Excuse the Rage

Lately, at work, I have been getting the short end of the stick;

1. First, my shifts had been cut down from five to four. I was annoyed, but voiced no complaint because in the beginning we were training two new cooks, John was the one doing the training, so I had figured my shifts were cut to give the new guys more practice. I was still earning a good amount, so I let it be. The next couple of weeks after (one trainee had left, the other stayed) my shifts stayed at four. I voiced a complaint several times, but no changes were made. After a while, I gave up.
2. Then, at some point, I was put on all evening shifts. The sole reason being that I 'couldn't handle all the dishes'. Because on the rare occasion that the boss does come in to the shop, we had had a huge rush, and I could barely get a spare second to do the dishes. Because being the only person in the kitchen, dish washing also falls to me. Apparently, the other two cooks are Superman and Boy-Wonder and can get all the dishes done in the middle of a lunch rush.
3. After a little while, I had been given back a few day shifts. All was well. Til the boss made a rare visit again, and we had another lunch rush and fell behind in dishes again. Que being put back to evening shifts. I was a little pissed at that.
4. Last week, I had let work know that I would be gone for four days this week with my parents(friday, saturday, sunday and the following monday). Admittedly, yes, it was short notice, but my dad kept hmming and hawing about when we were leaving and coming back, til I hounded him enough to make him decide. Work was not happy with me about that, but I didn't care; I wasn't happy with them about being put back to evening shift, so it's only fair. I work three days this week, which is understandable. Well, I really made them unhappy; I saw my schedule for next week. They had given John six shifts and cut me down to three.

Yes, I will not be returning til Monday night, but they still could have scheduled me for four shifts. I had texted John about it, asking if he wanted me to take one of his shifts. He answered back that he had been asked if he minded doing six shifts, because that's what the boss wants. WHAT. THE. BOSS. WANTS. All the stuff I listed above, happened because the BOSS WANTED it. Wanted me put on evening shifts because of dishes. Wanted my shifts cut to three because I told them I was going away on short notice.

The funny thing is, I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I work fast, I always clean up after myself, I make sure to leave notes for the other cook if there's something I can't do or finish by the end of my shift. Whenever they wanted me to come in early, I came in. Whenever someone wanted to switch shifts, I would switch shifts. Whenever they needed someone to cover a shift, I would cover it. Not once did I complain about it.

The problem? No one tells me what I'm doing wrong or what I should improve on, until its too little too late. The newer cook, Vince, apparently had complaints that my prep wasn't enough and that I did not leave note on the status of the back up. I did not find this out until John told me of the complaint last week. The boss also had a few complaints about me that I did not know about until John told me last week. I was severely pissed. Why doesn't anyone tell me this themselves when they see me? I was told 'because they don't know how to talk to you'. Don't know how to talk to me?! I fail to see how difficult it is to tell me something; I try to make myself open and friendly. Is it the way I act? Is it because I speak so quietly? I really don't know. When I had seen my schedule, I nearly flew into a rage. I hyperventilated in the bathroom, and then barged out into the back by the dumpsters and went in to a crying fit talking to mother in a desperate attempt to see if she knew any places I could send in a CV to. The rest of the night I swung between pure anger and being depressed. I left a note for the boss to call me so I can find out what the hell is going on.

Communication at work is severely lacking at work. The only way to contact the boss is by phone, leaving a note in her office, or talking to her when she makes her rare visits to the shop. She doesn't talk to me as much as she does the other two. I didn't know we were getting a new menu until two days ago when a waitress mentioned to me that she couldn't wait to try stuff on the new menu when we get it. I'm the last to know. As usual. The cooks don't have meetings unless the boss wants us to, because the boss wants to be there when we are, so being the last to find out is kind of the norm for me.

Suffice to say, when I got home last night, I wrote down all the names I could think of of potential places to send a CV and directions to each. I've had enough. If I can't be told things on time, and then get shit for not knowing or having it done, then there is no longer any place for me there. It's high time I get the hell out of Dodge and go somewhere else. But, until I can secure another job, it'll be a while before I can actually blow this popsicle stand.

Was digging through my livejournal

And found this. I thought it would be nice to put. Anyone can use it.

★APPEARANCE:
I am 5'4 or shorter.
I think I’m ugly sometimes.
I have many scars.
I tan easily.
I wish my hair was a different color.
I have friends who have never seen my natural hair color.
I have a tattoo.
I am self-conscious about my appearance.
I’ve had braces. [[I know I need 'em though...]]
I own glasses.
I’d get plastic surgery if it were 100% safe, free, scar-free.
I’ve been told I’m attractive by a complete stranger.
I have more than 2 piercings.
I have piercings in places besides my ears.
I have freckles.

