I

Clouds, pretty and supposedly delicate. It didn’t matter where she looked, all that filled Lilith’s eyes was the sight of the clouds. That’s what happens in an open field.

“Ah, another sky enthusiast, I see,” a voice called out. Lilith looked up and saw an older gentleman looking at her. He was a wealthy man, wearing a clean, neat, navy blue suit, accompanied by polished brown shoes.

“I always get lost in my own world when I look up,” Lilith sat up, sheepish from getting caught. She always chose a remote part of the field, away from the street and away from the crowd, so that she wouldn’t be found.

“Well, I believe the true beauty is at night. Tell me dear, how do you feel about stars?”

She glanced back up, “Stars? Well, the galaxy, the dark night sky,” She paused at the man standing before her. “Well it has to be my favorite.”

“Then, would you like to come to my planetarium? It’s new and I would love to have passionate people at its opening, tomorrow night.” He handed Lilith a business card.

“I’d love to, Mr…Morselli,” she said, checking the card.

“I hope to see you there,” he paused. “Miss?”

“Lilith. You can just call me Lilith.” She smiled back at him.

“Miss Lilith. Have a good day now,” he walked away, leaving her to ponder at the clouds once more.

What a strange encounter, Lilith thought as she laid back down in the thick, green grass. She let the cool spring air glide over her body and rustle the ground next to her, as if she was communicating with the world. She stared up, encapsulated once again by the clouds.

Lilith was a simple girl, from a background filled with slums. She wore battered, worn out, passed down clothes with dark colors so you couldn’t see the dirt and stains it was riddled with. Yet this man, covered in the essence of money, stood before her, inviting her to see the things she desired the most. The beauty of the night sky was in her grasp.

Lilith began worrying, what would she wear? She was too poor to purchase clothing that would fit in with those of higher society. All that was available were the already beaten up dresses her grandmother had made for her years before she passed.

In the end, she decided it wasn’t worth it, since Lilith could see the beauty of the night sky from where she was, the open field she spent all of her free time at. She didn’t need some fancy telescope to view the same things her eyes saw.

“What’s so special about a planetarium anyway,” Lilith mumbled to herself, getting up to leave. Who would just go running to a stranger’s offer anyway? I met him today, who knows if it’s even safe? She thought to herself. Her mood was now ruined from thinking about her own circumstances.

II

A few days had passed since the exhibit at the grand opening of the planetarium. Lilith had not visited the field since her encounter with the strange rich man. She did her chores, and then would find other things to busy herself, working odd jobs or doing favors for the neighbors. When she had nothing to do, she would lay in her old bed and stare up at the cracked wooden ceiling. It was as if she wished nothing more than to forget about her once blooming passion.

Instead, Lilith found herself in peculiar situations. She was fleeing death by mere inches, even seconds. It started subtly, since the night of Mr. Morselli’s presence. At first, things like cars coming out of nowhere when she crossed the road or maybe a stone to her head thrown by the little children playing around. One day, when she went to wash her clothes by a nearby creek, she slipped on a mossy rock and almost fell into the water and hit her head, if not for a fisherman nearby to help her.

Just rotten luck, Lilith thought at the beginning, until the dangers became distasteful. They were no longer mere accidents or moments of coincidences to Lilith. She realized she was actually forced to avoid death, from once a week to once a day. Lilith became paranoid, cautious with every step she began to take, worried about what was next for her.

The situations altered from simple flip of the coin accidents to severe problems like her roof caving in while she slept, wild animals chasing her as she maneuvered her way to the water, and so on.

The only place where she might be safe was likely the field, she thought. Lilith assumed that since it was such an empty and wide space, nothing too terrible could happen to her. Or at the least, she could see it, whatever it is, coming.

It was now months after the encounter between a girl of the slums and a man of prosperity, an unlikely cross. Lilith returned to the field, the place that held all of her hopes and dreams, now tarnished to become a place of refuge.

