In the twilight of existence, where shadows loom,

A heart beats heavy, encased in gloom.

For love, in its myriad forms, is met with disdain,

And souls, vibrant and true, are lost to the pain.

Why must the tender be hunted like prey,

In a world that should cradle, not cast them away?

With each whispered secret, each stolen embrace,

A life is extinguished, erased without trace.

Oh, the cruelty of hearts that refuse to see,

The beauty in love, in its purest decree.

Yet hatred, like poison, seeps deep in the ground,

While the echoes of laughter are silenced, unbound.

In the name of a doctrine, a twisted belief,

They wield their disdain like a sword, a thief.

Stealing the joy from the lives that they claim,

As if love were a sin, a blight, a shame.

But love knows no boundaries, no gender, no guise,

It flourishes brightly, like stars in the skies.

Yet still, in the darkness, the hunters do prowl,

With malice in hearts, and a predatory growl.

Each headline a dagger, each story a tear,

As families are shattered, consumed by their fear.

For the right to exist, to love without shame,

Is a battle still waged, a relentless, cruel game.

When will the dawn break, when will the sun rise,

To illuminate hearts, to open their eyes?

To see that we’re woven from the same thread of fate,

That love is a force that no hatred can sate.

In the silence of night, when the world holds its breath,

We mourn for the fallen, the victims of death.

Their dreams left unspoken, their futures denied,

In a world that should cherish, instead, they’ve been tried.

Oh, the weight of this sorrow, it burdens the soul,

As we gather the fragments, to make ourselves whole.

For every lost heartbeat, a promise we make,

To stand in the light, for the love that won’t break.

Let us rise from the ashes, let our voices unite,

In a chorus of hope, to reclaim the night.

For every heart shattered, for every life torn,

We’ll weave a new tapestry, from the threads of the worn.

In the face of the darkness, we’ll shine like the stars,

With love as our armor, we’ll heal all the scars.

For the world is a canvas, and love is the hue,

A spectrum of colors, both vibrant and true.

So let us remember, as we gather in grief,

That love is the answer, the ultimate belief.

In the tapestry of life, let compassion be sewn,

For in love’s gentle embrace, we are never alone.

With each step we take, let our hearts be the guide,

To a future where love and acceptance abide.

For the fight is not over, the battle not won,

But together, we’ll rise, like the dawn of the sun.

In the shadow of fear, let us stand hand in hand,

For the right to love freely, to dream and to stand.

In the name of the fallen, we’ll carry the flame,

For love is our legacy, and we’ll honor their name.

So let the world hear us, let our voices resound,

In the symphony of justice, let love be profound.

For every heart broken, for every soul lost,

We’ll forge a new path, no matter the cost.

In the tapestry woven with threads of our tears,

We’ll find strength in our stories, and conquer our fears.

For love is the answer, the light in the dark,

And together, we’ll rise, igniting the spark.

So let us remember, as we gather in grief,

That love is the answer, the ultimate belief.

In the tapestry of life, let compassion be sewn,

For in love’s gentle embrace, we are never alone.

In the shadow of fear, let us stand hand in hand,

For the right to love freely, to dream and to stand.

In the name of the fallen, we’ll carry the flame,

For love is our legacy, and we’ll honor their name.

With each heartbeat, we’ll echo their song,

In a world that is healing, where all can belong.

For love knows no borders, no limits, no end,

And in unity’s embrace, we shall rise and transcend.

So let the world hear us, let our voices resound,

In the symphony of justice, let love be profound.

For every heart broken, for every soul lost,

We’ll forge a new path, no matter the cost.

In the tapestry woven with threads of our tears,

We’ll find strength in our stories, and conquer our fears.

For love is the answer, the light in the dark,

And together, we’ll rise, igniting the spark.

In the name of the fallen, we’ll carry the flame,

For love is our legacy, and we’ll honor their name.

With each heartbeat, we’ll echo their song,

In a world that is healing, where all can belong.

So let us remember, as we gather in grief,

That love is the answer, the ultimate belief.

In the tapestry of life, let compassion be sewn,

For in love’s gentle embrace, we are never alone.

