Mr. and Mrs. didn’t have names anymore. They used to have very pretty, appealing names and a brick house with a garden and a large family and even a cat, who also had a nice name. Sometimes, if Mr. and Mrs. thought really hard, they could remember small remnants of the lives they used to lead. The one thing they remembered the most was the sound of beautiful music. “A melody,” Mrs. would say with dreamy eyes. “A beautiful melody.” Mr. would nod and lean his head back in an attempt to dream of the music. Life was much simpler since they had been forgiven. Nearly all thoughts and memories of life below had been forgotten; all but the strongest.
It was the 700th day of Forever when it happened. As Mr. and Mrs. approached their front door on the way home from their daily stroll in the communal garden, they noticed something very strange. The door was ever so slightly ajar. “I’m sure that I closed the door behind us,” Mr. assured.
“Are you certain?” Mrs. asked. Mr. nodded as though to assure her once more.
“I’m sure that it’s nothing,” Mrs. reasoned. Mr. nodded again and pushed the door open. The door did not squeak. Nothing in Forever squeaked. In fact, everything in Forever was perfect. The grass was always freshly mown although no one ever attended to it, the weather always sunny and beautiful, and the dishes were always clean. You simply did not use a dish in Forever that you did not clean.The first thing that Mr. noticed as he pushed open their front door was that the dishes were not clean. There, sitting directly in the middle of their perfect, walnut dining table, sat a glass. The glass was partially filled with a clear substance. Almost more unheard of than dirty dishes in Forever was the waste of necessary resources.
“Did you forget to drink your water this morning?” Mr. asked, his face scrunching up in a confused manner.
“No, of course not,” Mrs. retorted. “I haven’t a clue how that got there. Would you like me to wash it?”
Mr. frowned. “Wash it? Shouldn’t we drink it first?”
Mrs. shook her head. “If I drink it, and the water belongs to you, then I have taken something of yours. If you drink it, and the water belongs to me, then you have taken something of mine.”
Had Mr. and Mrs. not been staring so deeply into the mysterious water glass, perhaps they would have heard the young girl scurry into the kitchen and take a stance directly behind them. She was a small girl, her face metaphorically marred with years of emotional abuse. Her mousy brown hair was matted and dirty. Her most outstanding feature were her eyes, which were beautiful and green despite the painful story that they told. She cleared her throat quietly. Mrs. jumped and turned on her heels. Her husband, who was a little hard of hearing was still staring intently at the water glass. Mrs. tapped him on the shoulder. He turned and locked eyes with the girl.
“Excuse me,” Mr. began. “But who are you?”
The little girl crossed her arms nervously.
“I said,” Mr. continued. “Who are you?”
Mrs. said nothing. She simply looked into the eyes of the little girl and cocked her head to the side inquisitively. The little girl, although dirty and worn, looked familiar. Sometimes, as Mrs. rested in her bed at night and waited for sleep to overcome her, she saw a beautiful pair of magnificent green eyes in her mind. These eyes lulled her to sleep on numerous occasions; they made her feel at peace. The magnificent green eyes that Mrs. often thought of were quite prominent on the face of the little girl. “I know you,” Mrs. said so quietly that it was nearly a whisper.
“What was that?” Mr. asked.
Mrs. took a step forward and reached her hand out to the girl. The girl took a step back as though she was afraid. “The w-water,” she stuttered. “It’s mine.”
Mr. scoffed and picked up the water glass. “Well, here,” he gestured. “If this belongs to you, you should drink it. Just remember to wash the dish when you’re through and then be on your way.”
The little girl shook her head back and forth. “I can’t go,” she pleaded.
Mr. frowned. “Can’t go?” He asked.
The little girl clutched her hands to her heart, tears welling in her outstanding green eyes. “Don’t you remember me?” She asked quietly.
“Remember you? How can I remember someone that I’ve only just met?” Mr. asked.
“You have to remember me! You have to! How do you not recognize me? Can’t you even remember my name? My name is-“
“Melody.”
The room fell silent. All eyes on the voice who had spoken the little girl’s name.
“Melody,” Mrs. said again.
