The mirror hung on the wall. All the while staring back at everyone in the stall. Until one fateful morning. Stacy woke up feeling groggy, with puffy eyes. She rolled out of bed. Decided to take a quick shower instead. Instead of climbing back into the gnarly sheets.
Walking by the mirror it fogged. There is no steam yet, she bogged. Stacy waved her hand across the misty glass, the fog remained. Mirror, mirror who is the fairest of them all? She heard what sounded like a snicker. Startled and confused, Stacy zipped back to bed, couldn’t be any quicker.
In front of the mirror, she stood; again. Suddenly a face reflected. A face she did not recognize, so she deflected. Do I look this bad? The mirror had been laughing at me the whole time. I thought I was fine. The face which appeared, she denied. She made a quick retreat to the gnarly sheets and cried.
Reflections of Truth was written for the W3 prompt. The mirror was unassuming and a normal fixture. Nothing scary or unusual about it right? Stacy thought she was so fine and loved to look at herself in the mirror.
The mirror had other plans for her. Upon asking it who is the fairest, she was in for a shock. When the reflection did not match what Stacy envisioned, she was in a state of denial. We have to accept who we really are. The mirror humbled Stacy into seeing the real version of herself.
Tameka slumped over her desk for the third night in a row. Reading and researching information for her presentation. She has two days left before the deadline. Eyes red and feeling groggy, she continues well into the midnight hour.
A lot is riding on this presentation. She knows if she does not land this account, it will be devastating to her career. She wants to advance in the company and will do what it takes to achieve her goals.
Slurping down the last sip of her energy drink, she frowns. It doesn’t seem to work for her since she has been at it for a few days. “I think I’m immune, these energy drinks are not working. I can’t keep my eyes open,” she says.
Night Drive
A late Saturday night in April. The air is warm, breezy, and comfortable. It’s 10:19 pm and Tameka is in the car alone, driving home with the windows down. Hair blowing and enjoying the night. Bumping Hit and Run by Loleatta Holloway. The speakers are blasting and she is vibing. Looking up at the beautiful starlit sky, she exhales and smiles.
Thoughts go through her mind about the visit she just had with a friend, the nice time and great conversation. It felt good to get out for a few hours and have some adult conversation; and beverages too. The late nights putting together the presentation was taking a toll. She needed the break.
She arrives home and pulls up to the front of the townhouse. The parking lot is dark and eerily quiet. Not a soul is in sight. Nothing can be heard except the song of the night critters and crickets chirping. Tameka turns the ignition off and surveys her surroundings one last time. Grabs her pocketbook and gets out.
The Shock
Just as the car door closes behind her, she notices the light is on in the kitchen. It is on the lower level of the two-story townhouse. She thought to herself, it was off when I left; I think. She shrugs and proceeds to wedge the keys between her fingers.
Immediately, she can feel that something is wrong. Turning the key, she can tell the door is already unlocked. She pushes the door open and stands on the stoop looking inside. “What the hell?” hysterically yelling.
Little Red, her shorthaired dachshund, is frantically running around the house, panting in a flurry. She calls out to him, but he keeps running up and down the stairs. She can see his big, floppy ears flapping as he is running. Her first thought is, how did you get out? She left him in the front bedroom behind a locked door.
The sheer curtains are blowing in the back bedroom window upstairs. Both levels of the townhouse are visible from the doorway, as it is a split-level floorplan.
She can’t lift her legs, they feel heavy like cement. Unable to catch her breath, her heart starts beating faster. Her mind is racing and she thinks to herself, how did the window get open? She runs inside to Little Red, picks him up and bolts out the front door. He leaped from her arms into the car, and she gets in and locks the door.
With one hand on the cell phone and the other on the steering wheel, she put the car in reverse and dialed 911. Then she drives up the street, makes a U-turn and put the car in park; just far enough away to see the front door. The townhouse is a brick, two story end unit. From the front you can see the kitchen window on the lower level and the front bedroom right above it. The back of the townhouse is wooded. A perfect place for a burglar to hide.
The Wait
Thumping in her chest her heart is still beating fast, and her stomach is swirling. The only thing she can hear is her fast heartbeat and Little Red panting. She can feel his hot breath on her arm.
