by 2024 summer Teen Writing Space students (Skyla B., Luke D., Joshua K., Navya P., Tori R., Alexis T., David V., and Bernice Z.)
His face turned pale and he froze as he saw it. It slowly walked back as a cold sweat made its way down its left cheek. It stepped closer, looming high above him, its shadow stretching ominously.
For a moment, the phantom felt familiar, though eyeless and expressionless. It felt like a reflection of himself—cold, and heartless. And for a moment the shadow felt—vulnerable.
“Is there a heart in there?” he wondered.
It froze, as if it were mimicking him. He couldn’t help but feel sorry for the creature; he was not sure why.
“I think…” he whispered, voice hoarse with nerves—why is he speaking at all, why is he breaking the silence, what is wrong with his head?—“…that you are more real than I am, creature.”
Red Bank, New Jersey
Bridge Ink 