The sun was about to rise when Lilith arrived. She sat down, the dewy blades of grass glazing across her legs. She laid down, taking a deep breath, feeling peaceful and letting her guard down. For the first time ever, Lilith realized how much this space meant to her. This was the only place she could be herself, be carefree, be a child again. The stress of being one of the older kids in the slums was something that weighed heavily on her, and this field was where she could go to just relax.

As she took deep, crisp breaths of the cool morning air, Lilith heard the crunching of footsteps approaching her. She opened her eyes sharply, looking towards the source of the sound.

“Here we meet again, my fallen angel,” a tall man spoke. While Lilith couldn’t make out the figure of the man, the sky a dark blue before the sun rose, she recognized his voice. She was no longer able to shake her surprise and this new, uneasy feeling.

“Mr. Morselli!” She said, startled. “What are you doing here? It’s not even daybreak!”

“Well Miss Lilith,” he paused, pulling out a piece of parchment. “You never arrived after I told you to come visit my planetarium. You seemed so eager too,” he added, sounding disappointed.

“I just thought that,” she stopped and he handed her the paper. “What’s this?”

“It’s an invitation. One that has no expiration. Please, come visit,” he pleaded. “What was it that stopped you before?”

“Well,” Lilith tried to look for the right words and gave up, discovering there was no way to sugarcoat the situation she was born into. “You’re clearly a man of incredible status,” Lilith motioned to his outfit. “I,” she motioned to her own, “am not. I simply do not have enough to make myself seem like I belong. I could never fit into that society and I’d rather not be looked down on.”

“So what you’re telling me is that you won’t accept my invitation because you don’t think you’d fit in? Why the devil would you care about that? You’re obviously an intelligent girl. I can tell by the way you speak.” He sat down next to Lilith, looking at the rising sun.

“People tend to dismiss me too early to make that assumption, so how did you?”

“I can just tell,” he answered with a wink.

“Oh,” Lilith was shocked. The two sat in silence as the sun began rising before them. The blades of grass changed colors, from almost black to a pinkish-orange, and then their natural green.

“I see why you like to spend your time here,” Mr. Morselli broke the silence. “If I help you with your clothing situation, would you please do me the honor of visiting?”

“I suppose then I wouldn’t have a reason to not.”

III

And just like that, everything ceased since she promised the strange man she would go with him. Her life returned to normal, no longer struggling with the constant fear of death. Although she thought it was strange, Lilith knew it would be easier if she submitted to his request. She didn’t have a reason to deny the invite anyhow – Mr. Morselli had delivered Lilith a long, floor-length, midnight violet dress. It had a sweetheart neckline, the sleeves draping over Lilitgh’s shoulders like a shawl. It was decorated with golden sequins and embroidered with constellations and stars, forming a galaxy as it wrapped around her body.

It’s perfect. This is finally my moment. She knew it had to have been expensive, much more than she could afford, but she believed it was just about time to have something good happen in her life, especially considering the past few weeks she went through. This was it, her moment to shine.

That night, Lilith dressed up to the best of her ability. Using the same technique she learned from making dye for the younger kids, she made a dark, red, cherry stain for her lips, the only form of makeup she wore. She wrapped her blonde locks into a loose bun, allowing it to drape over her face, and pinning it with a golden pin, molded into the shape of a lotus. It had been in her family for generations, and Lilith swore she would save this keepsake, no matter the cost. She wore the only other piece of jewelry she owned, a golden ring. It was a simple band, devoid of jewels, with only a short phrase engraved, ’Till Death. Lilith had no idea where the ring came from, but something always pulled her in about the ring, so she never wanted to be rid of it. Now, it seemed like a cruel joke, yet appropriate for the unique situation she was in.

Lilith finished getting dressed and waited by her window for her ride to arrive. She looked up at the night sky, wondering what it was like to see the world from so far away, to look down at everything else. She reached her hand out, attempting to grasp them as they twinkled back at her.

“Wishing to be one of them?” A familiar, deep voice broke Lilith out of her trance.

“I like to believe we all become one when we die anyway, Mr. Morselli,” she replied.

