Lux: Volume 1

By Rebecca Lewis

This compilation of short stories and art pieces was created by the Literary Journal Club from John C. Kimball High School. Besides including works from members of the club, it also features winning pieces from monthly writing contests held at the school.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Rebecca Lewis
• Release date: May 17, 2015
• ISBN: 9781310636530

Rebecca Lewis

Rebecca Lewis is the author of the New Adult novel, Player in Paradise, and the Young Adult novel, Merch Girl. She is a lover of all things music and pop culture. Her passion for entertainment and writing brought her to Boston University, where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the College of Communication. During her college career, she interned for various record labels in Boston and New York City, sold merch for local bands, worked at record stores, and did a whole lot of grassroots marketing. She currently resides in Florida with her husband and puppy.

Book preview

Lux: Volume 1

Edited by Rebecca Lewis

Copyright 2015 Rebecca Lewis

Smashwords Edition

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Table of Contents

Preface

Foreword

Author: Ally I. Evans

Author: Bronwyn Graffham

Author: Elizabeth Hensarling

Author: Rebecca Lewis

Artist: Annika Probst

Author: Jase Namigala

Author: Sara Decker

Monthly Writing Contest Winners

Worlds of Fantasy (December 2014)

Showcase (January 2015)

Romance (February 2015)

Runaways (March 2015)

Preface

The Kimball High Literary Journal exists to create a community in which its members may strengthen their writing skills and share their works. We here aim to fortify our abilities by exploring different modes of literature and receiving feedback on our works from one another.

The road to improving our skills as creators is never smooth or easy. By providing members with a community in which they may find support and discuss ideas, we emerge as stronger writers in the end. In addition, while the Literary Journal is primarily dedicated to writers, we have fantastic artists among us because many topics we address also aid in their pieces. We reflect on the world around us through our works, whether they be fiction or nonfiction, and leave our mark on it because we declare that we had something to say. When we commit our ideas to paper, we interpret them in a form that the world can experience too.

This literary journal, Lux: Volume 1, is a compilation of the works of our members as well as winners from our monthly writing contests throughout the school year of 2014 to 2015. Each work is published here with the permission of its creator, and as such, belongs to its creator. On behalf of the writers and artists of the Literary Journal, I hope you enjoy these works.

Rebecca Lewis

President of the Kimball High School Literary Journal

Foreword

From the moment I stepped onto the Kimball campus as a substitute teacher, I knew there were talented kids here. I saw flyers for a poetry reading and crashed the event. I was impressed with the level of creativity and the strength of the students' voices. From that moment forward, I supported their Literary Journal Club. This year, as a full time teacher at John C. Kimball High School, I was honored to be the club advisor. It has been my pleasure and my inspiration. These kids are proud to be writers and artists and actors and musicians. They jump headfirst into their art with passion and intelligence. They study their craft, they inspire and share with each other generously, and they speak their truth with eloquence. I am so proud to have worked with such smart and talented kids. Their unique points of view make me confident about the future as it lays in their capable, creative hands. Shine on, Lux and the Light-bearers! Your beauty and truth is invaluable to this world!

Sincerely,

Teri Gartner

English/Speech and Debate Teacher

Literary Journal Club Advisor 2014-2015

A special thanks to Cerridwyn Graffham for creating the cover of Lux: Volume 1 and to Teri Gartner for serving as our advisor for the 2014 to 2015 school year.

Author: Ally I. Evans

Copyright © 2015 by Ally I. Evans

Welcome to Heaven

It happened so fast, I couldn’t comprehend it. At the same time. It happened so slow, I could see every millisecond. The phone in my hand went dead as the person on the other end fell. I moved as quickly as my body would allow me. His whole right side was mangled and his normally sandy blonde hair was coated in blonde. I ran my hand down the side of his head that wasn’t covered in blood. I felt his last breath.

I don’t know how long I sat there calling his name, expecting him to wake up. I heard the sirens coming and felt my dad lift me away from him.

I woke up in my bed room in the same clothes. I didn’t know how long I had slept.

James, I whispered.

I couldn’t think about it. I pushed myself out of bed with my weak arms and changed into sweats and a t-shirt. As I made my way down the hall, I heard voices talking quietly.

She hasn’t come out yet.

My mother’s voice. Kind and gentle, but worried at the same time.

It’s understandable. They really cared for each other.

James’ mom’s voice. Of course they were here. He di – he was hit just outside our door.

How long has it been?

My voice sounded distant. Standing in the doorway of the room was terrible. The looks of sympathy and pain were terrible.

It was Saturday night when it happened. It’s Monday now, my dad said.

I stood awkwardly in the doorway. James’ mom shuffled in her purse and pulled out a little white box.

He was bringing it to you. He’d want you to have it, she said, holding out the box.

I moved toward her, dragging my body slightly. I grabbed the box and lifted the lid. If my heart wasn’t already broken, it would have then. A golden heart hung at the end of a gold chain. Engraved into the heart was a J and K. I bit my lip.

Thank you, I said, stilling sounding distant.

It’s what he would have wanted.

I’m sorry. It was my fault.

Don’t you dare say that, his father said. It was the drunk driver’s fault. He’s the one who wasn’t paying attention.

James was coming to see me. It was my fault, I said.

It’s your fault because you were born? No, it’s not. Do not blame yourself, he said.

I didn’t want to talk to them. I didn’t want their looks of sympathy and gentle voices. I walked into the kitchen and pulled open the refrigerator door, only to close it again. The last picture James and I took together was hanging on the door. I took it off and looked at it. James was making a dorky face and I was laughing at him. I slipped it into the box with the necklace.

I remained in the kitchen until I heard his parents leave. His mom came and said goodbye. I was decent. My parents knew to leave me alone. I had to process it. I had to say it. He was – he was …

I stayed in my room as much as possible. I only came out for small meals and to grab the pictures I printed. I was working 24/7 on a scrapbook of him and me. Everything we had done. I also was supposed to be working on a speech to say