ShrtStry

Each heart must come to terms that love can vanish swiftly, like a wisp of smoke slipping through shadows, old whispered secrets carried away by the wind, the plan that once anchored you and a future, now adrift, the tire spinning on mud, making a purposeless mess, the bed where passion once lay, now cold, the walls that echoed with laughter, now silent, the room where memories danced, now empty.

Our needs, delicate as glass, rest upon shifting sands, and any unforeseen cause no matter how distant can unravel the fabric of our lives. A boy’s breath extinguished in the middle east, or a blizzard’s icy grip on the east coast, both wield the power to undo us.

Picture it: cups and china crashing, shattering down on the kitchen floor, while you stand there, bewildered, in the epicenter of chaos. She then enters, eyes wide with concern, and asks, “What’s wrong?” And your reply echoes, “I wish I knew, my love, I wish I knew…”

by Sebastian J. Blanchette

It’s never quite right, they say, the way we gaze upon each other, the way our hearts beat in sync, the way our souls intertwine. It’s never quite right, they whisper, all the lessons we learn, all the dreams we chase, all the tears we shed, all the laughter we share, they are never quite right, hardly close to right, these lives we live, one after the other, piled there as history, the remnants of our existence. “Don’t I know it?” I reply, my voice echoing through time. I turn away from the mirror, its reflection a mere illusion, morning, afternoon, night— they blur together, a seamless continuum. Nothing changes, locked in place, like the hands of a broken clock. Yet something stirs within, a flicker of defiance, a fracture in the monotony. I descend the stairway, each step a descent into uncertainty, and I step into the void, where imperfection blooms, and life dances on the edge, hardly right at all, yet beautifully flawed. I hope you find solace in these imperfect words

by Sebastian J. Blanchette

The weapons and lies you spin are useless against godly kin. In the face of divine blood, your deceit wears thin. I ventured far away from what I am, To lands untouched by the sacrificial lamb.

Hid the pieces of me that howled and sing, Beneath a mask, a silent, unassuming thing. For here we are where the story must unfold, In the shadows where truths dare to be bold.

Where the light is nothing but a leech on dirty mold, It feeds on the forgotten, the brave, the cold. Not a moon, not a reflection, not even a spark, In the abyss, even the brightest day is dark.

I will find the freedom worthy of my heart, From the chains of pretense, I will depart. I will not wither, I will not budge, My resolve is firm, my path won't smudge.

I am the one that will eat the goddamn sun, Devour its flames, one by one. In the belly of the beast, I'll forge my tale, Against the inferno, I shall prevail.

So let the gods watch and the stars bear witness, As I claim the sky, my throne of brightness. With every breath, I'll shape my destiny, For I am the kin of gods, wild and free.

by Sebastian J. Blanchette

The only obstacles left for me are those from things unseen. Things that are subtle feelings and natural instinct. The pain that lingers a bit too long in the center of your chest. You sense the patterns well before you see the truth. Maybe you even avoid the truth. Things that nags at you, reoccurring dreams that haunt your living breath. I struggle to find the balance in these types of things. I am quite good at getting over zealous and even imagining things that connect that maybe don't. It's easy to jump to conclusions. Suffer more. Wait longer, and once you have evidence and faith, take a leap. Someone once told me that if you find yourself stuck between two situations, pick the one that excites you more even if just a little more. The reality of that is you should pursue the things that make your heart sing. Things that cause you to feel enticed and sometimes even content.

by Sebastian Blanchette

Have you seen the morning sunshine grace the side of an ancient mountain? The beauty of warmth, radiance and peace. You can see a dog peer out from the tips of the peaks. A dog that stands proud and strong, a princess, a queen. Her stance and smile have always hung true. My daughter a power beyond all of time.

Even when she left us, she stayed strongly on the side of the mystical. The pain she had fought, the happiness she had provided, we are thankful for every second of everyday and we are so god damn proud. Of course we wish there was more time. Time with her happy and healthy, were she didn’t have to hold herself up to breathe. I wish I could have taken it all away, every ounce of pain from before you knew us till eternal sleep. I wish there was a path where her health and safety wasn’t a choice but something deserving of the goddess she had been.

This place that she had graced as home as a journey in the physical form, this very soil is now sacred, this very island is a realm of little saints. She showed us a love that lives on. A magic that flow through us humbly.

