Cia

Is reality really reality? That, and all the questions you brought up, are definitely everything I wanted this chapter to resonate with for readers. Yes! Just what is the goal of those people who tortured Kohen and the others. I do try. What I really wanted to have people get is that he's pushing them away because he's afraid to hurt them, not because he can't connect with humans on an empathetic level anymore, no matter what he's done in his past--even if he doesn't realize it. LOL! Eviscerate, that is a great word and exactly what I'd love to see too! Thank you, Jeffrey! I definitely hope that Kohen's fears don't come true too.

Thank you, Lux! Yes, I definitely understand the wishing horrible things on them. Thank you, Jeffrey. I try to keep things realistic, and he's been tortured for a long time. He can't just get better, and the affects will be felt for a long time. Yes, definitely! I like to add in a lot of twists.

Yes, the captain has definitely shown how he feels about Kohen. Cruel... or uncertain about how to deliver it... you have to look between the lines to see if it's cold or just awkward. Yes! It is definitely one thing after another. He's been kept in the dark, but he knew things weren't right. I'd have to think some answers are better than not knowing for so long. Yes, he does. And I definitely agree that answers are better than just not knowing what's wrong with you. Nope, they definitely weren't very nice at all. And you'll find out more how they work and what was done to him as the story goes, definitely.

I know, right? You want to smother him in comfort. on this great review Yes, he definitely couldn't hide it from Kohen! Thank you, normischell! He is a lot more open than he originally was in the first few chapters. Thank you, Defiance!

Well, he's a bit more overt, but I think that's more because he wasn't sure how to address it... so he just put it out there. It was more a symptom of awkwardness than blunt uncaring. Thanks, Parker! I do like to take my stories in directions readers aren't expecting. Yes! I'm trying to move the story along a bit farther now that we have a good foundation of the main characters. Well, I often do have a lot of harsh scenes and realities for my characters to face, I do try not to milk it overmuch or make it all bad so that readers are constantly put through the wringer. The harder to handle emotions need lighter moments or the impact really is lost. I'm so glad you're enjoying the story! Well, I do happen to be pretty blunt, but I think it's more the captain didn't know how to say it... so he just did it.

See, now this movie I just couldn't get into. It felt very "stylized". Everyone was too perfect for their parts, too typecast into rigid character roles. Attractive hero/reluctant bad guy with a bad past. Manipulative bastard, as Myr said. Tatted up asshole thug. Tatted up asshole thug's woman. Poor girl with shitty job who just gets caught up in the bad. I was pleased with the variety of cars for the driving scenes at least.

I could still recall, though it was a dim memory, feeling absolutely enraged when no one would listen to me. Overall, the complete lack of any control over my life had eclipsed that childhood frustration, but I felt it now. “Captain, you have to listen to me. I could be a danger to you right now. What if they found some way to be in my head? To see and hear what I see and hear?” “I don’t think that’s possible,” Lakshou said. “I don’t sense anything other than your self inside you.” “

Happy Birthday!!

Lakshou and Captain stared at me, like I was going to break apart or run screaming. But… I’d had years to experience the horrors of what they did to me. The digging around in my brain. The tests. Things I’d done even when I didn’t want to. I’d hoped they were all in my head, visions as I’d been held immobile in my cell. But I’d crushed that box. Just like I’d crushed…. Nausea swirled in my belly. Maybe I’d left my cell before Captain had rescued me. If that was true… “You

Sexuality is rarely black and white for every person, and it sounds like you don't really know where you fall on the spectrum either. Most people are shades of gray. They may find someone of the same sex attractive mentally, or react physically, or explore things physically... but that doesn't mean they're "gay". Taking part in sexual activity doesn't mean you have to be one thing or another, and labels rarely make a person happy because then you try to fit yourself into one thing, which may not be who you truly are or the type of relationship that will make you happy in the end. I think it's more important to focus on finding a person that turns you on mentally and physically (and you do the same for them) than to focus on the gender. Exploring what turns you on is a natural part of finding out who you are and what you want in a partner in life, but don't limit yourself (or him) just because of something you've done in the past that might not be what you want long-term or in the future. Oh, and if someone is in a relationship that isn't open, asking them to have sex with you (in any form) would mean they're cheating if they agree. That's more about integrity than sexuality. If your friend says he didn't want to have sex with you again, then pressuring him is unlikely to be helpful to his mental state and happiness. You're more likely going to lose a friend than gain a romantic relationship.

Captain held up a box. “First, do me a favor. Can you take this in your hand?” I eyed the small green box in his hand. It was small, with smooth sides. I still hesitated. “What does it do?” “Nothing. It’s just a cube. It can’t hurt you.” The edges weren’t even sharp, so I carefully reached out my hand. Captain gently dropped it into my hand. “What now?” It was so light I could barely feel its weight on my palm as I cradled it. “Squeeze it,” he said. “Okay.” I closed

Just because visual directions often help, here is how you can check the issues and disable/download/fix drivers that relate to black screen issues in Windows 8: http://www.windowswally.com/how-to-fix-graphics-driver-update-causing-black-screen-error-in-windows-8/ And here are a lot of links and options to screen issues fixes in Windows 10: https://www.drivethelife.com/windows-10/fix-display-video-graphics-problems-after-windows-10-update.html

Next week! Mebbe... mebbe not... can't say!