### The Tragic Reality of Violence Against LGBTQ+ Individuals in Africa

In recent years, the plight of LGBTQ+ individuals in Africa has garnered international attention, highlighting a disturbing trend of violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation. The harsh reality is that many gay individuals face persecution, violence, and even death simply for being who they are. This essay aims to explore the reasons behind this violence, the societal attitudes that perpetuate it, and the urgent need for change.

#### The Context of Homophobia in Africa

1. **Cultural Beliefs**: Many African societies hold traditional beliefs that view homosexuality as unnatural or immoral, leading to widespread discrimination.

2. **Legal Frameworks**: In several African countries, homosexuality is criminalized, with penalties ranging from fines to life imprisonment or even death.

3. **Religious Influence**: Religious institutions often play a significant role in promoting homophobic attitudes, framing homosexuality as a sin.

4. **Political Exploitation**: Politicians may exploit anti-LGBTQ+ sentiments to rally support, using homophobia as a tool to distract from other pressing issues.

5. **Social Stigma**: LGBTQ+ individuals often face ostracism from their families and communities, leading to isolation and vulnerability.

6. **Violence and Murder**: Reports of hate crimes against LGBTQ+ individuals are alarmingly high, with many cases going unreported due to fear of further victimization.

7. **Lack of Protection**: Law enforcement agencies often fail to protect LGBTQ+ individuals, and in some cases, they may even perpetrate violence against them.

8. **Mental Health Crisis**: The constant threat of violence and discrimination leads to severe mental health issues among LGBTQ+ individuals, including depression and anxiety.

9. **Limited Access to Healthcare**: Many LGBTQ+ individuals avoid seeking medical help due to fear of discrimination, leading to untreated health issues.

10. **Youth Vulnerability**: LGBTQ+ youth are particularly at risk, often facing rejection from their families and communities, leading to homelessness and exploitation.

11. **Media Representation**: Negative portrayals of LGBTQ+ individuals in the media contribute to societal stigma and reinforce harmful stereotypes.

12. **Lack of Education**: Many people lack basic knowledge about sexual orientation and gender identity, perpetuating ignorance and fear.

13. **Community Violence**: In some areas, community members take it upon themselves to punish those they perceive as deviating from societal norms.

14. **Forced Conversions**: Some individuals are subjected to "conversion therapy," a harmful practice aimed at changing sexual orientation, often resulting in psychological trauma.

15. **International Aid and Pressure**: Some African governments resist international pressure to improve LGBTQ+ rights, viewing it as a form of neocolonialism.

16. **Activism and Resistance**: Despite the dangers, many LGBTQ+ activists bravely fight for their rights, often at great personal risk.

17. **Intersectionality**: LGBTQ+ individuals who are also part of other marginalized groups (e.g., women, ethnic minorities) face compounded discrimination.

18. **Economic Disparities**: Many LGBTQ+ individuals struggle to find employment due to discrimination, leading to economic instability.

19. **Family Rejection**: Many LGBTQ+ individuals are disowned by their families, leading to a lack of support systems.

20. **Fear of Reporting**: Victims of violence often fear reporting incidents to authorities, knowing they may face further victimization.

21. **Crisis of Identity**: The societal rejection faced by LGBTQ+ individuals can lead to a crisis of identity, impacting their self-worth and mental health.

22. **Global Trends**: While some countries are making progress in LGBTQ+ rights, many African nations are moving in the opposite direction, enacting more restrictive laws.

This is a weird thing to write about, well maybe not. Anyway, Dino Nuggets are by far my favorite food, aside from my mom's food and occasional grandma's food, or sometimes even McDonald's. Dino Nuggets have my heart, which I basically built a shrine over them. I'm being too far fetched aren't I? Well that's just me. But seriously, what's so wrong with them. I believe they're an important part of our lives, or maybe my life.. ANYWAY, I really don't know what the hell is going on here but here you have it. LMAO..!

Also, Afterlight Burn chapters 3 and 4 come out today. IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST THREE PARTS PLEASE DO SO. I'm new on here, so I'm trying to grow my community and creativity! Thank you, mwah!

