggravated naysayers.
I bolt through the self-checkout, tossing the receipt in the garbage can neatly placed by the lane. I see the doors . . . “EXIT” never looked so sexy as it does when I lunge my body toward it — craving the air outside of the building.
I make it back to my car and I slide inside and crank that baby up and I breathe. I breathe and breathe and breathe and thank God I was successful. I got in and I got out.
And although, I only go to the grocery store if I’ve failed to get some items I needed or if I want a few more things and decline happily to paying the additional delivery fee for so few items. Otherwise, Instacart and Door Dash (Walgreens) are my friends.
I do these five things when I have to make a quick run to my local grocery store.
Keeping my distance.
I was never really big on having someone (I don’t know) very close to me pre-pandemic, so maintaining six feet is easy. Hell, I usually increase that distance by three to four feet.
There’s no need for anyone to get near me unless they’re trying to tell me something or get my attention, and even then, I am shooting them Mr. Burns’ twitchy eye stares if they break the lining of my bubble.
Avoiding areas that are heavily crowded.
And by “heavily crowded,” I mean two to three people. “Sure, I really need to get some more cucumbers, but I’ll avoid that for now. Thelma is thumping on and sniffing the bell peppers and Louise is sampling the grapes. Hard pass.”
Sanitizing my hands.
I work in healthcare. I’m almost certain I bleed alcohol by now. While working at the facility, I would go through bottles of hand sanitizer within a week or just under two. I’d also wash my hands until they were nearly raw.
Suffice to say, I spent my days screening patients for Coronavirus symptoms and came in contact with enough people who were positive to make me want to drink cleaning products. I won’t, though. I haven’t. But give me my hand sanitizer, please.
That is a pre-requisite, henceforth and forevermore.
Using my own shopping bags.
Let’s be real. The plastic most stores are using now has been recycled so many times. A bag of flour, two packs of gum, and a gallon of water will rip one up in a matter of seconds. For convenience and because I know where they have been, I use my own shopping bags. Thank you very much.
And I don’t mind bagging them myself.
Avoiding aisles when others are on them.
This is connected to the second point. I will wait to go down an aisle if over two people are on that aisle. I’ll circle over to another section of the store, get what I need from there, and come back. Usually, I’m successful.
Most times, they’ve gotten what they needed and I can swing on through and grab what I need. No harm, no foul. Keep it moving, folks!
You could be saying to yourself, “These seem extreme,” or “ Hey! I do a few of these too!” Many of these things do not differ from what I did pre-pandemic, they are just upgraded.
The key factor for me is safety. Grocery stores can be death traps and while I treat every day as an opportunity to extend the life I have, I am aware this life could end at any moment.
I’d just rather it not be by contracting a deadly virus while I was examining the expiration dates on my favorite brand of yogurt.
Originally published in Hinged Press via Medium.
Introducing “soliloque” via Medium
A space for my thoughts
soliloque came to me in a dream — it will be a space for my thoughts; both personal and private. After closing A Cornered Gurl to future submissions, I realized, I too . . . had outgrown the space I created in January of 2017. I dreamed of another — one that would speak to my growth over the years and would also be a space with more vulnerable writing — raw details; whether it be fiction, nonfiction, or through verse.
I am a person who speaks to herself often. I have brief conversations when trying to figure out something or if my creative side kicks in strongly, trust that many brief monologues can be heard if anyone is within earshot. soliloque is a space for me to speak my thoughts aloud — to all of you.
Welcome.
Are you listening? Can you hear me?
soliloque is my new publication on Medium. This space will be more of a therapeutic one for me. If you are a user on Medium, I hope to see you there. Peace and blessings.
I Thought the End of the World Would Be Different Than This
Senryu, 4 Parts
Armageddon now
a crazy virus still spreads
killer on the loose
time to shelter up
and watch the shitshow for free
popcorn by the pound
so this is life, right?
scratch my back, I’ll scratch yours but
stay six feet away
text me when it’s safe
I am closing the blinds soon
the end is calling
Apartment Hunting: Searching for a New Home During the Pandemic
My search in and around Winston-Salem, NC led me to these top 3 places.
It is time to look for a new home. After nearly three years of living in my current apartment, yet another increase in rent is forthcoming and I draw the line here. For three consecutive lease renewals, my rent has increased based on the market value, yet my income is moving further away from the fine line of stability and financial comfort. For the first eight months of my stay in my current place, I had a ceiling leak that kept me emailing the property office and continually communicating with maintenance men and contracted roofers who came to “see about the issue” but really did not accomplish completely fixing it until nearly two full years of my being a resident.
