Emily Salmonsen

Snake Sarah Johnson

She was foolish and fell, fell for one who cared nothing for her. She gave him every waking moment, every thought and every word. Late nights lit by a glowing screen, waiting for a text back; shy smiles in the hall, lingering, waiting for him to notice her. He was her whole world, She was his conquest. She trusted him until he took everything from her, used her, emptied her of her soul, of her safety, of any trust she had left for men. When she put her clothes back on, she forged her battle armor: scales to protect, venom to defend, a steely gaze to separate her from the rest of the gullible ones. Unapproachable and safe. Her black nail polish glinted like scales. Her words dripped with venom. Her eyes froze those in her path. The boys called her a snake, words that hit her leather jacket and rolled off, but some got stuck in her scales, wedged their way in like maggots. She answered their catcalls with a rigid finger straight to the sky, as small as her self-confidence, as unmoving as the wall around her heart. They said she should be nicer to the “good boys,” smile more, lose the tight pants, she was asking for trouble. Look happier, look like a girl.

But she wasn’t a girl. She was a goddess: broken, bruised, and betrayed. When the new boy came into her life, she was heartless— strengthened her scales and sharpened her gaze. but he was patient. He knew when she needed space. Her defenses kept him always at arm’s length but he stayed and silently walked beside her. Slowly, glance by glance, she learned to love again. They still called her a snake, but there was one soul in the world, one soul who slipped through the cracks of her scales, who warmed her heart and blood. Medusa of the modern day, brave and bruised woman warrior. She is your daughter, your sister, your friend, a stranger. She is in your classes, in your workplace, in your home. She is you and me. The myths say that she will lose but she wins in each moment, each breath, each day that a woman stands up to the world despite her trauma and the memories that haunt her every night. She has won the battle and she will win the war.

Next Page Sincerely, Jane | digital art Oloruntomi Dare

Fabricated Beauty | digital photography Breanna DeSimone

contributors

Rebekah Balick is an International Studies major, but that’s just her cover story. She enjoys being with family and imagining her life as an adventure novel.

Therese Boegel is an undecided major discovering how to channel her passion for creating. She enjoys pulling stupid pranks, climbing trees, sharing terrible jokes, and singing in the Chorale.

Tim Bonner is an Entrepreneurship and Art double major who aspires to have great success on the Mount swim team during his time here.

Betsy Busch is an English, French, and Music major. She enjoys hiking, playing board games, and rereading The Lord of the Rings.

Carolyn Ciccocioppo is senior double majoring in Economics and Fine Arts who cares about helping people and building authentic community. She loves going on fun adventures with her friends.

Kayla Cooper is an English and Communication double major who hopes to become an accomplished writer or journalist. She enjoys hiking and playing guitar.

Katie Creamer is an Art major and Theology minor who aspires to bring beauty into the world to glorify God. She loves listening to music and going on spontaneous trips.

Oloruntomi Dare is a Communication major and a Spanish minor. In her free time, she practices graphic design. She aspires to use her skills to work in public relations.

Breanna DeSimone is an English major due to graduate in May. She loves Kit-Kats, but only if she has someone to split them with.

Rachel Donohue is a Communication and Fine Arts double major who uses her talents to express her ideas. You will most likely find her chugging coffee or listening to music.

Maria Elser is an English Secondary Education major with a minor in Theology. She aspires to be a published novelist who draws others closer to Christ through her writing.

Tynan Gallagher is an English major who hopes to be a creative writer. He wants to bring people into universes they never would have thought about on their own.

Brittni Garms, a junior English major, can often be found in her natural habitat writing fiction, drawing dorky characters, and struggling to animate with only eight frames.

Gigi Gaston is a Communication and French double major who seeks to promote more diverse stories. She participates in Mount theatre and “Tonton Macoute” is dedicated to her grandfather.

Cara Gose is a senior Biology and Literature double major who plans to go to medical school. She likes hiking and reading.

Lilli Heineman is a Criminal Justice major who wishes to work outdoors and with law enforcement. She is on the women’s rugby team and enjoys spending time with her friends.

Conor Hoffman is a History major from Howard County who wishes to expand his writing career into the realm of self-publishing.

Jazlyn Ibarra is a junior majoring in English and Communication hoping to pursue a career in editing and publishing. You can usually find her with her nose in a book.

Sarah Johnson, an Elementary Education major, is passionate about using the arts to connect with others. She is involved with Mount Theatre and loves to write music and poetry.

James Kempisty is a sophomore Biology major. He hopes to serve others by becoming a physician’s assistant in the future. His hobbies include chicken farming, hiking, photography, and drinking coffee.

Maya Marks, a Baltimore native, is studying to become a physical therapist and has had a lifelong passion for photography. She is a captain of the MSMU equestrian team.

Marie Miller is pursuing an Art major and a double minor in Theology and History. Her artistic voice often expresses the overlooked wonders of ordinary life.

Paige Moseley is a Psychology major with a passion for capturing the beauty in the nature that surrounds us. In her free time, she loves hanging out with her friends.

Kelley Northam is a Communication and History double major who spends most of her time writing. In her spare time, she enjoys dabbling in travel and music.

Otitodilichukwu Okpalannaka, or Otito, for short, wants to understand the totality of the human person through science, psychology, and art.

Olivia Prevost is a Philosophy major who plans to attend law school after graduation or possibly play the fiddle in an Irish band. In her spare time, she enjoys painting.

Jacqueline Ramos-Izquierdo is a Visual Art major who has loved art since she was a child. She focuses in mixed media and sculpture, but enjoys the occasional watercolor piece.

Rebecca Richard is a Communication major who aspires to work in production and writing for the music industry. Rebecca enjoys running track, traveling, and going to the beach.

Glennamarie Rivers studies Elementary Education and minors in Theology. She creates art with the intention of testifying to the beauty of creation and life itself.

Emily Salmonsen is a freshman planning to major in Visual Art. She hopes to create stories that will affect others positively.

Alba Sarria is an ardent writer and plantsman. When she’s not studying, she’s plotting to fake her own death and live in the Amazon Rainforest.

Marcelo Saunders is a history major with a passion for writing who likes to look for ways to improve as a writer. He also enjoys music and plays percussion.

Therese Villarrubia is double majoring in English and Criminal Justice, and she wants to blaze a written path through her college years and life. She likes playing tennis and reading.