Sometimes all you really need is a place to call home. *** Claire is lost and scared and utterly alone. Her family is in shambles after the death of her older sister Ina, and she's left to pick up the broken pieces of herself as her life heads into a downwards spiral of loneliness. Her heart leads her to 5:48, a little cafe by 33rd street, where she finds her new home. With a broken heart and a speech disability, Jasper has his heart and mouth sewn shut by the winding threads of hurt and fear. Painting and serving coffee in cafe 5:48 are one of his last few saving graces, but the smile he's been painting on himself will soon fade away as everything he's ever held dear slips away from his grasp. Ezra is out-of-sync and oddly cold by the way life has treated his young self. Abandoned by his single mother at an early age, he has grown up thinking that he is a mistake. His constant shaking hands are a reflection of what he often thinks of himself, but the delightful pastries he bakes for 5:48's customers are a reflection of what others see of him. Drew is a quirky rarity. He is a dash of loud, a pinch of exuberant, and a cup of eccentric - just like the meals he serves in the cafe as the only chef there. Behind his playful grins and outlandish clothes, however, are his jutting ribs, hollowed cheeks, and too-thin arms. Sometimes he cannot stomach being in his own skin as much as he cannot stomach food. This family has gone a long way from finding each other, and they'll be going a long way together too as reality comes catching up to them, threatening the newfound happiness they've found with each other. Secrets are revealed, pasts become presents, and lives are changed. Slowly but surely, they find their way back home. *** NOTE AS OF 08/2026: This is the old version of the story from 2012, posted in FULL. Another story that will be considered a reprise of this old version is in the works, and will be posted under the name "Hiraya House."

and god, i love you. // inspired by "art class" by rhiannon mcgavin // #68 in poetry

He wasn't noticed by girls. She wasn't noticed by guys. But because of the courage and determination used to step out of the crowd they were so used to emerging themselves in, they found each other. Even though they knew that they other was easily overlooked in the eyes of others, both discovered that from ordinary, even the plainest of Janes had the ability to become extraordinary.

// DON'T READ THIS I AM WARNING YOU DO NOT READ THIS IT'S HORRIBLE AND CRINGE WORTHY AND CHEESY AF AND DEFINITELY NOT IN THE GOOD WAY AND OHMYGOD I CAN'T BELIEVE I WROTE THIS PLS DON'T YOU'LL BE SAVING YOURSELF FROM HORRENDOUS WRITING AND ME FROM EMBARRASSMENT AND LITERALLY I'M JUST KEEPING THIS UP BC IT HAS 100K READS, SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D NEVER ACHIEVE, BUT PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU, DON'T FUCKING READ IT. DON'T SAY I DIDN'T WARN YOU, DUDE. // "Let's go somewhere," he said. "Where?" she asked, wide-eyed. "Let's go to see the stars." *** Audrey's mother had always said he would grow up to be handsome. Handsome and dangerous. [Adventure #23 // ChickLit #47 // Teen Fiction #503]

Sometimes it snows, and sometimes you meet beautiful boys with cameras, and sometimes it snows and you meet beautiful boys with cameras. // #20 in short story //

A dialogue short story about the things we wake up to that remind us there are still things in this life worth waking up for. ante meridiem - [adv. & adj.] "before noon;" Abbr: A.M. Or a.m. [credit to owner of image (not me)]

About a boy and a girl whose love for each other far exceeds their love for food.

Pause for a second and imagine this: the person you love is dying, but you can help. You can give them a few more months to make memories, laugh, cry. But at what cost? (Thank you to @TalatheWolf for the summary)