In the dusty streets where the world runs fast,
A boy sits still, his shadow cast.
His legs won't carry him to the chase,
Yet his dreams soar high, in boundless space.
The laughter echoes from fields afar,
He gazes long at the bright-lit stars.
Wishing his body could match his soul,
Longing for life to feel more whole.
They call him "lame," as though he's less,
But in his heart, he burns quiet finesse.
A mind so sharp, a will so strong,
Yet the world won't see where he belongs.
At Lifeline Aid, a hand reaches out,
To lift his spirit, to banish doubt.
Here's a chair, a crutch, a guide,
And hope to walk with dignity and pride.
Disabled, yes, but not defined,
By what his body leaves behind.
For in his heart, a fire alights,
A life renewed with endless might.
So, let us help, let us believe,
In every child, there is there is a dream to weave.
Through care, through love, through aid so true,
The lame shall rise and walk anew.
*Wattys 2018 Winner / Hidden Gems*
CREATE YOUR OWN MR. RIGHT
Weeks before Valentine's, seventeen-year-old Kate Lapuz goes through her first ever breakup, but soon she stumbles upon a mysterious new app called My Dream Boyfriend, an AI chatbot that has the ability to understand human feelings. Casually, she participates in the app's trial run but finds herself immersed in the empathic conversations with her customizable virtual boyfriend, Ecto.
In a society both connected and alienated by technology, Kate suspects an actual secret admirer is behind Ecto. Could it be the work of the techie student council president Dion or has Kate really found her soulmate in bits of computer code? She decides to get to the bottom of the cutting-edge app. Her search for Ecto's real identity leads Kate to prom, where absolute knowledge comes with a very steep price.