SmokeLong Quarterly

The crumple of crunchy test paper made my mouth go dry.
I wished to go back to botanical fields…where the flowers bloomed, where it was covered with a sheet hiding me from the world, my magical place where I could run through hills of colorful roses or sit on a curvy bench writing away.
I ran out of the class, my face wet and blotchy, I ran all the way home, my feet traveling faster than my brain. Finally, I swung open my back door and ran into the tunnel leading me to my magical oasis, finally at peace.
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Maya is a young Black girl creative who thrives in several art forms. Her poetry is uniquely deep and original and her art has been recognized at the state level by the National Beta Club, qualifying her for national competition. When she’s not creating interior design homes on Adopt Me, she’s taking performing arts classes or designing her next fabulous outfit.