Opening sentences. by Richard Mertz https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n en-us 2017-10-10 16:47:41 UTC 2017-10-11 18:55:33 UTC hello@padlet.com The nuns ruler-whipped an ideal of perfection into my Mother when she was eight. And so I, ever my Italian mother's first-born son, carry on for and with my mother what the Asheville, Kentucky sisters beat into her in 1956. abrown137 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195770113 2017-10-10 18:38:22 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195770113 “Wow, what a place” I said as we were swallowed by the looming beast called The Forest. Before we knew it, we had arrived at the cabin. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195771855 2017-10-10 18:41:55 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195771855 Bam! The door slammed open admitting a sopping wet figure illuminated by the firelight. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773154 2017-10-10 18:44:24 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773154 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773266 It's always on me, in my pocket or hand wherever I go. Sometimes it changes but never strays from the base]]> 2017-10-10 18:44:36 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773266 I miss him, I miss every lesson and thing he taught me. Now he doesn't remember me https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773470 2017-10-10 18:44:58 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773470 My lies became too much. He didn't trust me anymore. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773732 2017-10-10 18:45:31 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773732 Mother’s Day, 2004 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773776 “Ivette your sister and your mother are here,” said my husband Tony in an eager voice. I hurriedly dressed my 3 year old son “Justin” in beige corduroys, a  yellow button up shirt, and black light up sketchers. He was kicking and screaming for his older brother’s old yellow stuffed bear from Build a Bear Workshop.]]> 2017-10-10 18:45:36 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773776 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773929 It has been with me since I could have things of my own. It has always given me a sense of order, I've always had a love for it.]]> 2017-10-10 18:45:55 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195773929 The gold glistening in the light on my neck. Beautiful. Just like her. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195774352 2017-10-10 18:46:47 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195774352 No one can see it. Even I can barely see it https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195774436 2017-10-10 18:46:57 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195774436 It was March 23rd, 2016 when I received the worst news of my life.... https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195774489 2017-10-10 18:47:04 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195774489 With my left leg leading, I skidded to the ground at a gradual incline. The first time, Ian was chasing me. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195774871 2017-10-10 18:47:54 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195774871 Tha-thump. Tha-thump. Tha-thump. The year was 2017. The white blood cells have been at war for just over a year now. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195775174 2017-10-10 18:48:32 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195775174 Finding Myself, 2012 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195775855 Like every breath being taken by a human being and every sip of water you need to stay hydrated I carry music like a virus attacking my body every single day. In 2012, a year after Tyler The Creator released Goblin, and wearing big pants with Vans were cool, and Instagram filters were like air. Everywhere. ]]> 2017-10-10 18:50:01 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195775855 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195775938 The light inside me died in middle school]]> 2017-10-10 18:50:13 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195775938 Boom! Boom!, Boom! Boom!, I can hear my heartbeat getting louder and louder, BOOM! BOOM!, BOOM! BOOM!. The lady was screaming at me as i was leaving. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195775944 2017-10-10 18:50:14 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195775944 A stain on my body that has been here for nine years now. The incident has been tattooed in my mind forever. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195776392 2017-10-10 18:51:15 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195776392 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195776456 Love. One of the most hardest words to say. He said it like he was taking a breath. Although When He expects it back, I tend to laugh it off. ]]> 2017-10-10 18:51:22 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195776456 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195776643 I draw everyday, whether it's little doodles or elaborate five foot paintings. I draw everyday. 

]]> 2017-10-10 18:51:44 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195776643 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195776805 What was once a playful grin was instantaneously replaced with a face covered in red. Any person with an ounce of common sense would quickly realize that they have made a fatal mistake, they've underestimated the temper of an individual and even though they pray that they wish they hadn't made that fatal mistake, deep down inside they've already accepted their imminent fate.]]> 2017-10-10 18:52:08 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195776805 I can still picture that day very clearly when I trudged in the house very slowly. Seeing his frigid body lie there froze me up, this had to be the worst day of my life. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195777295 2017-10-10 18:53:13 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195777295 jpascascio61 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195777410 2017-10-10 18:53:29 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195777410 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195777759 Every time I wake up, every time I shut my eyes, every time I am lost in my thoughts, every time I am at practice. Every time. Gillian one of my friends, family. ]]> 2017-10-10 18:54:13 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195777759 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195777859 I keep it hidden all the time because I hate to utter words. The words get lost on their way out of my mouth and I become mute. The long silence makes my blood turn cold.]]> 2017-10-10 18:54:24 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195777859 kmorrisonburks43 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195778270 I found myself sinking into the darkest place. Screaming muffled, panicking silenced, myself abandoned.]]> 2017-10-10 18:55:18 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195778270 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195779327 My eyes searched the room for an excuse for my actions. My face heated by shame.

]]> 2017-10-10 18:57:54 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195779327 Here we are at dinner with friends, and for some reason she wants to bring up stories. All of the sudden I'm consumed by a scorching stench of embarrassment as a hush flies across the table. https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195782455 2017-10-10 19:05:15 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/195782455 1953 https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/196183693 The engines roared to life, propellers increasing in speed as the plane began to move. Everyone there was slumped, eyes half closed, and worn out but relieved, they were all going home.]]> 2017-10-11 18:55:25 UTC https://padlet.com/rmertz/2hm0o4bnxk9n/wish/196183693