Prose, Desolation .............................................Auggie Davis ’21

Desolation

Auggie Davis ’21

It’s not like he expected this to go well. This was always gonna be a mess. But he’d been hoping, secretly, in his heart of hearts, that things would be okay. Maybe he was being overoptimistic, but the hope was there, all the same. Germinating.

It was engulfed in heat and flames, just like everything else.

It happened like this: They needed his help. He knew they were foolhardy. He tried to stop them, to keep them safe.

It happened like this: An inopportune warning, then, heat. Death, almost. And a song. One he desperately tried to stop. But it ended too late.

His next death was not a near miss.

It happened like this: He was trying to save them

It happened like this: His efforts were their doom.

It happened like this: There was a great battle. People’s lives were on the line. So they tried to help. He knew they were gonna get hurt. He tried to stop them. Then everything went wrong.

We were so close to beauty. We were so close to happiness. I’m sorry

It happened like this: He got hurt. Badly. And then he was better. But He wasn’t.

It happened like this: A sacrifice was made. But he was too distraught to treasure that sacrifice, and it destroyed everything.

continued next page

The Publication of the Arts 11

It happened like this: 4 people dead, because of his foolishness.

It happened like this: Is it really so terrible to die, if all of your loved ones are already gone?

It happened like this: A sacrifice, done in vain, when his grief from the horror leads to his death anyway. Another death from the horror of the sight, and then another. He didn’t live to see those, but he knew of their existence.

Maybe it’s time to start again.

It’s happening like this: 4 babies, worlds apart. 24 years of memories in each baby.

It’s happening like this: Mistakes were made once.

It’s happening like this: It is time to find each other again.

It’s happening like this: He can’t fix his mistakes. None of them can. But they can start again.

It’s happening like this: A message, broadcast wherever possible. It tells a story, of flames and destruction, and of hope.

He’s looking for them. I’m looking for you. Please, listen. I want to try again.

Marry me?

Phoenix

12 mosaic