They found Chance in the stables.
But before they did, he just waited. He could hear the crowds and personnel drop into desperate clamor, and he knew that his team was successful. He found himself useless at this point in missions, given he discouraged himself from fighting. He knew he could, but experiences were burned in the back of his mind. They held him back. Even sparring in between missions proved difficult to do. He wished he could harden up, but memories kept him soft - broken. There was no time to let his heart cool before another memory burned it in despair.

The next day was like a remake of the rehearsal, with ten times the pomp of before. Thousands of the people of the kingdom crammed themselves in the squares and streets. Carriages and parades whizzed by, not that the four men were paying attention. The two Údaens had to hide themselves under leather jerkins and hoods to shadow their dark faces; an ongoing war tore the two nations apart, and to see the face of a strange Údaen on a special occasion would rouse the crowds with suspicion and contempt.
This time, their suspicion would have been understandable.

The whole kingdom was drunk on excitement.
The dawn was the most beautiful, seeming to be a good omen to the rest of the day. The horizon lightened until it was sapphire blue, which happened to be the kingdom’s virtue color. The sun blazed overhead and burned away any clouds that would ruin the ceremony.

Have you ever looked at someone and suddenly realized what a treasure they are? And then you discover how much you love that treasure. Not because it's appearance is as garish as a jewel, but their personality shines as pure as gold. You love them the more you see them, yet deep inside you realize it is a treasure you will never hold as your own. But you can't stop hoping that someday, someone will have that priceless treasure to you, and tell you that it's yours forever.

I climbed further: the end was in sight. I reached the top of the peak; only to cry out in disappointment. There was yet another valley before my eyes. This was not the end. Night was falling, and I had no hope of making it to the plateau.
As the sand crumbled beneath my feet while giving way to the low lands of the valley I fell to my knees and cried out, and I heard my voice echo back from the darkness beyond.
"Why did You bring me here, only to let me end up in this bitter darkness? I cannot see; I cannot understand. What are You trying to teach me?"

Animosity
My perplexity
A redundant thought
Some small worries fraught
Heart-torn and bleary
Blinded and weary
Sentences framed
Tongue is now aimed
Give me discretion
Show me my lesson
Diminish my fears
Wipe away my tears
I can't understand
But I won't demand
Please Lord, give me sight
Let me be alright
I want to trust You
Your promises true
Delight in Your will
Heart of mine, be still
Look up for the Light
His love gives us sight

Days of pain count as days of grace
Days of joy can do an about-face
If we do not watch ourselves and learn
Our strength is not something that you earn
It's given to us, for fear to flee
In my days of pain I've come to see
That a weak body can hold much strength
If only you'll look above, at length
You'll find a day of grace for you
If you trust His word, holy and true
You'll know the blessing of silent tears
Given in moments of pain and fears
There are worse stories; you can compare

1. Mundane

the bleachy grit of
Comet!
scruffs away at the
blood-red chili stain in my
father’s kitchen sink;

the washcloth is oozing and
I can’t breathe through
my nose—I think I’m
allergic to bleach—my skin
is turning splotchy red and
tingles every time I move

and no matter how hard I scrub
this stupid stain isn’t coming out.

2. Changes

I.
all of the red brick neighborhoods
I once loved
now seem empty
absent
withdrawn

"Do you love me?"

"Why do you ask?"

He tickled her.

"Stop it. You're silly. Do you?"

"Of course. You know I do."

"I just like to make sure you still do."

"Why would I ever stop?"

She chewed on the inside of her lip before responding.

"What if...I become ugly or sick?"

"I didn't marry you for your good looks, dearest, and I didn't marry you for your health. I married you for your heart and soul."

"What if we can't have children?"

The fully loaded car was running and music was playing. Sunbeams reflected off of the windshield while the light danced around patches of grime left behind by grasshoppers and pesky birds.

"Let it go...let it GOOOOOO!!!!!!!!"

I think Gretchen purposefully put a Disney soundtrack in before I picked up the kids. She knows how much I detest that stuff.

Greg waived at his sister in the rearview mirror and tried to tell himself that she wasn't smirking at him.

"Prankster."

"What'd you say, Uncle Greg?"