He reached over his head, making a temple with his fingers, as he looked toward the ceiling. Every muscle on his exposed chest flexed, as he began his routine. His strong core held him up, as he moved fluidly through difficult poses as he cleared his mind and pushed his body to the limit. Sweat glistened on his dark skin, as he controlled his breathing. His stamina was endless, and he went through his hour-long ritual with ease, ending on the floor, with his eyes closed and legs crossed, breathing deeply. His blood pumped wildly, reminding him that he was alive. The pain told him he was alive, and that this feeling he had was a part of living, a part of being privileged to be six feet above ground. As he stood and grabbed a towel to wipe away his sweat, he told himself if he couldn’t shake the feeling, he would learn from it and make sure that he never felt it again. As he cut out the lights and ascended the stairs, he shut off his heart. Ethic flipped the switch that allowed him to love, allowed him to hurt... allowed him to live. He went back into his shell, promising himself that he wouldn’t expose himself again.

Sitting at the window seat, staring out over the sprawling, green lawn, Morgan felt like Rapunzel, trapped in a tower and dying to be free. Nobody understood her. How could they? No one knew what it was like to walk through a world without fully experiencing it. They had no idea how loud things got inside her head. Morgan hated that she wanted to be accepted by the same people she despised. She hated them for the superficiality; hated them for being so normal, and for not appreciating the blessing that came with being able. Able to hear, able to just exist without people feeling awkward around them. Morgan always felt like she was under a microscope. Curious eyes gawked in surprise, wondering how she could be so beautiful yet be so flawed. People always stared, so Morgan put on a show, acting out, frustrated with people and their judgments. Nobody understood her, not even Ethic; and although he tried his best to make her feel loved, she simply felt like she didn’t belong. She wasn’t his daughter. Her family was gone, and she didn’t quite fit in anyone else’s life. Nobody accepted her like her family had. When they were alive, she barely even realized she was different than anyone around her. They made her feel secure. But as soon as they went in the grave, all her insecurities surfaced.