★FAMILY/HOME LIFE:
I’ve sworn at my parents.
I’ve been kicked out of the house.
My biological parents are together.
I have a sibling less than one year old.
I want to have kids someday.
I have children.
I’ve lost a child.

★EMBARRASSMENT:
I’ve slipped out a “lol” in a spoken conversation.
I’ve snorted while laughing.
I’ve laughed so hard I’ve cried.
I’ve glued my hand to something.
I’ve laughed till some kind of beverage came out of my nose.
I’ve had my pants rip in public.

★HEALTH:
I was born with a disease/impairment.
I’ve had stitches.
I’ve broken a bone.
I’ve had my tonsils removed.
I’ve sat in a doctor’s office with a friend.
I’ve had my wisdom teeth removed.
I had a serious surgery.
I’ve had chicken pox.

★TRAVELLING:
I’ve driven over 200 miles in one day.
I’ve been on a plane.
I’ve been to Canada. (Well, I Kinda live there, so...)
I’ve been to Niagara Falls.
I’ve been to Japan.
I’ve celebrated Mardi Gras in New Orleans.
I’ve been to Europe.
I’ve been to Africa.
I’ve been to France.

★EXPERIENCES:
I’ve been lost in my city.
I’ve seen a shooting star.
I’ve wished on a shooting star.
I’ve seen a meteor shower.
I’ve gone out in public in my pajamas.
I’ve pushed all the buttons on an elevator.
I’ve been to a casino.
I’ve been skydiving.
I’ve gone skinny dipping.
I’ve played spin the bottle.
I’ve crashed a car.
I’ve been skiing.
I’ve been in a play.
I’ve met someone in person from the internet.
I’ve caught a snowflake on my tongue.
I’ve seen the Northern Lights.
I’ve sat on a roof top at night.
I’ve played chicken.
I’ve played a prank on someone.
I’ve ridden in a taxi.
I’ve seen the Rocky Horror Picture Show.
I’ve eaten sushi.
I’ve been snowboarding.

★RELATIONSHIPS:
I’m single.
I’m in a relationship.
I’m available.
I’m engaged.
I’m married.
I’ve gone on a blind date.
I’ve been the dumpee more than the dumper.
I miss someone right now.
I have a fear of abandonment.
I’ve been divorced.
I’ve had feelings for someone who didn’t have them back.
I’ve told someone I loved them when I didn’t.
I’ve told someone I didn’t love them when I did.
I’ve kept something from a past relationship.

★SEXUALITY:
I’ve had a crush on someone of the same gender.
I’ve kissed a member of the same gender.
I’ve had sex with someone of the opposite gender.
I’ve had sex with someone of the same gender.
I’ve had sex with more than one person at the same time.
I am a cuddler.
I’ve been kissed in the rain.
I’ve had sex outdoors.
I’ve hugged a stranger.
I have kissed a stranger.
I have had sex with a stranger.

★HONESTY/CRIME:
I’ve done something I promised someone else I wouldn’t.
I’ve done something I promised myself I wouldn’t.
I have lied to my parents about where I am.
I am keeping a secret from the world.
I’ve cheated while playing a game.
I’ve cheated on a test.
I’ve run a red light.
I’ve been suspended from school.
I’ve witnessed a crime.
I’ve been in a fist fight.
I’ve been arrested.
I’ve shoplifted.

★DRUGS/ALCOHOL:
I’ve consumed alcohol.
I smoke cigarettes.
I smoke pot.
I regularly drink.
I’ve taken painkillers when I didn’t need them.
I’ve done hard drugs.
I’ve been addicted to an illegal substance.
I take cough meds when I’m not sick.
I can’t swallow pills.
I can swallow about 5 pills at a time no problem.

★MENTAL HEALTH:
I have been diagnosed with depression.
I take anti-depressants.
I have an eating disorder.
I’ve slept an entire day when I didn’t need it.
I’ve hurt myself on purpose.
I’m addicted to self harm.
I’ve woken up crying.

★DEATH:
I’m afraid of dying.
I hate funerals.
I’ve seen someone dying.
I have attempted suicide.
Someone close to me has attempted suicide.
Someone close to me has committed suicide.