Bad me, bad, bad, bad me. Maybe Santa should take all my toys away? Awww.... dunno about that. Maybe he'll bring something else though. "Things" have been discovered. I think ramping up is definitely going to be a good way of describing it. What, me? Would I do such an evil, evil thing? Noooooooo, say it isn't so. Oh wait... yes I did. Muahahahaha.

Doesn't it? Somehow, I doubt it's the Flash Gordon thing, though. LOL!! Nope, definitely didn't do his meditation exercise post-session calm any good at all! Seems like the cliffie hasn't enhanced your calm either. Muahahahaha! Ahh, yes, the tie in with the title! You used the perfect word! What Kohen has been denied, he's now rediscovering. Life, happiness... love? LOL! More next week. Sorry I couldn't do more this week!

Yes, cliffies suck, but they're so hard to avoid with a 1k limit. Don't worry, though, more coming last week with answers to this week's questions! Yes, soooo mean. Forward and back. Eventually he'll get to a healthy place (we hope), but it's a marathon, not a sprint, for sure. Yes... what WERE they doing? What did they discover? What does it mean for Kohen? More next week!

Oh, you picked up on the younger mindset he's fallen into. The "I've got a chance to do something, but should I?" sneakiness that kids can do when they're alone. LOL What can I say? I had to throw in some geekness about space in this story. Yes, that's something they'd all be instructed to obey in a limited space environment. Personal limits/space must be respected to survive the close quarters. Kohen cannot figure out Aparoe's gender, as they appear androgynous. So... they are 'they' instead of 'he' or 'she'. As I'm using first person POV, from Kohen, there's a lot of the background and happenings outside his experience I can't share until he is involved (or oversees things) or gets up the guts to ask. Thanks, Jeffrey. I'm trying to keep it real, as much as I can with this being a spaceship full of humans and aliens traveling about the cosmos far, far from the mundanity of real life on Earth, lol.

Ups and downs. Anyone recovering from a trauma has them, and he's on an up right now. Predicting what's going on in my brain? Not even I can do that, LOL!! Yep, fun time. He's on an up, he's feeling more positive and not doubting as much. But... what must come up, just come down. Right?! Yes. He's reaching out, opening up to the idea he's not in his cell or being tricked. And after his teen years of next to no contact and sensory deprivation other than negative, he's understandably wary.

Ah, the joy and pain of a flash fiction story with the Wednesday Briefers! I'm glad you're reading, though! Yes! But that's all part of it. He's been conditioned, and just wanting to be free, or being free, doesn't mean he can handle the reality of it. Slow and steady. Thank you, Scotrik1!! Yessssss!!! I love water and snuggly blankets. Total sensory nut, can't you tell?

I think we all have our sensory needs, and that is one I couldn't help but share with Kohen. Yes. Years being locked into it, while developing, would be traumatic for someone. This chapter was very much two steps forward... unfortunately, a step back is inevitable. Thank you! I really like Kohen too, and his story has captured me as an author. I try to be 'true' to the way a real person would feel, no matter what situation the story puts them in, and anxious is definitely a biggie for him.

Oh, I sooo don't. I absolutely love that moment each evening because it is such a sensory experience (and not in a naughty way, lol!). Hot, cold, firm water pressure, a waterfall shower head for a gentle rain... I love living in a place where water is so plentiful! Yes, yes, it does! I totally agree, as you can see from my reply above, lol. Yeppers! Too bad he was stuck with a sonic shower. Space is very important for Kohen, but not too much.

Quiet is definitely on the horizon. Nope, not just some random storage space. Captain wants him close. I do try to include things without telling readers, but it was important information to share what his room used to be. Captain is very protective, yes, and I like strong men with soft insides. They're the sweetest. Yes, I thought some would pick up the closeness, but others might need a little more information to realize what exactly Kohen's room used to be. You do pick up on all the little clues I litter about to create the emotional vibe for readers though.

The insistent chime from the door woke me up. I sat up in bed and yawned, then grimaced. My tongue felt thick and tasted nasty. Cokala didn’t taste good the next day. “Yuck.” The chime was loud in the tiny space of my room, and the muscles in my neck tightened as my shoulders hunched. I didn’t want to answer the door or let anyone in. Every time I spoke to someone, it was like my world changed again. Ignoring it wasn’t working though. Sighing, I pushed the covers back and slid off th

Did you catch Monday's blog featuring Vlista's teen drama, Tyler? Make sure you check it out and download your copy of the signature graphic at the bottom if you want to share your love for the story. Or, if you haven't read the story before or checked it out yet, enjoy this excerpt below! Cia said: Vlista's stories can be quite graphic and dark, but Tyler is more about the life after the worst a teen has faced than the negative experiences that shaped him. I really like the sense of hope in the story as the characters look forward and not back, refusing to let the darkness take away the chance of a happy future. I also really liked the way this one section offers so many glimpses into the major characters in the story. To read more, check out the rest of the story here.

This month I picked a Classic Author story to feature that might make for some difficult reading, but the hope inside the story is what I like to focus on. As one of the older stories on the site, you might have missed it before, but I hope everyone will enjoy Vlista's teen drama, Tyler! Length: 86,934 Description: Tyler’s a foster kid, after being abused by his parents and mistreated in foster care he’s angry with the world and all but given up on finding true happiness, until he meets Connor, but is he too angry to let himself be happy? Some Readers Said: If you want to spread the word about Vlista's story, download the graphic below and add it to your signature! Make sure you come back on Wednesday to see the excerpt I chose to share!