I was offered one month — rent-free — due to any disadvantages and inconveniences I had endured. One month . . . I stayed here because I fell in love with the property, the neighborhood, my neighbors, and the ease of exercising/walking for me and my dog. I truly did not want to move after just two years.
Circumstances have changed. Prices everywhere are increasing and so will my rent — not to mention the additional pet rent I pay each month as well. I have decided to look for a new place so that I may save money, live comfortably, and not deal with the possibility of yet another ceiling leak. Every time we get a decent thunderstorm, I flinch — eyes directed to the ceiling, and I wait. Thankfully, no new leaks have occurred.
I started my search with Google, continued on for about three days, and finally decided to reach out to the following three properties for possible tours in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Salem Ridge Apartments, Winston-Salem, NC
Located just under two miles away from where I currently live, Salem Ridge has just about everything in which I am interested. Pet friendly? Yes. Dog park and plenty of nearby walking paths? Of course! Plenty of closet space, one and two bedrooms, and recycling on-site? You betcha! I read through at least twenty of the reviews and out of fifty-three total via Google, the majority of them listed are high marks.
It is my belief that you can never truly know about the place you think will be your potential home until you move in and have lived there a few months.
The most important factor is it is within my price range and I would still have a two-bedroom but with one bathroom (this is quite all right with me) for well under $1,000.00 per month.
Salem Ridge Apartments in Winston-Salem, NC offers NEWLY RENOVATED 1 & 2-bedroom apartment homes. Located just 5 miles from downtown and within miles to the area’s most progressive employers & first-rate shopping and dining, you’ll be close to everything you desire.
This is my first choice. Being that I am already familiar with the neighborhood and the overall general area, I would like to land an apartment with this complex. I am going to cross my fingers.
Savannah Place Apartments, Winston-Salem, NC
On the same strip where I currently live is this lovely apartment complex. I see this place every single day as I trek the hill upward and downward for my daily walks or even if I venture out for a drive somewhere. It is a gated community with three-story apartment buildings varying in colors; beige, yellow, and brown. Most of the units and nearly all of the kitchens have been remodeled. The complex is pet-friendly, conveniently located to various shops, eateries, and seconds away from Hwy 421 and I-40.
It’s also suitably priced, too. They have one and two-bedroom styles of which I am interested, both under $1,000.00 per month. I would like to keep a two-bedroom floorplan but I am willing to budge just a bit if I can get into this place on my projected move-in date which is October 23, 2021.
Savannah Place Apartments in Winston-Salem, NC feature NEWLY RENOVATED 1 & 2-bedroom apartment homes located just 10 minutes from downtown. Our desirable location places you near everywhere you want and need to be, like the area’s most progressive employers, shopping, dining and entertainment.
If at all possible, I would love to stay on the strip where I live but I am open to change. I love walking within this neighborhood and ultimately, I feel safe. People know me, they see me with my dog often and I’ve lived in this area for nearly three years. It’ll feel just a bit off to move out of the neighborhood.
The Residences at Diamond Ridge, Winston-Salem, NC
My final choice — a little over two miles away from me and even closer to Downtown is The Residences at Diamond Ridge. With everything I am looking for on my checklist, this apartment complex is the third choice of my top three. I know a little about the area, but not as much as I do about Salem Ridge. The upside to this place? They have two bedrooms and one bathroom apartments for just under $800.00. I like the sound of this and I am sure my pockets will too.
Live comfortably at The Residences at Diamond Ridge! Enjoy the quality comforts of home while staying connected to all Winston-Salem has to offer!
Located in the Ardmore community, your new home puts you minutes from Downtown Winston-Salem, beautiful parks, Universities and schools, local shops, and restaurants. Our apartment homes are comfortable, cozy, and designed to meet your needs.
This location isn’t too far away from my previous job site and it’s also close to one of my favorite coffee shops. I think it would be nice if I have to make a home here. Although, I’d be happier with one of the two previously mentioned locations.
I detest apartment hunting about as much as I do job hunting, but there are some things of which I cannot control and price hikes are one of them. One thing’s different this time around — I’m doing so during a global pandemic.
I hope each tour when I am able to get one, is a successful one. Currently, none of the above places have on-site tours available as there are no units to show. I am going to wait for another two to three weeks and check with them at that time. I do, however, have a tour with The Arcadian Apartments on Saturday, July 31, 2021. It’s further down my list, but the only place available to tour.
I am a bit excited yet fearful, too. I don’t know anyone who likes moving. I just want to get past every phase of it, get settled, and move closer to being back to saving decent amounts bi-weekly and having a nest egg to hatch if I ever need to.
I have a feeling that will be necessary for the immediate future.
Originally published on NewsBreak.
A Cornered Gurl 
You must be logged in to post a comment.