Express Yourself Novels & Stories

"Goodnight Daddy." He did not answer. But I knew this was only the beginning. I went up to my room with his taste still on my tongue and his fingers still burning inside me. The rain kept falling but I was no longer scared of it. I was scared of how much I wanted more. **100 Ways to Damn Yourself**

Just not in the way I'd planned. I texted back: "On my way. Time everyone sees the real me."

Anya asked, genuinely. Mae thought about it carefully — the kind of thinking that moved through her body as well as her mind, her hands making small unconscious gestures as she worked out the distinction. “Definition suggests becoming something fixed. Like the hunger would be satisfied once I knew what I was — an artist, a specific kind of artist. But expression is ongoing. It’s not about arriving at an identity. It’s about having a channel big enough for everything that needs to come through.” Anya looked at her daughter. “Can I change what I wrote to reflect what you just told me?”

"I think that should cover it." "Small mercies." She glanced up at him with a small smile. "Do you want me to be quiet and leave you alone?" "No...but what's the use of complaining about it if the thing can't be changed." She shrugged. "Everyone needs to express themselves sometimes...their frustrations. It makes it easier to bare." "I don't." "Of course you do. You fume. And it comes out in other ways as well." He chuckled, "I don't."

I said to him. “I appreciate but it’s best we don’t “ “How can you give up on us like that?” He asked as I peeped his desperation. “Because I’m scared!” I let out with annoyance. “If you aren’t, I am” I added. “I’m terrified too Sophia, I just don’t show it so much” “Why?” I asked gently at his expression. “I don’t know, it’s not easy for me to express myself “ “I know.” I sighed “I miss us too”

“If you want to kiss me.” I wait for the punchline, for him to laugh or smirk. But when the silence stretches, I realize he’s dead serious. “I… It’s… I don’t…” I stutter, my face burning. “No… no… Never… I just… it was simply an expression. People say that all the time.” He glances at me briefly, his brow furrowed. “People say that?” he asks, sounding genuinely confused. “Yes.” My answer comes too quickly accompanied by a frantic nod. “It’s a way to express gratitude! Like saying ‘I could eat you up,’ or ‘I could suck you—’”

I step onto the stage. The room finally falls silent! I do not look at anyone in particular. But I feel each of them. I speak. "I am not used to expressing myself publicly. Usually, I work in the shadows. I do, I organize, I anticipate. I do not spread myself thin. But here we are, today, they have decided to speak for me. To accuse me, to erase me. So I will set the record straight. Once. For all." The silence becomes heavy. Electric.

An inexpressible one. ***

Suzanne said as a matter of factly. Tom Banks lectured on, pointing a penlight at his screen. A simple black and white illustration by Tucker Nichols was shown, with overlapping circles taking up the whole screen. On the left circle were the words ‘MUST BE’, in the overlap was the word ‘REAL’ and on the other circle were the words ‘CAN’T BE’. “What is real and what is not?” Tom asked the class.

“I told you, Ruby! “We can’t write something like this ahead of time! “We can only express ourselves if we do it on the spot! “We’re not here to ask for votes! “We’re just trying to condemn a family of an innocent victim!” “We can’t show them our feelings if we just write it all down!” Ruby smiled and nodded. “I understand. I’ll arrange things immediately then…”