The little girl’s frown grew into a faint smile. “I knew you’d never forget, Mom. I knew you wouldn’t.”
“Of course I wouldn’t forget you, Melody. I could never forget you. Not even after my death. Welcome, Melody.”
Recommended for you
Swifties from around the Delaware Valley flooded South Philadelphia for a three-day Swift-a-palooza, with many bejeweled in ‘style’ from head to toe, symbolizing the eras of the Reading, Pennsylvania natives' decade-long career in the music industry. Fans camped out overnight just to get their hands on the tour's well-made merchandise to commemorate the upcoming evening. You could feel the anticipation building inside and outside the sold-out stadium as Swift was set to take the stage hours from showtime.
Fresh off a Grammy nomination for song of the year, GAYLE was first to open the tour with seven genre-blending selections that had a large majority of fans rise to their feet. The ‘abcdefu’ singer had such poise and pureness in her vocals, and the chemistry between her bass player and drummer was unmatched. My favorite part of her set was a rock-infused tribute to Elton John's 1973 iconic hit, ‘Bennie and the Jets’. It’s a tough song to cover, and GAYLE did it justice and more.
Phoebe Bridgers followed moments later, dressed alongside her band in their signature black skeleton suits. Bridger's folk-infused hits were a delight to hear live, and I love the storybook visuals that portrayed how each song felt like a new chapter in her life. Matt Healy, frontman of the 1975 and Swift’s rumored-to-be boyfriend, was on guitar for the entire set, which was a surprise to the audience.
With a 46-song set spanning the ‘eras’ of Taylor, the twelve-time Grammy Winner took fans on a musical journey through her dozen album discography, beginning with Lover and ending with her latest album, Midnights, released late last year. It’s been nearly five years since Swift performed back in her hometown with her Reputation Tour in 2018. Since then, she has released four projects and two re-recordings of her albums Fearless and Red, each of which has never been performed live until now. In a previous interview, Swift said she wants fans who have seen her previous shows to have a completely different feeling each tour, and this statement couldn’t ring more true. She knows what the fans want ‘all too well’. And unsurprisingly, Swift and her team have outdone themselves once again. The tour is a testament to Taylor’s pure genius and a creative visionary mind, bringing her songs and sets to new heights in imaginative fashion.
Energetic dance performance under the spotlight.
It’s so fascinating to see live how strong the connection is between Swift and her fans. Unlike some of her colleagues in the industry, Taylor has songwriting credits on each of her timeless songs, focusing on topics such as heartbreak, depression, and childhood innocence. The personal anecdotes and honesty in her music make fans feel like they know her through her art of songwriting. Even with over seventy-thousand in attendance, Taylor made each fan feel like they were seen and heard as she gracefully danced her way around the stage, waving and blowing kisses to everyone she could see in her field of vision. From beginning to end Swift had such swagger and charisma on stage. She was born to entertain, and the audience was bedazzled by her presence.
Taylor Swift in a purple coat, captivating the crowd on stage.
Fans had immense energy from start to finish, singing every word and ad-lib as if they wrote it themselves. Mid-way through the show, fans gave Swift a rapturous ten-minute standing and cheering ovation that was loud enough to hear miles down the road. Taylor matched the energy and more and was filled with so much vigor and vibrancy in her performance. She took time throughout the show to speak directly to her fans with humble, down-to-earth interactions.
“Hi, I’m Taylor. Whether or not you intended to, you’ve ended up at my hometown show. I grew up right down the road.”, Swift said. Wearing a sparkling gray dress and matching boots, Taylor kicked off the show in her Lover Era with ‘Miss Americana and the Heartbreak Prince’ as her backup dancers paraded around her in elegant peacock-esque outfits. The visuals made me feel as if I was in the clouds as Swift danced on a box that rose above the stage. Swift seamlessly transitioned into her hit ‘Cruel Summer’, and the stage was filled with purple and pink aesthetics that looked like milky ways in the night sky. My favorite song of the Lover Era is by far ‘The Man’, a song about the mistreatment between men and women in our culture. With a creative three-story office set, upbeat liveliness from Swift and her suit-wearing dancers, and dramatic facial expressions, it felt as if I were inside one of her music videos.
