Short Horror Story Home alone. I walk up the stairs and feel someone touch my leg. They whisper, "caught you". *Apologies, I know it's Christmas time but I'm refusing to believe that 2013 is nearly over so I've decided to rewind to October.

Hurt. I live on a street with 9 of my closest friends. I only met these people last year but they have become some of the most important people in #life. There's one problem though. There is one girl that lives on the street who is part of our group but we were never quite as close. The girl is extremely homophobic. I was just over at one of the houses and we were all having a great time. Then she made a homophobic comment and I literally have never felt so angry in my #life. Not everyone in the room knew I was gay (including her) so I couldn't challenge her. Instead I got up and left the house without saying a word. I'm still shaking. Shaking with anger at what she said but also that I felt I was the one who had to leave. I did nothing wrong but yet I am the one who had to leave and cry on my own and now am dreading getting up in the morning knowing I will have to see her. I am who I am. I'm proud of who I am. Should I apologise to people if that makes them feel uncomfortable? If I make them feel uncomfortable? I wish I had the courage to say something to her but the majority of the group love her and I'm afraid they would take her side. After all I'm the one causing the problem aren't I? I'm only 18 and so are my friends. What kind of world do we live in where the generation that has the power to make change is the generation that is simply abiding by old, senseless, damaging views?

Blackout Love is like a light switch. When it's on it enlightens and helps you see more clearly. When it's off it leaves you in your darkest place, unable to see anything ahead of you. You are like my blackout.

Curiosity Doesn't Kill Anything. I was in the car today with my 4 year old sister. As 4 year olds do she started asking A LOT of questions. -Why can't my legs touch the floor? -Are you bigger than mom? -Why are you bigger than mom? -Are you an adult or a kid? -Can you still be a sister if you're an adult? -Are you and mom sisters? You get the idea. I was starting to get really irritated by all of the questions (not helped by the fact I have a head cold) and she would insist on me answering every single one. Then, when I couldn't take it anymore I turned to her and started to say, "Grace! Stop asking...". Then I stopped myself. What I was going to say was "stop asking stupid questions". I would have basically destroyed the curiosity in her that we all have but don't show because more than likely as a child we were told by a friend, relative, teacher or angry shopkeeper to "stop asking stupid questions". So instead I said to her: "Your legs can't touch the floor because when you sit down all of the clouds are trying to pull you up to them so you can bounce around on them. Yes I am taller than mom because every morning mom gets up and does a headstand all the way to the bathroom and now her legs are after shrinking. Adults think I'm an adult and sometimes I have to act like an adult but really I'm a kid forever because that's the way cool people are. Of course I'm still your sister...that's what makes me so cool. No mom and me aren't sisters. But we do act like sisters because our mom is the coolest, funniest person you'll ever know...that's the way sisters are." She might not have taken it all in but I bet she has a hundred more questions to ask about the clouds and shrinking mothers....and amazing sisters of course! Never destroy curiosity. Encourage it.

That Feeling Do you ever get that feeling? It can strike at any moment and when it does it leaves you completely useless. I've tried so hard to try and analyse what exactly it is but really it's simple. The feeling is heartbreak. Sometimes it only lasts for a minute or two and then I can go about my day as normal. But sometimes, and these are the times that hit you like a football to the stomach, leaving you winded and gasping for air. Sometimes it feels like it's never going to go away. What happens if it doesn't?