★RANDOM:
I can sing well.
I’ve stolen a tray from a fast food restaurant.
I open up to others too easily.
I watch the news.
I don't kill bugs.
I hate hearing songs that sacrifice meaning for sake of being able to rhyme.
I curse regularly.
I sing in the shower.
I am a morning person.
I paid for my cell phone ring tone.
I’m a snob about grammar.
I am a sports fanatic.
I play with my hair.
I have/had “x”s in my screen name.
I love being neat.
I love Spam.
I’ve copied more than 30 CD’s in a day.
I bake well.
My favorite colour is either white, yellow, pink, red or blue.
I don’t know how to shoot a gun.
I am in love with love.
I am guilty of tYpInG lIkE tHiS.
I laugh at my own jokes.
I eat fast food weekly.
I believe in ghosts.
I am online 24/7, even as an away message.
I can’t sleep if there is a spider in the room.
I am really ticklish.
I love white chocolate.
I bite my nails.
I play video games.
I’m good at remembering faces.
I’m good at remembering names.
I’m good at remembering dates.
I have no idea what I want to do for the rest of my life.
My answers are totally honest.

Stress and coping mechanism *Some swearing*

Oh yes, that wonderful little thing called 'stress'. Everybody gets stressed at some point; happening several times in their lives, and it's different for every one. Just as well, every one has their own way of dealing with stress, though, sometimes, the stress is so bad that nothing seems to work. I do believe every one has felt that kind of stress more often than not.

Now, for me, stress is not a common thing. I'm a fairly laid-back, take-it-with-a-grain-of-salt, apathetic kind of girl. But when I am stressed...well, you better have enough sense to leave me alone and head for the hills because when I finally lose my temper because of it, nothing is safe from my violent, shrieking rampage.

Case in point; around 4-5 weeks ago at work, I received a call from one of my fellow cooks, Natalie; her back had given out three days prior and was calling to let us know she wouldn't be able to work come Monday. Since I was to work that morning anyway, I told I would do a double shift (that way John, the third cook, could have his day off like he was supposed to.) She was very apologetic about it; hating the idea of asking someone to cover her shift. I dismissed her apology (why should she apologize?) and told her it was alright and to get better. Later that day, as I switched shifts with John, I filled him in. We agreed I would do the double on Monday, and he would do a double on Wednesday-which was my day off anyway- and we would just work through the rest of the week, knowing full well that she wouldn't be back that week. The second week rolled in, we were informed she was no better. Instead of doing one double shift each, John and I decided to just work through the week switching shifts, because doing a double just took too much out of us ( I worked the day shift, while he worked the evening). The boss had been conducting interviews since halfway through the first week.

Even though it was just the second week, John and I felt the toll it was taking on our bodies. I don't know what John's temper was, but I had become increasingly moody. The fact that I had my 'monthly gift' that week didn't help. At work, I was depressed, the waitresses -bless them- did their best to make me laugh, which worked, but my mood would just as quickly go back down. At home was different; I would snap at the littlest thing, glare and snarl. If it wasn't that, then it was just spacing out, becoming docile and doing request with little complaint. The only thing keeping my sanity was reading and listening to music on my laptop. My family knows well enough to leave me alone when I get snappy.

The third week rolled in, no days off, John and I switched our shifts, and I was on evening. The boss was still doing interviews. We were barely holding up. By the time Wednesday came around, a huge freak snowstorm hit and business was slow. Excruciatingly slow. I barely had any work to keep my mind off my tired body. I just couldn't do it anymore. I felt cold (even with a sweater on), then my head was pounding, then I started to feel a bit dizzy, my stomach was churning a little. I had even dozed off for 15 minutes of my break. I waited an hour to see if it would pass, before letting the head waitress that night know that I really wasn't feeling well. She then phoned the manager, Nova, to let her know what was going on. Nova had her make me clean up as I could, quickly inform the other waitresses how to use certain equipment should they get an order, and made me go home. My shift had started at 5pm, I left at 9:30pm. I lasted four an d a half hours that day. Once I got home, I showered and passed out on my my bed and didn't get up til the next day, my body just burned out. My mom informed that I had slept 12 hours straight.

Oh, and to top it all off; I had a head cold a small sinus infection for those three weeks.

That morning, Nova called to see if I was feeling better and if I would be able to make it in for my shift. I quickly confirmed I would be there. I had felt bad about leaving early the night before. She had also informed me that we now had a new cook and John was training her.

Huh. A new employee the very next morning after my little burn out. Imagine that.