Sometimes happiness is strange in the form of loss. Happiness so big that it engulfs your egos. Not happy to lose but happy to know that the lords of death have calmly and lovingly taken and guided my daughter into the very fabric of the universe. To a place where she is having fun with her brothers, waiting patiently for the food that mom will eventually bring.

Surrounded by the love of your mother, guide yourself to every star, every kitchen and every galaxy you wish to explore, until daddy and space ivy can come be with you. You were more than a dog, you were a hero, a friend, a teacher. You taught us how to love unconditionally, how to live in the moment, how to enjoy the simple things. You were always there for us, through thick and thin, through joy and sorrow, through laughter and tears. You were our sunshine, our moonlight, our starlight. You were our everything.

We miss you so much, every day, every hour, every minute. We miss your bunny hop, your all seeing eyes, your dirty fur. We miss your attitude , your smell, your cuddle. We miss your presence, your energy, your spirit. We miss you, we miss you, we miss you.

But we know you are not gone, you are still with us, in our hearts, in our memories, in our dreams. You are still watching over us, protecting us, guiding us. You are still cheesing at us with that crooked smile, loving us, blessing us. You are still here, you are still there, you are still everywhere.

We love you so much, more than words can say, more than tears can show, more than time can heal. We love you with all our being, all our soul, all our essence. We love you forever, we love you always, we love you eternally.

You are our angel, our miracle, our wonder. You are our dog, our daughter, our goddess. You are our Sephora, our Gordita, our beautiful old lady.

Though time will take its toll on us and it will seem like forever, I will see you soon. I will find you and let you know how proud I am of you. Wherever, whenever that is I will find you there and god I just can’t wait to see you in all your glory.

by Sebastian Blanchette

It's my 30th birthday, and it feels like I haven't sensed the flow of the world's magic against my fingertips in so long. It's as though I've been dehydrated, with days and seconds stripped from me with great malice. Yet, here I am, once again swimming in the ocean of old magic, as if someone had finally turned on the faucet. I've come a long way from the little boy in South America. In these 30 years, I've traveled and found homes along the way. From the shores of Kittery, Maine, to the cobblestone streets of Ibarra, Ecuador, and to a volcanic mountain in the middle of the Pacific on the Big Island of Hawaii. My feet have carried me to even more places than I could have imagined. I've visited so many friends, broken bread with memories, and cried with the ghosts of long-lost shadows. I've experienced my fair share of grief, love, and survival. I've raised a toast to all the gods in the heavens and prayed to some questionable entities for freedom from pain. I've shared laughter with demons, devils, and lonely angels. I've spun the world on my fingertip and dreamt of warp-speed travel while intoxicated. If you know me, can you feel how much it means to be me? How I overflow with life and the will to live? Can you see it in my eyes, the way I smile at all the glory, sadness, and everything in between? I am just a piece of a whole, a wizard of the universe, a boy with a smirk. I've worn many shapes and masks, but it's still me beneath it all. I haven't changed, and yet I've changed so much. I've been a trickster, a lover, a fool, a wolf, a son, a guardian, a saint, a devil, and a father. The grand calculus of everything will always equal me, and it will equal you. You are what I used to be, and you will become what I am. May all your birthdays be Fun and Fancy Free.

By Sebastian J. Blanchette

Life has a weird way of interweaving the good and bad things. Never in way that superseded but more in a way that make things cumbersome. I think this often distracts us from the important things, things we often take from granted. It's funny that a book quote, a song lyric, a melody, or even just a case of deja vu can open our eyes to what was always in front of us. The goodbyes that went by too quickly. The things we let go so easily. The dogs or just pets we put to rest. The family and friends we had to let go due to time, distance, and death. We are unfortunately cursed to move in one direction, forward and onward. We learn to lose things, and forget things, but damn do we feel things. These things that are always on our mind should be expressed. A harder I love you, a smile, a doggy treat, or even just road trips with amazing views. Experience it all together. Experience life, and never take any of it for granted. Just to remember that there was a reason we left the bathroom light on. For all we have at the end of the day is our memories.

