Dead, until the silence was broken by a sudden creak and a shrill loud enough to shatter glass. ... He ran a shaky hand through his tangled hair and for a brief moment his eyes hardened like green glass. ... All he got was the treat of watching his only family shatter into pieces; his dad had just returned from the liquor store and was already halfway done with his single purchase, and his stepmother was slumped on the floor sniffing crack into her nose and afterwards laughing loudly. ...

• Word Count: 1588
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

I bundled myself up in bed with my navy blue comforter that was as fluffy as a rabbit's tail, adjusted my pillows until they felt just right against my head like Cinderella's glass slipper felt on her feet, and then my eyes went on strike. ... The penetrating sunlight through the glass windows woke me up with such discomfort, that it forced me to squint while searching my night table for my clock. ... I knew that I had to tell Sarah, even though her heart would be shattered into pieces. ...

• Word Count: 2465
• Approx Pages: 10
• Grade Level: High School