The following creative writing piece is a haiku to vignette, written by contributing writer Carly Yates.

Haiku:

standing there, chin up

awards hanging from your neck

more superior

Vignette:

You are mature. Always spreading wisdom. Blessing your presence upon us lower class citizens. You text advice but joke around. A wildly crazed soul with an immense brain. Ego drips from your pores like sweat. You sound empathetic but only care for the credit. You stand tall on the stage. Shoulders rolled back and chin up. Picture perfect smile outshining the sun. You accept the award. It adds fuel to your veins feeding a self-obsessed character.

You are better. Wiser. I thought you were. Always looking up. Then you made me believe I was on the same level. Our stages laid next to each other. Your stage was made of brick while mine was straw. Saying I had matured, that I had grown and learned. You’d say I was a better person. Why say that then always question when I do the right thing? When I think of something from a different perspective? Always sounding surprised or were you threatened? You blew down my straw stage.

Your tall pedestal overlooked my whole world. You didn’t mean words you spoke merely weeks before. Hidden insults and “much needed lessons” now light up my phone. All from you. The person above us all. More superior. Would someone so amazing really attack another person? Someone they once loved? Why shove lectures in my face if you are so mature. Aren’t you responsible? Do wise men merely pick on a girl? Make her feel small. Give her insecurities. Well then, aren’t you just a bully?