“Where are the police? I called them 20 minutes ago!” she screamed. At that moment, she feels something moist, wet and rough like sandpaper on her face. Little Red walks his big paws up to her chest to lick her face. The muscles in her face and shoulders relax instantly. She smiles for a second and rubs his furry body in appreciation.
Meanwhile, she refocuses her gaze on the front door. No one went in or came out. She knows whoever broke in is long gone. She was only out for about two hours. I bet someone was watching me when I left. Getting angry again, she clenches her teeth and jaw. Balls up her fist and feels a hot wave move through her entire body. Who would do this and what did they want?
Authorities
A crime scene van and two police cars finally arrive about 45 minutes later. She gets out of her car and flags the officers, just as they were about to approach her front door. The tall officer asked her what happened, while the cop with the short stature stood by and listened. She told them when she came home her dog was out and the back bedroom window was open. The officer proceeded to draw his weapon and told her to step aside.
Finally, after five minutes, which felt more like five hours, the cop comes out. He says “No one is inside. It’s all clear. Please go in and look around. Let me know if anything is missing.”
Shakily, with trembling hands and wobbly legs, she walks past him. About to cross the threshold, she stops and before going in asked, “are you sure no one is inside?” He nods his head up and down. Little Red starts barking and upset that he was left in the car. Tameka gets him out and carries him inside.
Walk Through
The back bedroom was ransacked. Someone was clearly looking for something. The closet doors are open with hangers and clothes spilled out on the floor. Prophylactics are spread out all over the bed and in front of the nightstand. Meanwhile she is thinking, how embarrassing they all up in my business. As she is looking around, the police are dusting for prints at the window, nightstand and closet doors.
The cop walks over and tells her, “The screen was taken out with a No. 2 pencil. It is how the burglar gained access to the house. The perp climbed on top of your storage unit out back. Jammed the pencil into the screen and yanked it out”
“What! A pencil took out the window screen? Wow!” she responded in disbelief shaking her head.
The officers asked her if she left the window open in the bedroom. Admittedly, she had. Thinking to herself, the bedrooms are on the upper level, I thought it was safe. Why would anyone climb up to the second story. It’s not like they couldn’t have easily broken in downstairs, through the living room windowor back door.
The police finished taking a report and asking questions. The tall officer said to her, “this is the fourth call this month about a break in, and the intruder used a pencil to take the screen out. We call him, the No. 2 Bandit.” After everyone left, she quickly locks the door and checks all the doors and windows.
Dust Settling
She starts to straighten out the mess. Her mind is racing and she keeps wondering about who would do this. What did they want. The biggest question is; why me? A feeling of violation makes her shudder. Now talking out loud to herself, “A stranger was in my house. I have no idea who it could be or why I was targeted.”
Moving forward, all windows will be closed when leaving the house, she is thinking. And I will not take anything for granted. Ironically, it’s not like her to leave a window open or a door unlocked. Of course, the one-time she leaves an upstairs window cracked, someone breaks in. What are the odds.
She is alone with Little Red. He keeps following her around the house. He senses that she is still shaken up. Dogs have that innate ability. It wasn’t until that night that she felt unsafe going to sleep. She turns on the tv and eventually falls asleep around 3:30 am.
Wake Up Call
Slowly, coming back to consciousness, Tameka can hear the sound, beep, beep, beep- beep, beep, beep- beep, beep, she opens her eyes to see the bland beige ceiling. She turns to look over at the clock and swats it to stop the alarm. It is six o’clock in the morning on a Sunday and the sun is beaming. Time for her to get ready for church.
She sits up and yawns. Drops her legs down to the floor and slides into her fuzzy slippers. As she tries to stand, her knees buckle and she grabs the edge of the mattress. She holds her hands out in front of her and they are trembling.
Upon opening the curtains., she can see the window is intact with the screen in place. No sign of dusting powder from the crime scene unit. She bends down to get a closer look at the screen to find the hole that was made last night with the pencil. The screen is in place without any holes at all.
The Realization
Scratching her head and with a puzzled look she gasps. Did I dream this whole thingabout the No. 2 Bandit? She rushes to the nightstand and opens the drawers. Everything is in place and untouched. She then walks over to the closet, and it is just the way she left it. Not a dress out of place, shoes are all lined up, everything is still hung neatly.