Taylor Swift shines on stage in a sparkling outfit and boots.
Each Era felt perfectly timed and refreshing with new costumes, vibrant aesthetics, set design, and song choices, with the production quality of a broadway play. While I thought each Era brought something special, my personal favorite was Red. Sprinkled in with upbeat jams like ‘I Knew You Were Trouble’ and ‘We Are Never Getting Back Together’, Taylor brought Phoebe Bridgers back on stage to sing their duet of ‘Nothing New’. Their soul-stirring voices were succinct and in perfect harmony as they ricocheted throughout the stadium, and I don’t think there was a dry eye in the building after it was over. Taylor ended the set with her ten-minute version of ‘All too Well’, and the song gave me chills to hear live. The LED light-up bracelets given to every concert-goer transformed the stadium into a sea of red that looked like twinkling stars. If this is what heaven feels like, then I can’t wait to go.
Taylor Swift and Phoebe Bridgers sharing a joyful duet on stage.
The Eras tour is a dazzling delight, a first-class concert experience that is pure euphoria, bliss, and happiness. It’s a must-see show that will make everyone who witnesses it leave feeling ‘22’.
Luckily, many colleges offer a number of ways to take part in campus and community life, without forcing you to dedicate all of your time to these organizations. Here are a few ideas!
1. Look into Housing and Dining.
Many first-year students start off college life in residence halls, and the Housing & Dining network throughout campus often provides multiple opportunities for students throughout the year. Many buildings have student community councils that work to create policies and events that make the dorms a more welcoming home for residents. Becoming a community assistant (or the students who work the desks at the front of many halls) is another easy way to have a consistent, well-paying job only minutes away from your room.
If you really enjoyed your housing experience, consider applying to be an RLA, or, if the school offers it, help to teach the first-year community. You'll get the chance to help support new and returning students over the year, and many of these positions also cover major costs like board and meal plans.
2. Pay attention to campus postings.
This advice is more obvious, but it still gets overlooked a fair amount. Even on a busy day, taking the time to stop around campus and look at the flyers advertising clubs and events can draw your attention to something that you never would've noticed otherwise. Students on many campuses also chalk the sidewalk to catch students' attention while they walk to class. Just make sure that the event you're interested in hasn't taken place already!
3. Find common interest groups.
One way to find friends and get involved is to focus on what you're passionate about. Have you always loved to sing? Do you enjoy playing video games? Is photography your favorite past-time? Have you always wanted to join Greek life? Whatever you love devoting your time to, chances are there are organizations around school who are focused on the same thing. Check the student life section of your university's website, or stop by a student organization fair at the beginning of the semester.
4. Join an intramural sports team.
If you're the athletic type, you've probably heard of intramural sports. Often offered through the Rec Center or the residence halls, most colleges often offer various indoor and outdoor sports to take part in throughout the year. Personal favorite? Mini golf.
5. Work on a cause that you care about.
Whether you're passionate about a political group, a social cause, or a religion, working with people who value beliefs similar to yours can be an easy way to meet people, get a better sense of your own identity, and promote causes that are important to you. Look into getting involved with College Democrats, Republicans, or whatever party that you belong to. Find a club that supports social issues, from women's rights to protecting the environment. If you're religious, look into student organizations based on your faith.
6. Join a club related to your major.
Even if you're not entirely sure what you want to do after school, finding a club or organization related to your field of studies can benefit you long after you leave the classroom. From career-related workshops to conferences to professional connections, these groups have a lot to boast.
7. Get an on-campus job.
If you have the time, need to work, or want to save a few extra dollars, finding a job on or near campus is a time-effective way to build up your bank account and gain work experience. Check in your residence hall (see #1), at local businesses and offices, or make an appointment with your school's career center.
8. Volunteer.
When you're caught up in school life, it can be hard to think about the bigger picture. Volunteering your time to people (or animals/an environment) in need puts things in perspective and allows you to feel good while making a positive difference. Check if your college town has a volunteer page, or look up local organizations requesting help.
Best of luck this year! Get out, and get busy.
Trending Topics
Trending Stories
Best of Entertainment
![RBF]()
