INK 2021-11-01 / ARTCHALLENGE / INKTOBER, INKTOBER2021 / By CorchoGrendel Day 1: I have a crystal ball. Come closer, little penguin, and tell me what your future looks like. Day 2: Remember that you do it because you love me. Day 3: I know everything I write on this paper ship will disappear along with it, however, unlike this sea, at least the words are mine. Day 4: Don’t worry, pretty owl, I will let you see the outside world. It’s only fair that you get to see what you will destroy. Day 5: I was happy being a raven-haired child, why did you have to say anything about ominous birds? Day 6: Did you know, my deer, that spirit was another word for ghost? But you have nothing to fear, because I am here and I won’t let the butterflies take you away from your forest. Day 7: Sorry, darling, I prefer honesty and open books, you can keep your secrets to yourself. Day 8: Why couldn’t you wait for me? This is not where I wanted to grow up. Day 9: I wanted this moment, this comfort, each and every hug to last. But the sand keeps flowing, and teddy bears won’t give me what I need. Day 10: Blackberries, blackberries, blackberries. I will pick them all. Until there are no holes left, only starless nights. Day 11: Thank you, Life, you are very kind. But I would rather have a sweet aftertaste in my mouth, so, forgive me if I choose how to remember the lemons you have given me. Day 12: You are my best friend and I won’t go anywhere. I will stay by your side until the very end. Day 13: Who cares if most of the tiles are gone? There are stars in the sky, and children shouldn’t have to be aware of anything else, only their dreams. Day 14: Blood-sucking Time, do I look like a dog to you? Couldn’t you bite someone else and let me keep being the child I was meant to be? Day 15: I won’t let them out. Thoughts are hungry little fish, they don’t know any better and it only takes a shiny lure or two. But I like my name, and that is what I will protect with my last breath. Day 16: North, North, North, I am almost there, I can feel it in every step that I take. I know that you will be there for me, because being a big brother takes more than just showing the way. Day 17: I made my wish. Now I am just waiting for the inevitable collision. Day 18: I would have liked my worms to come from an apple, because then they would know what a heart is. But beggars cannot be choosers. And, who knows, maybe some lonely star will still bite. Day 19: No, no, no, no, no. I am tired of repetitions. Why do you refuse to learn? Day 20: Don’t worry, my precious. When the time comes, I will make sure to give you a larger home. Day 21: Look, it’s a peach! Give me just one second, and I will think of something to say. Day 22: Open wide, it’s time to grow up. You enjoyed your childhood, but now you have to pay. Hand over your last tooth, and learn to fake your smiles like every other grown-up. Day 23: I did my part, I tried to reach the sky. That stalagmite over there is my proof. But the sky refuses to do it’s part and meet me halfway, and now I wish I had never wasted my life following the dreams it inspired. Day 24: I wanted to light up the world, but I missed my chance, I was born too late. Day 25: I thank you from the bottom of my heart, this is just the sound I wished to hear. Day 26: Are you there? Day 27: Who needs firebugs? Not me. I prefer to bottle sparks before they have a chance to become stars. Day 28: I would have preferred to use my own voice, but I was told that screaming isn’t polite. It doesn’t matter, I still found a way to break the outside world. Day 29: I see no reason to settle for who I am, when I can have a little bit of everything. Day 30: I finally found a starry night that is just mine, one that only has room for my own wishes. Day 31: If I build you, if I programm you, you will love me unconditionally, won’t you?