Totally confused she says, “I need a vacation, the stress is killing me.”
Summation
Tameka is on edge and under pressure to get the presentation finished. She knows that a lot is riding on this. Her aspirations of advancement would be shattered if she did not ace the presentation. The stress she is under caused her to have a stress/anxiety dream. She dreamt about being burglarized.
It did not help that she underestimated the time commitment to complete the project. Tameka did not get started early enough to avoid the undue anxiety she is experiencing.
Stress and anxiety can cause a host of physical problems. Including, having an effect on our sleep patterns. Causing moodiness and brain fog. Lack of sleep can cause us to lose focus. It is important to limit stress as much as possible.
Suggestions to try:
Journal for a minimum of 10 minutes, write about things you are grateful for.
Secondly, reduce caffeine intake, especially close to bedtime. We tend to guzzle coffee to help stay awake through long projects. Unfortunately, coffee is a stimulant and can affect our sleep pattern. It can make us wake up feeling groggy and not well rested, which can affect mood.
Listen to soothing music close to bedtime. It will have a relaxing effect to help you wind down.
During your project, take regular breaks. Take a break once every hour, then dive back in.
Exercise during the early part of the day will help with reduction of cortisol and also help to reduce stress.
If you are looking for natural nail care, meet Gina L. Hicks, owner and founder of GLH Beauty. In this episode of the Connect the Dots Podcast, Gina shares about her expertise in natural nail care and more. She brings her services to organizations like senior centers, schools and community organizations.
GLH Beauty has nail care for women, men and children.
Check out her website at glhbeauty.com for more information.
What's in my feed, begin the scroll New gossip, for a new day is on the rise Lots of drama and trash talk, hooray Right at my fingertips, where is my phone
New gossip, for a new day is on the rise Who got cancelled, who got dissed Right at my fingertips, where is my phone Running late for work I'm drawn in
Who got cancelled, who got dissed Put the phone down, iron my clothes Running late for work I'm drawn in What is wrong with me, why am I like this
Put the phone down, iron my clothes I need therapy, I'm hooked on social media What is wrong with me, why am I like this I'm obsessed, how can I get out of this mess
I need therapy, I'm hooked on social media Lots of drama and trash talk, hooray I'm obsessed, how can I get out of this mess Oh well; what's in my feed, begin the scroll
Compulsion; or Obsession is written for the W3 prompt. Reena challenges us to write a pantoum on any subject or theme. I am not quite sure that I completed the challenge correctly, but I gave it a try anyway. Thank you, Reena and David for the inspiration.
The topic I explored is being obsessed with the cell phone and scrolling on social media. The person knows that she has a problem but resigns to the addiction of social media. It’s a downward spiral and cycle that many struggle to get out of.
The post, Things You Never Say to a Woman, was originally written in 2023. It is a throwback that I thought still applies today. Although, written with humor, it has some good pieces to keep in mind too. Hope you enjoy.
Can I be a nurse? Cure people so they can live Feed the hungry ones Provide homes to all people From my dream I awaken
~Little girls with dreams become women with vision-unknown~
Now that I'm older Recruit all the helping hands Volunteer, I am My vision is bright and clear Fight the good fight, persevere
Dreams to Light is about little girls who have big dreams of their own. Some are realized and some are merely a dream. Growing up and coming of age, into adulthood, womanhood, the vision forms. It can be as simple as gathering like-minded people together. Maybe even starting to act on those long-lost dreams as a child.
We all have different experiences in life and different ideas about what the world should look like, how people should live. It all starts with imagination and transforms to something bigger, more meaningful. If only we dare to bring those dreams to light.
Dreams turn to visions, then into movements. I pose this question to women who had dreams as a child; how has your dream shaped your life today?
In this video is a segment called Split Personality on the Connect the Dots podcast. The host, Louis poses questions, to which we both delve into these questions and give our perspectives.
Connect the Dots Split Personalities episode with O’Nika
Check out the Connect the Dots podcast on You Tube.
One day it felt like I was on top of the world. Living life with the finest things. So, it seems from the outside looking in. A career that I love. Helping people with services to enhance their lives.A comfortable home fully furnished. Plush yard, lots of square footage.A luxury car. Foreign import with butterfly doors and heated seats.