He smiled at her coyly, extending his hand for her. Lilith stepped into the carriage and was whisked away to the planetarium. The pair passed through Lilith’s small village and into the lively, bustling city. She was as nervous as she was excited, being in a new environment and surrounded by people who came from money.

Lilith looked up at the sky, searching for the one thing she was familiar with. Yet, the stars were nowhere to be found, hidden behind the lights of the city. Mr. Morselli, sensing her stress, reached his hand over to Lilith’s.

“Don’t worry, you’ll be able to see them at the planetarium,” he paused. “I promise Lilith.”

She nodded in response, looking back towards the street as the two arrived at their destination. Mr. Morselli helped Lilith off the carriage and guided her into the planetarium.

“I failed to say this earlier, but that dress is divine. It was simply made for you.”

“Oh! Thank you for sending it to me. It’s the nicest thing I’ve owned. And the constellations are a beauty, truly,” she was bashful.

“You know that they are? I told you were you far smarter than you let people think.” He chuckled in response. “Come, allow me to show you what you seek my dear.”

He placed his hand on Lilith’s waist, guiding her to the telescope. It was magnificent, Lilith thought. It matched her dress, a violet body with gold accents, glistening under the moonlight. It seemed as though it was made for her; like this was where Lilith was meant to be all along. She placed her eye over the glass and listened to Mr. Morselli point out different planets and patterns.

“And this,” he began as he turned the telescope to the left with a gentle push. “This is a meteor shower. Have you seen one before?”

“Never,” Lilith whispered. “Wow.”

“I’ll leave you to enjoy for a while then.” Mr. Morselli chuckled at her response, walking away.

“Wait,” Lilith paused. She attempted to lift her eye off the glass but failed to do so. The hurling rocks that were previously moving across the scope were now heading forward, towards Lilith’s very body.

“What’s happening? Why are they getting larger?” She began to panic, calling out for Mr. Morselli. As the shower appeared closer and closer to Lilith, she saw that they were composed of stars as well.

“No…” After a few minutes of struggling, Lilith could remove her head as the scene before her became too large to fit into the scope. She looked in front of her, at the stars moving thousands of miles per hour, hurling themselves to the spot Lilith stood.

In a mere matter of seconds, she was crushed.

Various colors passed through Lilith’s eyes - her physical ones or perhaps the eyes of her soul, she could not tell. For a split second, all that Lilith could see was the blinding golden color. The color of the stars, the telescope, her dress. Just as rapidly, it became violet, then red, and finally a soft pink.

IV

Lilith felt her clothes becoming heavy, the feeling of water against her legs. She opened her eyes, and the view before her was something from dreams. She stood up, looking at a sunset, pink and orange, with champagne-colored clouds floating around. It was hovering over a pond, covered with white lilies floating over the large pond.

The water rippled as Lilith stood up, droplets gliding down her legs. She was now wearing a white, pearlescent dress. It was soft and longer than knee length. The lower half of the dress clung to her body, the falling droplets returning to where they came from.

“It took so long, my dear, for you to return to where you were always meant to be”

Lilith whipped her head around and was met with the familiar face of Mr. Morselli.

“What? Where am I? What are you-” She was cut off.

“Lilith, did you not find it strange? The way things happened around you after you abandoned my invitation? The obstacles you had to hide from, time and time again? And then, the way it all stopped?” As he spoke, Lilith walked towards him, gliding on the surface of the water.

“It seems like you know exactly what I’m thinking,” she began. “What is all of this? What happened to me? Where, pray tell, am I?” She laughed at the last question, baffled by the new dilemma she was presented with.

“Lilith, you are one of the reapers.”

“Reapers? What do you mean reapers?”

“You are a grim reaper, my dear. A being that avoids death, even when met with it face to face. You can only die at the hands of another. Myself. Welcome, to the sweet world of the hereafter.”

(Author's Message: Hi, there should be no other publication of this story, or any of my works, without permission. My works as of March 2025, should only be available here, on this account, or on Wattpad by @Ayifushere. Thank you!)

