These are my responses to the Writober prompt post Writober Week Two: Separation.
OctPoWriMo
Lost in the Forest
In the lost-witch forest tall trees close
in the lost witch forest the same trees passed again
in the lost-witch forest trees separate and isolate
in the lost-witch forest the separated are lost
In the lost-witch darkness frog chirps frighten
in the lost-witch darkness lightning bugs light forms
in the lost-witch darkness the separate aren’t alone
in the lost-witch darkness the forgotten grow
In the darkness deep separation finds connection
in the darkness deep tendrils reach for imagined light
in the darkness deep the susurrus surrounds
and sparrows sing, spying for the trees
Writober Flash Fiction
Lost in the Forest
Clarissa’s sister, Kalli, and her friends piled back into the car, filthy and exhausted. Still no sign of Clarissa and now Max was missing too.
“We can’t just leave him.” Miranda kept looking through the back window as if Max would appear behind them.
“You heard the rangers, Miranda. No signs of struggle. And you saw with your own eyes, his pack and tent were gone. He ditched us. Let him go,” said Brad.
As they drove past the sign for the “Ultra-grow Tree Labs” Kalli shivered. “I still can’t believe they’re using human cells and growth hormones.”
“Hey, if it works, it works,” said Brad. “They say those rapid-growth trees are reversing global warming.”
“Still,” said Kalli. “It’s creepy.”
It would be years after Clarissa’s disappearance before the reports of missing campers led to the labs revealing that their trees had spread into the state parks. And years after that when the reports came out that the scientists knew their trees demonstrated separation anxiety—for humans.
Halloween Photography Challenge
For today’s images I thought I would mix things up, so instead of trying to create fear of separation with light, I took my camera for a walk and looked for fear of separation out in the world.
Observing fear of separation in my neighborhood made me notice fences and gates, thinking of fear of separation as fear of losing things, and privacy. Then, as I walked, I noticed some of my neighbors’ Halloween decorations, and thought how I may not have noticed these fun things if I hadn’t gone out looking for fear of separation. So in a way, fear of separation made me more aware and connected to my surroundings.
Experience Writing 
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