Well, when I heard that, I was a little pissed off, but didn't let it seep in to my voice while talking to Nova. Why would I be pissed? Because we should have had that new cook a week ago! Because it always take something drastic to happen at work for the boss to get her ass in gear! Did you know that we didn't have any rubber mats by the dish pit like we were supposed to have in the beginning until one of the waitresses did a total wipe-out, slamming into the dishwasher, while trying to get some clean dishes off the drying rack. It was a miracle she wasn't actually holding any dishes and only received a large bruise on her leg! And don't get me started on the stairs going down to the main fridge and freezer; several people have fallen going up and down them. I've fallen all the way down the stairs twice because the stairs are so fucking narrow and one step is broken. All of us have complained about it, but as far as I've seen, it'll take one of us actually breaking a leg or arm falling. And there's an exit sign by the back door in the kitchen that hanging by it's fucking wires, which I have also complained about. Guess it'll take that sign falling on some one's head to get it fixed.

Anyway...

John trained the new girl for a couple of days, and the very next week she started working regularly, giving me the day off I so sorely needed. Needless to say, I mostly stayed in bed and played on my laptop. My brain function at that point was almost non-existent, and I refused to do anything at all. The stress had gotten to the point where I had become a bit depressed, and distant, despite my best friend trying her best to cheer me up. The only good thing to come of it was that I had lost quite a bit of weight. During those three weeks, the only thing that truly kept my sanity was writing. I rote anything, and I mean anything. Everything from short snippets of dialogue between characters in a fleeting story in my head, to character biographies for fanfiction that I'm propbably not going to write, to little drabbles and vignettes. Though admitedly, a lot of what I wrote was depressing and angry. But it helped a lot. I don't a lot of words to express myself verbally; instead, I write them down and weave them in to stories taken from images in my imagination. It may sound a bit pretentious, but I like to consider myself a true wordsmith whenever inspiration hits, as I'm sure any one feels like that when the urge to write hits them. My English teachers had always praised me for my writing...

So yes, those three weeks had been quite stressful. I vented as much as I would allow myself to on Twitter (and receiving much encouragement :)) and basically detached myself from reality as often as possible. Yes, I am aware of the fact that I'm probably sounding very emo, but I honestly don't care. I need to vent, and I'll do it wherever the hell I want. Bitch if you want, no one forced to read this entry :-P And on that note;

Make Pasta, not war. Ve~

Kenpachi and Yachiru in 50 sentences

Taken from my fanfiction.net account, Das Nebel.

I do not own Bleach, because if I did, I'd be fucking rich by now.

50 Sentences (Kenpachi + Yachiru)

Cookies

If there was anything Yachiru loved more than candy, it was cookies, but she loved her Ken-chan a little more.

Death

Inseparable though they were Kenpachi knew one day they would have to part, because death was such an unpredictable thing.

Blood

It may have been her favorite colour, but seeing him laying there in a pool of blood, she found herself liking it a little less.

Flowers

She could still clearly remember the day Ken-chan gave her flowers; it was her birthday and he had felt she should get something nice, even though he said they 'were killing his nose with their smell', she knew he went through a lot of trouble to get them.

Hair

"Ne, Yumichika, who the fuck puts bells in their hair?"

Chocolate

Even though he hated the sweet tasting concoction, he never could say no when she offered him a piece of her chocolate bar.

Inebriation

Drinking with Kyouraku was always an experience; watching the drunk man stumble and fall flat on his face as he attempted to get his hat back from the giggling child never ceased to amuse him.

Loyalty

"I'll never leave Ken-chan…he gave me a name, so the least I can do is stay by his side!"

Despair

Staring at the small tombstone, he finally began to feel the emptiness consume his shattered soul; his pink-haired fukutaicho was gone.

Time

"We can stay here as long as we want; we got all the time in the world."

Sakura Trees

Although he would never admit it, he rather enjoyed the peace and quiet he felt sitting under the Sakura trees.

Lies

"Ken-chan never lies… he would never lie to me…"

Truth

Yachiru never had to worry about getting the truth out Kenpachi, he always told her in the end.

Temptation

Kenpachi felt the childish temptation to take a marker and draw on the sleeping Kuchiki noble's face growing with each passing moment; and that's exactly what he did, he'd blame it Yachiru later.

Monsters

Even though she was old enough to sleep in her own bed, she still needed Ken-chan to scare away the monsters.