By Sebastian Blanchette

Mere hours before I sat down to type this my second dog passed away. It was just as the fireworks for fourth of July finished, so did his heart. He was a beautiful Tibetan Spaniel & Pomeranian mix. I had gotten him from the sketchy pet store shop in my mall 9 years ago. I remember how tiny he was in my hand as I sat him down on the counter top of the store I worked at. He witnessed the passing of my first dog gizmo and he really grew up quickly from there.

I think its easy to wish I had spent more time with him. Been more aware of his every illness or just watch him like a hawk in general to protect him from whatever came our way. A lot did come our way though. He survived through it all and as more dogs showed up in our family he made room for them happily.

Sancho was by far the best of them. He was a real stubborn good boy. He lead the family of dogs proudly and ultimately a little gay. He always begged, barked and bullied but he was cute so he got away with most of it. He was a really weird dog, with strange allergies and illnesses showing up through out his life. In the end the deck was stacked against him.

I will always remember his bark, the way he snored, the tongue that would always hang out of his mouth. I will always remember him, just as I will always remember my first boy gizmo. They are off somewhere playing once more, running gleefully through grass. I know in my heart that they are waiting for us wherever they are. I wish I could reach them, touch them. Tell them how much I miss them and love them. Scratch their backs and tummies and play with the hair around their ears. My best boys are gone from this plane of existence, but they are off to a better place, waiting for the rest of the family.

I imagine it will be quite some time before I manage to see them, but I am writing it here and proudly letting the universe know just how much Sancho Panza was loved, man was he loved. It must be known just how much he meant to everyone in my life. I witnessed today the universe send you off with grace. I hope all the gods both the good one and the bad ones feed you a treat on your way. A toast to be had in your honor, for sure.

Sancho Panza, mi panzon, mi vida, mi babe, I will always love you, forever. Gizmo will take care of you from now on, and when we meet again, you must let me know all the places we must go. All the worlds we will conquer.

Te amo so much my beautiful boy

by Sebastian Blanchette

Hush, dear Secra, close your eyes tight, In the deep forest, where dreams take flight. A painting hangs, embraced by ancient light, A lullaby of magic, just for you, played by me. Close your eyes and dream what I see.

Stuck to a wall by old metal and time. There hangs a piece of art in a place out of sight. Not a place to be forgotten, but a glade suspended at its prime.

The soil is kept sacred Sunbeams shine true. If you happen upon it maybe you could do what I do

In the heart of this glade, a hidden treasure lies, Guarded by a wolfish little prince, cunning and wise. His eyes hold the wisdom of ages untold, Protecting the magic, his story unfolds.

An illustration, frozen in time's eternal grasp, A portal to realms where dreams overlap. Within its frame, a princess stands tall, Her spirit ablaze, courage reigning over all.

Beside her, a dragon, fierce and yet serene, Their dance of duals, a spectacle unseen. Locked in an embrace that transcends time, Together they combat darkness, sublime.

For there exists an evil, fueled by shadows deep, A darkness that threatens to engulf and creep. But she was raised by the wolf, in love and in strife, So she would keep confronting the abyss, fighting with all her might.

For what is meant to endure, forever to be, Begins where your weary footsteps will finally see. In the whispers of leaves and the rustling of trees, A tapestry of beginnings, woven with ease.

So embrace the magic, let it guide your way, Through the depths of the forest, where time holds sway. In this glade suspended, where art and life blend, Your journey's end marks a new chapter, once again

For in this enchanted haven, you'll find, The threads that connect your heart and mine, and as your voyage nears its destined end, A tapestry of forever shall beautifully extend.

by Sebastian Blanchette

It sure is hot.... Well, it is summer after all. Do you remember the first time we met? How could I forget?

What an amazing view! It's nice to do sometimes. Oh! A harmonica! I got a new one, kinda felt like playing again. Let me hear you.

Hey....I want some shave ice. You're a handful, you like melon flavored, right? You've sure gotten big... And you never change.

[harmonica plays...] You are the best partner ever. [harmonica stops...]

Hey... Hey... What about tomorrow? What will you do?

Good question...Who knows. ...What tomorrow may bring. Oh...oh. I know, tomorrow.... ....

[partners cry...] ... ... ...

And that is how we finally grew up. but our story hasn't ended yet. It's just Digivolving in a new direction. .... [cherry blossoms fall tenderly through the wind] but I can promise you this...I will see you again!

By Sebastian Blanchette

Derived from Digimon Adventure: Last Evolution Kizuna