I hate the idea of soulmates

I hate to think that the person for me

Can only be found by a fee

Whether that means traveling the seven seas,

Or waiting for heartache after heartbreak to heal

I hate the idea of soulmates

That they’re predetermined

Something that is forever certain

It weighs on me like a burden

I hate thinking that a soulmate

Is something I can never obtain

We live on such a vast plane

All my attempts will be in vain

I like to think

That we find our soulmates

That the love we find

Was made by our own two hands

I like the idea that soulmates

Are people we meet

Someone from off the street

We love and we laugh and we cry

I like to think that soulmates

Are bonds that we create

Rather than something like pictures on a wall

Because pictures aren't tangible

But I'd like to think that they are

Viya woke up one day, afraid of the shadows. They always followed Viya. Where she went, they were there. Viya was afraid. One day, Viya woke up and saw there wasn’t a shadow. Viya was afraid. Viya wondered where the shadow went. It was bright, so why wasn’t there a shadow? Where did the shadow go? Viya looked for the shadow, behind Viya, under Viya’s bed, in the closet. But the shadow wasn’t there. Viya looked all day. Viya couldn’t see the shadow. Viya was afraid. Viya went to bed. Viya woke up and saw the shadow under Viya. Viya was afraid. Where did the shadow go? Why was the shadow back? Viya realized it was better when the shadow wasn’t there. But now it was too late. The shadow was back. Viya was afraid. The shadow followed Viya to the closet, under her bed, and to the kitchen! The shadow wanted Viya to be afraid. The shadow didn’t let go of Viya. Other shadows followed Viya too. There was always a shadow following Viya. Viya was afraid the shadows could hurt Viya. One day, Viya woke up and the shadows hurt Viya. Viya was bleeding. The shadow wasn’t there.

Sometimes, I wish I could fly away.

To someplace where I could stay.

A place where I can be happy,

and not worry about the people around me.

Sometimes, I wish I could fly away.

The world has so many paths, leading me "astray"

That's what my parents would say

Sometimes, I wish I could fly away.

Trying to keep the violent thoughts at bay

Good thoughts I try to convey

Hoping the two can meet halfway.

Sometimes, I want to fly away.

My world is different shades of gray.

I constantly feel like I'm stuck at a gateway

Waiting on the positive rays.

Sometimes, I fly away.

Seeing a new place of play

A place I won't be betrayed

A place that never has a rainy day.

Where I can be a happy little runaway.

So I will wait, until the day I can fly away.

Happiness, laughter, late-night smiles, that's the beauty of love. That's what the media believes real love looks like.

In reality, real, true love, is not that accommodating. It is painful. From the very beginning, there is already heartbreak.

You see your best friend, someone you hold dearly, being hurt by others from "love", but they get up and try again, just to get destroyed again. All for the sake of love, and you begin to wonder, why do so many people put themselves through it? This is only one part of the spectrum.

On the other side, you like someone, and watch as they date other people, over and over, and all you can do is support them from the sidelines. You're either too afraid to tell them because of rejection or fear of ruining your relationship. It's too late, you're already being hurt, because you've already fallen in love.

You're already in a relationship. You fight more than you can keep track of at this point, but you stay in this ruined relationship because you think you're in love. Maybe the relationship is abusive, and hurtful for you both, but neither of you wants to give up through the belief it's meant to be and in the end, everything will work out.

The idea of love is equally as beautiful as it is ugly. It can be the epitome of happiness, or it can be the cause of self-destruction. Love is romanticized, the good and ugly parts, and so we crave it more. But love can not be simply defined; it has no set meaning or value, and changes from person to person, relationship to relationship.

Everyone speaks about the years going by as if they never existed; as a memory long forgotten.

The Kingdom of Vystienna is a kingdom unlike the ones we know in this world. With the rise of a new monarch, there has always been a predicted period in which they ruled. Some lasted hundreds of years - others a mere five - until their timely death. One king, in particular, was told he would only rule for twenty, which was comparatively better than those who never reached even ten years. However, he decided he wanted more. Such a simple thought, the idea of trying to outrun the clock. If only it was that easy, to manipulate time.