Needles

No matter how many times she's been to the 4th Division, Yachiru did not like getting needles – and continually made that point by trashing the examination room every time she saw one.

Greed

He wasn't a greedy person, but whenever she was near, he felt he could be just a little bit greedy, because there was just something about her smiles that made him want them all for himself.

Firefly

Watching the fireflies dance in the sky, Kenpachi felt a little more at peace.

Boys

Yachiru knew she would never be able to go on a proper date; Ken-chan kept chasing away all the boys.

Guilt

He knew it wasn't his fault, but he still couldn't help but feel a little guilty that she got hurt.

Dream

Curled up next to him on his futon, giggling madly in her sleep, he couldn't help but wonder what the hell she was dreaming about.

Music

" B YACHIRU TURN THAT SHIT DOWN, IT'S MAKIN' MY EARS BLEED /b , damn kids and their 'Justin Timberlake'," Kenpachi made a mental note to kill whoever the fuck that was.

Strength

If anything, Kenpachi Zaraki was strength personified in the eyes of the 11th Division, especially to Yachiru.

Falling

Falling was never good, especially since it hurts once you stop and no one is there to catch you.

Sickness

Groaning, Kenpachi rolled on to his side, hoping to feign sleep in order to avoid the 4th Division mother hen, Unohana.

Hope

The glimmer of hope in her eyes when she begs him for candy, never fails to suck him in.

Laughter

He'd never admit to this either, but he loved to hear her laugh.

Goodbyes

Goodbyes, she decided, were always the hardest, especially when saying it to a dying old friend.

Snow

Kenpachi hated snow, mostly because Yachiru kept putting snow down the back of his shihakusho.

Leaves

Leaves, she mused, are persistent things; they die in the winter but keep coming back in the spring, only to die and come back again.

Storm

Kenpachi couldn't but laugh as she cowered under his Captain's haori, she never did like storms.

Heartbeat

Whenever she had trouble sleeping, even as a baby, she would lay her head on his chest, and let the beating of his heart lull her to sleep.

Bells

Why he even bothered putting bells in his hair always confused Yachiru, because he looked just fine with or without them.

Dark

Being alone and in the dark was the worst possible thing for a young child; that was why he couldn't just leave her there in the blood and darkness.

Poison

Kenpachi learned the hard way not to provoke a Hollow that looked like a snake; its poison was just as deadly as a real one.

Light

Before she showed up, his life was meaningless, and then she came along and brought light into his world.

Heartache

The one thing Kenpachi couldn't stand was seeing her so heartbroken, over a boy no less; he swore he would kill the bastard for ever hurting his little girl.

Winter

Kenpachi liked winter because it meant Yachiru would be outside most of the time; the only downside was when she decided to pelt him with snowballs as he would leave the building.

Pink

All the death-filled glaring in the world would never stop the laughter, as he walked into his Division with bright pink bells, and a giggling Yachiru trailing behind him.

Sarcasm

"Oh yes Taicho, I just love it when you beat me into a bloody, pulpy mess, all the girls like a man with a disfigured face!"

Victory

Staring at Kurosaki's lifeless body, he knew he had won, the boy fought well, but then why did his victory feel so empty?

Defeat

Defeat was something foreign to him; he was so used to winning, but that Ichigo kid was more powerful than he looked, which was why Kenpachi needed to get stronger in order to beat him.

Summer

Kenpachi liked summer for only one thing; it gave him a reason to take Yachiru out for ice cream, a treat he particularly fond of, and if you tell anyone, he'll kill you, or at the very least beat you to a bloody pulp.

Promises

"Promises are easy enough to make, it's keeping them that's so damn impossible."

Question

Never in all his years, did Ikkaku blush so strongly when his fukutaicho asked him that one dreadful question an adult never wanted to hear from a kid; "Hey Panchinko-head, where do babies some from?"

Comfort

(1)When it came to comforting a crying child, Kenpachi was about as expert as a monkey with a pipe wrench doing brain surgery.

Rain

Yachiru loved the rain, it was pretty to look at as it fell from the sky, but what she loved most was the mud it made, hence why everyone stayed indoors when she went out to play.

Sex

Staring innocently at the bald man, Yachiru wondered if she somehow broke him when she asked how babies were made; he was blushing and stuttering like a mad-man as he explained something called 'sex'

Fear

Despite all her bravery, Yachiru was still afraid of being left alone.

Smile

Despite the fact that he was a strong, intimidating man, people couldn't help but smile when the saw the little pink-haired baby peeking over his shoulder.

