I'm fine. But what does it mean? A phrase said for years but usually meaning a lie. A settlement for how something could be? Or a false testimony for the way that I'm feeling? Raindrops of Reality is a personal collection of poems, with the will to translate various emotions through a rather free form of writing. All my life, I thought poetry was too complex, but it wasn't true. Relatable, passionate, and free are the guiding words of my poems. Enjoy! ღ Highest ranks: poetrycollection, poesia, existence, metaphor, poetical, poembook, shortpoem, poet, shortstory, poem, sentiment, thoughtsandfeelings, sadpoems, thoughts, poemcollection, lovepoem, creativewriting, quote, deepthoughts, emotional, haiku, rhyme, prose, freeverse #1 darkacademia #4 poetry #6 Awards: 2nd place - The Andromeda Awards © 2021 Claire Bourdon All Rights Reserved.

Ryan Baker left New York City to care for his two-year-old nephew, but renovating homes with his brother's hunky best friend in their small Pennsylvania town wasn't part of the plan. Neither was falling in love. ***** When a devastating accident leaves his nephew parentless, 26-year-old Ryan doesn't hesitate to abandon his unsuccessful art career in New York to travel 300 miles to Windber, Pennsylvania. But once he arrives, Ryan quickly realizes he's in over his head. He doesn't know how to change a diaper, take care of a two-story house, or deal with his dead brother's face plastered on signs advertising his home renovation business all over town. The one saving grace is his brother's business partner. Unlike Ryan, Darren Reynolds is a pro at bath time and knows exactly how to soothe the baby. Ryan had always looked up to him, even as kids, the quiet jock with a gentle smile. But suddenly they're living and parenting together. All of Ryan's teenage fantasies come rushing back and Ryan must decide if he wants to renovate his life for a straight guy.

Graison Starling is a captive on the Blue. Which means he's a captive to Captain Baz. And while it sounds like His Worst Nightmare and he has, in fact, had this nightmare before, he doesn't ever remember his captor looking that good swinging a sword at him - wait, what? No. Graison does not find Captain Baz attractive. Because that would be absurd, right? He's holding him hostage. He's threatened his life. So he's good with a sword. Anybody would notice that, captive or not. Graison just appreciates good swordsmanship, okay? And if you see him stealing looks at the Captain when he's not aware, well, it's just him plotting an escape plan. So maybe Graison has a small thing for Baz. Whatever. It's not like it matters. He's going to die, anyway.

Red Zoned follows the story of a young lesbian trying to survive in the homophobic, post-apocalyptic America after the U.S. attempts to create a super solider and, in turn, creates the start of a Zombie apocalypse. When convicted for murder, Charlie is given a choice: public execution or the Red Zone. Despite the Red Zone being known for providing a slow and painful death, she opts for the chance to fight for her life instead of facing public execution and it becomes clear quickly that her only chance of survival rests in the hands of others. However, when she develops relationships with the others in her new home, she learns there's more to be afraid of than the flesh eating monsters outside. Trigger Warnings: Themes of sexual assault and suicide.

Finn had finally done it. He had saved enough money to attend the town's all-boys school. After years of bullying from the public school, he was ecstatic to start his first day. Of course, Finn hadn't expected to be 20 minutes late on the first day. Nor did he anticipate being shoved up against lockers by one of the most attractive men he has ever seen. --- Mateo ruled Oakwood Academy, so he wouldn't miss the chance to show the fresh meat just who was in charge there. Mateo was a king, and he wanted to play with his new pawn, nothing wrong with that. Mateo went after Finn because he was new and naive, well, that's what he told himself anyway. The book is on Amazon if you want the full story: https://www.amazon.com/dp/1644342731

STAY TUNED FOR THE PUBLISHED NOVEL The rate for his services is high. His quality is high. His acting skills are good enough that he could be a completely different person, and you'd never know. However, the role he was least comfortable playing was Oliver. Oliver Addams was a boyfriend for hire. Rich people begged for his services, shelling out an unbelievable amount of money for his time. Within that time, they could do as they pleased with him. As long as he was still alive at the end of the paid-for period, the company didn't care, so why should he? --- Cal Hendrix did not like to wait for things. When he wanted something, he wanted it immediately. So, when the young businessman needed company, he hired a boyfriend. What originally started as a ploy for company and press attention suddenly was toying a dangerous line between professionalism and something infinitely more confusing. Oliver threatens the control Cal values so highly, and Oliver begins to learn more than he ever wanted to learn about his client.

Dresden Gibson never left. But that's not the story he's telling. [sequel to The Art of Moving On] It's five years later, and though time has a way of making all pain feel less prominent, the pain that sits right under Dres's ribcage, the one tied to the buried words, and regret like a cold sweat on his palms, hasn't changed at all. Hasn't subsided or dulled throughout the years. Dresden regrets a lot of things. He'll never regret anything more than the way he ended his relationship with Cas those years ago. That's a pain, he thinks, he'll carry with him always. So he keeps the letters, and the memories; he lets them plague him on the long nights because it's what he deserves. When the opportunity arises to make things right, Dres takes it. He owes Cas that much. Even if the boy who's heart he broke years ago doesn't want a single thing to do with him. (And he doesn't)

My mother never could keep to one man. It wasn't like I went out of my way to fall in love. She was just blind, and he was just... perfect. It was impossible not to fall in love with my stepfather. The real question was... Did he love me?

Calvin Sumner is just trying to find a job, pass his classes, get into college, and maybe kiss a few boys if he can manage it. He never thought he'd find himself working in a cupcake cafe, or falling in love with his brooding, ex-military boss who has more tattoos than he has words to give. But Cas isn't going to complain. Not when he's finally making some money, doing well in his courses, has a pretty good sports scholarship in his future, and gets to kiss Dresden Gibson as much as he wants (and he wants to, a lot). ( © saeglopur )

Luna falls for Chloe at first sight . . . literally, off a ladder. And it's the beginning of a beautiful friendship, after Luna gets past the fact that Chloe doesn't seem to be single. They soon discover all the things they have in common, their time spent together a much-needed solace to both girls, and the feelings they develop for each other are undeniable. It quickly becomes evident however that all is not as it seems; Chloe is in fact trapped in her farce of a relationship, and Luna vows to help her new friend escape the toxic situation and find her way back to herself.