I wrote my first story in the 4th grade. It was a short story about a kid navigating through a maze, coming to a head with a monster. At the time, I had thought it was an original idea--but then I read Percy Jackson and the Battle of the Labrinth a few years later. 

I believe the stories we write are always going to share some commonalities because we sometimes find ourselves wanting the same things, or wanting to escape from the same things. Writing is a way for us to show each other that we're not alone and that we inspire one another.

I began writing because I found myself wanting to bring my literal dreams to life, and show it through my unique perspective. And over the years, I have been inspired by all kinds of authors as I continued to develop my own stories. 

It's been many years since I wrote that short story, and I wanted to try and share my work anonymously with you in hopes that you leave being inspired to keep pursuing the art of storytelling. Where do you think the world would be if not for the stories we told our communities?