Just for fun...

I write like
Neil Gaiman

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Needles

This a Transformers drabble from my fanfiction.net account (I will be posting more from that account). Just a cute, funny little idea that popped into my head. Just gave it a few tweaks here.

Needles

Sam wasn't sure if this was a common trait among every species in the universe, or if it was only restricted to sentient beings, but apparently this little trait affected giant robots as well. It was amusing, yet understandable at the same time, which was why he didn't outright laugh when he had witnessed it happen. That, and he probably would have been squished or flicked by some humiliated, ticked off Autobots.

They hated needles.

How did he know? Well, for one, he was there to witness the Autobots literally head for the hills the moment Ratchet stepped into the docking bay of their new base with several robot-sized needles in tow. Even the great Optimus Prime and fearless Ironhide ran out of there like bats out of hell.

Sam really would have laughed if he hadn't felt some sympathy for them. He hated needles as well, and those were some big frakkin' needles the medic was wielding.

Up until that point, he didn't think robots even needed to get booster shots, but apparently they do, and hate it just as much as humans. Learn something new every day, huh?

And so there they had been, all rounded up by Ratchet through some coaxing (read: threatening), getting their shots and not liking it one bit, but it was either get the shot or be painfully dismantled and reassembled as a toaster.

Sam also had to wonder; did every medic have to have such an evil smile?

Alone in The Forest (Flash Prose)

She sits alone in the forest, on a dark and stormy night, waiting. She has been waiting for so long, so very, very long. Every night she sits in the forest and waits. For what or whom does she wait for so loyally, night after night? She is waiting for someone, yet no one at all. The one she waits for is silent and swift. She never knows if he visits her at all, for she cannot see or feel him around her. But sometimes, just some times, she can feel that he is near. She doesn’t know what he looks like, smells like, and feels like, for she has never met him. Yet here she waits for him, night after night. No one understands why she waits so intently for someone she has never met and who never shows up. She will know when he is ready to reveal himself to her, she would tell them. Still, they did not believe her, tried to convince to return to the warmth and safety of the house. So many times she had refused to return; so many times she had escaped when they tried to lock her in. She always got out. Eventually they stopped trying; left her to wait in the cold for the unknown stranger she was so intent on meeting. Madness, they said, she wasn’t right in the head. Madder than a hatter.

The storm raged on, pelting her with its icy cold rain, yet she did not move from her spot on the grass beneath the old pine tree where she always waited. She was soaked to the bone, her dress clinging to her small frame, her sight blurred by thick gobs of water. But still she did not move from that spot, didn’t even flinch. He would come tonight, she was sure of it. She could feel him nearby, he had to come! She wanted to meet him. She wanted to see this stranger that haunted her every waking hour, ask him why he did so. Through the storm, she heard a faint sound. It was getting louder, and louder, and soon it was louder than the storm! The thundering sound of the hoof beats of a horse drowned out the storm. It was an unearthly sound, for it to overpower the sound of the storm. It was him! He was coming! Immediately she sprang up like a lithe rabbit, excitement coursing throughout her body. Calming herself, she gingerly walks out from under the tree, from what little protection it had offered.

The sound was getting louder, so loud she almost had to cover her ears it was so deafening. She did not. She did not want to look like she was afraid, lest he stop and turn away from her. For a long while, she couldn’t see anything, yet the horse’s gallop sounded as though it was right in front of her. Why was he taking so long? She closed her eyes. Perhaps he was toying with her yet again. She could not tell if she was crying; the cold rain ran down her cheeks and numbed her face. Suddenly, the noise stopped and she opened her eyes. And there in front of her, was a beautiful black stallion with a golden bridal, and a fine leather saddle with gold stirrups. Upon the stallion was a tall, cloaked figure, hood drawn over his head. Wordlessly, he reached out a black gloved hand to her. She took the hand, and with swift strength and gentleness, he pulled her on to the stallion, seated in front of him. They were oddly dry, the stallion and its rider, she was soaked- had been soaked, she was dry now, yet they were completely dry. She marvelled at the magic for a moment, before trying to peer under the hood of the rider. Silently, he put his gloved hand on her cheek (warm, it was so warm) and shook his head. She was not meant to see his face. He took up the reins, turned the stallion, and kicked him in to a gallop once more. Off they rode, deeper in to the forest, never to be heard from again. It should have frightened her you know, if she had thought to look back, for under the pine tree, she had left her body. A frozen, wet, empty shell.