Grieve; means to feel deep sorrow, usually because of the loss of someone or something important to you. We grieve when we lose something—be it a person, a memory, or a moment that once made us whole. But sometimes, we also grieve for what never came to be—for the future we imagined, the hopes we quietly held, and the versions of us that never got to exist.

Grieving about the future—about the moments that never got the chance to exist—is, without a doubt, one of the most painful kinds of sorrow. It’s mourning for a version of life that felt so close, so real, and yet slipped away before it even began. You’re not just letting go of a person or a moment—you’re letting go of all the could-have-beens you dreamed about in the quiet hours: the plans you made together, the smiles you thought you'd still share, the future you believed was waiting just ahead. It’s an invisible kind of grief, but it cuts the deepest—because how do you heal from something that never got the chance to happen?

And every time my mind drifts back to the plans we once made—the small dreams, the someday promises, the quiet hopes whispered between moments—it never fails to leave a bittersweet smile on my lips. There’s a warmth in remembering them, yes, but it’s the kind that aches. Because no matter how vivid those memories feel, I’m always left wondering:  Will I ever get to live those moments we dreamed of? Or are they destined to remain as fragments in my imagination—flickers of a life that could’ve been, but never was?

The uncertainty lingers, haunting and tender all at once, like a soft echo of something unfinished.

It’s as if that future was a painting—one we both began together, strokes full of hope and color, outlines tracing the life we imagined. But somewhere along the way, the brush was set down. The canvas remains unfinished, hanging quietly in the back of my mind. It exists—still vivid, still waiting—but untouched. Frozen in time. And though it was never completed, I could never bring myself to forget it. It lingers like a beautiful echo of what could have been, a silent reminder of dreams paused mid-creation.

The thing is… I still want to do all the plans we made together. I still hold onto them quietly—those little promises, those adventures we talked about, the places we said we’d go, the laughter we imagined sharing. A part of me longs for them just as much as it did before. But now, there’s this strange hesitation I can’t shake. I don’t know if I can be me around you anymore. Not like before. Not when so much has changed, when so much was left unsaid.

I’m not even sure how to act around you—do I pretend nothing’s changed, or do I acknowledge all the invisible weight between us? I still want to do those things… with you. But at the same time, I don’t know if I’d feel at ease anymore—especially if it was just the two of us. Maybe I’m afraid of the silence, or of what it might say. Maybe I’m afraid that doing it all now wouldn’t feel the same… because we aren’t the same.

I found myself asking, almost in a whisper, “Do I still love you then?” The question hung heavy in the air, fragile yet insistent. It was a quiet confrontation with my own heart—a moment of raw honesty where all the confusion, hope, and pain tangled together. Was the love still there beneath the surface, buried beneath the hurt and the distance? Or had it slipped away, replaced by something else—something harder to name?

But after piecing together the puzzles I didn’t even realize I had—the scattered feelings, the quiet memories, the moments both painful and beautiful—I found my answer. Yes. I still do love you. It’s not always easy to admit, even to myself. It’s complicated, tangled up with everything that’s happened between us. But beneath all the doubt and the distance, that truth remains—steady and undeniable.

I love you—but not in the same way I once ached for. Not the desperate craving for closeness, not the longing to be chosen, not the hunger for a future built together. This love has changed. It’s quieter now, softer—more like a gentle echo that lingers in the corners of my heart. It’s the kind of love that lives in silent hopes, the kind that still holds you kindly in my thoughts and wonders softly about what might have been, even while understanding, with a bittersweet clarity, why it can’t be.

I no longer crave the old days. The jealousy that once gnawed at me has faded away. There’s no bitterness left, just acceptance. I’ve grown beyond needing you the way I used to, beyond holding on to what was. And yet, your name still whispers through my dreams of the future—quiet, persistent, impossible to forget—even when I know deep down those dreams might never unfold with you by my side.

That’s the kind of love I carry for you now—a love transformed, steady and quietly enduring. Loving you is something I know I won’t stop doing, no matter where life takes us or how much time passes. Until then, you’ll remain my muse, the inspiration behind every word I write, the silent melody that colors my thoughts and fills the pages with echoes of you.

You’ll always be in my heart.