You understand where this is going.
Next week, on a Monday morning, I woke up. Feeling good, I have my cup of coffee with French vanilla creamer. My apple fritter is in the microwave for ten seconds. I sit down in the kitchen and indulge in my daily breakfast. After, I get dressed in a beautiful Blue A-line dress with a plunging neckline. Slip into my heels and do a quick turnaround in front of the mirror. Ok, I’m all good. Out the door, I go.
Defining Moment
An hour later, I arrive at work. Walk into my office and sit down. Let me check my calendar for the day. A knock at the door distracts me. Irritated, I respond, “come in!” The big boss walks in. A dry expression on his face. He sits opposite my desk. “Good morning, Amani, do you have a minute?” Mr. Walker firmly asks.
“Yes, of course. Is everything okay?” I responded. “Well, no, it isn’t. I have some bad news,” He retorts. “We have to let you go. The company is downsizing and there is no place for you. I’m sorry.”
“What! Are you fricking serious right now? I have a mortgage and car payments!”- I angrily shout at him.
Mr. Walker stood up, turned to me once more and said, “I’m really sorry.” Then he left my office.
Devastated by the news, I start to panic. I felt like someone sucked all the air out of the room. In an attempt to calm down, I sit. Swiveling in my plush, comfortable, high back, leather, office chair. A sly grin slowly forms across my face. The wheels of a plot are coming together in my head.
Security comes into my office. “We are ready to escort you out now,” says the squatty guard with masking tape on his glasses.
I gather my personal belongings. Before exiting my office for the last time, I stand in the doorway and take a final look. As I turn around, all eyes are on me as I walk down the long hallway.
The Get Back
Now, alone, in my car. I exact revenge on Mr. Walker. Who does he think he is firing me! He has some nerve! I’ll show him how much of a big boss he thinks he is. I use an AI app on my phone. I prompt the app to create a picture of my co-worker with a handsome, young, buff, attractive man. The image shows the young man and the woman in a seductive embrace and smiling.
The co-worker is the wife of Mr. Walker. The caption on the image reads, “this is what satisfaction looks like.” I add heart and fire emoji’s. Next, I press the send button. A huge smile takes over my face, and I am smiling so wide; it starts to hurt. Feeling such a sense of gratification, I sit in the car and wait.
Five minutes pass and Mr. Walker storms out and is talking on his phone. “Who the hell is this man you are with? Have you lost your mind woman!” shouts Mr. Walker. Meanwhile, I sit there watching and listening to the conversation unfold. He sees me sitting in my car grinning and gives me a dirty look. He continues to shout and yell at his wife as he drives off.
Karma Takes Over
I get home and find two cars in the driveway. One belongs to my husband Malik. The other, I have not seen before. The smile quickly fades and concern takes over. It is 2:30 p.m. in the afternoon and Malik is supposed to be at work. Walking inside I hear romantic music playing. The baby-making kind. A pair of women’s shoes are in the living room.
Immediately, I got angry. I head to the bedroom and push the door open. My husband and some hussy are in bed together. My bed! “Malik, what are you doing at home and who is this bird?”- I demanded. Stuttering, he replies, “nobody, she is nobody. Baby, I can explain!”. Yelling back, “there is nothing to explain. Get out!”
Feeling deflated and humiliated, I retreat to the bathroom and slam the door. Now, I know how Mr. Walker must have felt when he received a text with a picture of his wife and another man.
It’s Not So Sweet
The moral of the story is that two wrongs never make a right. Amani is a woman who defines her life by appearances and status. She quickly learns that when you use manipulation tactics, it does not end well. Amani felt so proud of herself for sending that fake AI image to her boss, Mr. Walker, who had just fired her. She was in for the shock of her life when she came home. Amani found her husband, Malik in their matrimonial home with another woman.
The unconscious mind plays tricks and then laughs. Rectifying actions and words too. Making it feel natural and true. Realization comes late, hindsight now in the forefront.
What have I done wrong? Did I offend? Make it right, think, amend
Offer a solution with consciousness. Being of sound mind, intention takes over. Correction now the focus. Foster humility. Ego is no longer welcome, cast out conceit. Psyche needs tending, bring forth modesty.
