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Art by Chloe’s arts

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girl help i am running out of concepts for my escapist imaginary scenarios

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“After all, to read is to wander, and bookshops and libraries are the places to set our compasses.”

― Anna James

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Matthew sighs into his beer. It always happened like this. He'd spot a woman at a bar, spend half an hour crushing his nerves with stamps of CBT - letting those anxious thoughts float out on the leaves of the stream in his mind and watching them slide right back in when his brain decided the humble loop was a much better device for transporting thoughts than a stream.

So he'd sit and ruminate and miss every word his friends said until his drink was empty and he was out of options. You can't sit in a bar without a drink! His chair scrapes like a horn when he stands and the best space at the bar isn't even neighbouring the pretty lady but he still heads that way. Then he stands awkwardly near her, meerkatting like he wants to be served.

"You been waiting long?" He asks.

She's caught off guard. She gives him the side eye.

"Ah no, actually, I've got my drink."

The ice clinks against the glass of her G&T.

"Good?"

He was losing her. He could tell with the slight purse of the lips and a soft turning of the shoulders. That's when the imp arrives. Always on time. Always imping. Matthew's hand was in his pocket before the words even left his mouth.

"You wanna see a card trick?"

Every fucking time. Matthew wasn't even sure why he brought the cards anymore. Sure, it was his best trick and little Evie at the community centre described it as 'mindblowing' but she was six. A woman in her twenties would no doubt have seen it several times already - she might even know how it's done. Matthew hung his head low. Would it have even made a difference if he had left the cards at home? The imp surely would have found a way to torture him anyhow. Maybe a bit of sleight of hand? Or some smoke and mirrors - though that would be guaranteed to cause trouble in a public space fitted with a sprinkler system.

Matthew regretted it now. He'd been young when he'd made the deal. And heartbroken - Valerie had just left him for Jerry from clown school who'd only been in town because Matthew had invited him round for his eighteenth birthday party. Now they were getting a divorce - three cheers for sweet revenge! - but it didn't matter. It didn't change things. Didn't change what he did. Ten years ago that was, and the devil is still laughing.

"I want to be loved!" Matthew had cried that night, tears so thick he couldn't see the wry smile the devil wore seated on his throne.

"Oh, you will be my sweet!" The devil had sung. "You just need to wow someone! Show them a litte magic."

Young Matthew sniffled.

"But how?-"

The devil grinned. "I know a little trick. I will share it with you, if you'll allow."

"Please!"

But the devil lifted a finger to his lips.

"Wait a moment, you should let me finish. Once I teach you, you'll have to use it on every person you wish to court."

Matthew nodded excitedly. He thought he'd only need it once. That it was a trick for falling in love.

"Okay then." The devil clicked his fingers and out popped a pack of cards and a top hat which flipped easily onto his head. "Pick a card, any card."

Matthew's fate was sealed.

Many had warned him to stop, that women as a genre hated card tricks and sometimes Matthew believed them. But deep down he still hoped that someone could find it charming. That one day, Matthew would whip out the ace of hearts and his future queen would be so delighted that she simply couldn't fathom marrying anyone else. But until then, the devil laughed. And Matthew played 52 card pickup with the shreds of his dignity every night.

Writing Prompt: Dialogue

“There goes the least impressed woman I have ever met in my life.”

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my dream garden <3

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I love how, after hitting us with The Letter in Persuasion, Jane's Austen's next line is:

Such a letter was not to be soon recovered from.

Jane is like, that's right bitches, that letter that I wrote is a banger

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somewhere in the world there is a tree that sprouted the same day you were born and has been growing along with you

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half a soul- olivia atwater

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There's really such as beauty that you're in a Wonder Land. 🌷✨

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oopsie, I tiptoed through old memories and now my soul aches a little

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bert and ernie go to ikea

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There once was a star who fell from the sky,

And once it fell, it could only look high,

And it said, I dreamed it once that I was there

But now all I can do is hope and stare

That one day I could call such a place home

Where I am happy and warm and scarcely alone

But it is impossible now for I lay in dirt

I cannot walk or run or turn or flirt

But the star couldn't see from where it lay

A little girl gasp and say

It's you I saw, flying through the night

In glitter and magic and magnificence bright

I wanted to catch you, but you were too quick

Perhaps I could stay with you and like a wick

Catch that brilliance of your spark

And use it to guide me through the dark

Then we could venture together and finally you'd say

I'm glad I fell because with you I can see the day