Tending To The Psyche is written for the W3challenge. Sally has asked writers to think about the many things that lie beneath the surface. We can write about growth, change, discovery, hidden truths, difficult work, things that need tending, or anything else.
I chose to write about growth and discovery. The psyche is complex and when the revelation hits, it weighs heavily. It is like the lightbulb moment. The, “aha!” moment. Being self-aware is a segue to change, and gives power to consciousness and intentionality.
That feeling you get Drowning in regret Lonely Isolated, yet Happy and content Only Seeing silhouette Of past me, I fret wholly
Dancehall of Sorrows was written for the Tanka Tuesday challenge by Melissa.
Is it possible to be happy and content and live with regret? This question is one that I was thinking about while writing the poem. If one has regrets, do they have to be down and out, and sad? The answer I came up with is no. A person can still live a full and happy life.
Life is good, what can be better Relaxing, no string or tether The sun giving me strength The water spreading cool Just enough to level out the heat Peaceful thoughts to be had at no cost Looking up at the sky, mind getting lost The shine of rays Penetrating through the leaves Captivating movement with every breeze Sparks of new ideas and motivation Encapsulating every wish and dream of mine Innermost thoughts rushing in quickly Reminding me to just enjoy life and Take it light
Taking It Light is written for the prompt by Sadje for WDYS. The inspiration was drawn from the image below provided for this week’s prompt.
New poem-Crimson Bricks Tumbling Down is now on Spillwords
Crimson Bricks Tumbling Down, was written and based on the theme of the weight we carry. The prompt instructions are to describe the physical or emotional shape of a heavy feeling you know well. Give it form, texture, temperature, weight, and color. Let the reader feel it with you.
Working and having a job feels mostly like what? Work. It doesn’t have to. If the thing you do helps to put food on the table, and a roof over your head does that mean it has to be boring or mundane? Of course not.
Passion for a hobby or possessing natural talent for what brings in revenue can make all the difference. Also, your dream job will provide enjoyment, so it negates the feeling of doing something out of sheer necessity.
Some of us dream to be on the world stage. Singing or performing in the arts. Others want to travel and see the world. Fashionistas want to dress in the finest clothes and model for print or commercial ads. Also, there are humanitarians who have a knack for helping people.
If money were no object, what would you pursue in life? What job would bring you fulfillment and happiness?
Are you living in the past, present or future? It might sound like a question with an obvious answer, right? Well, you see, sometimes we relish our younger years and do not want to let go. It leads us to hold on to those days and try to relive the good times. It can also be memories of certain places, people or things from back in the day that keep us stuck.
Living in the present is a pragmatic way to live. It is a way to prevent the past from dictating what you are doing today. Also, you relieve yourself of worry about what is to come later in life. The approach of one day at a time can be described for people who live in the moment of today.
The future poses a layer of uncertainty. If you live in the future, maybe you feel that there is nothing to worry about. On the other hand, this way of thinking can help you reach your goals. It sets you up for the frame of mind to be clear about what you want for your future self. Living for the future also gives you the ability to prepare and set goals.
Can you answer this? Are you living in the past, present or future?
National Missing Children’s Day is May 25th, a day of dedication to the focus of child safety. A large percentage of missing children are returned home. However, any child that is missing is too much. Abduction of children does not get the attention it needs. To highlight this problem let’s bring awareness. We can be a part of helping those children return home safely.
President Ronald Reagan made May 25th National Missing Children’s Day in 1983. The day is in remembrance of the same date that Etan Patz disappeared in New York City, in 1979.
Whether a child is missing due to running away or abduction there are ways to reduce the incidence of it happening. Also, there are organizations who can help.
How can we protect our children and keep them safe?
Limit online activity and set boundaries
Keep track of who and where your children are spending time
Introduce yourself to the parents of your friends
Never leave children unattended in a car or stroller
Important things to do if a child is missing
Within the first 24 hours, report the child missing.
When a child is taken from home leave the room as is. The authorities can conduct a more comprehensive investigation with the area untouched.
Provide any information about friends of the child or anyone who can provide details of where the child might be.
Give a list of anyone who may have been at the home recently. Contractor, service people, etc.
Surround yourself with family and friends. Support will be much needed at this difficult time.
