An Ambiguous Tale

"Underrated" By: Brendan Cadman  Rock bottom is underrated.  There is no where to go but up. Pain is underrated.  It only makes you stronger.  Disappointment is underrated.  It makes satisfaction even greater.  Rejection is underrated.  It makes acceptance even sweeter.  Heartbreak is underrated.  It only makes you love deeper.  Sickness is underrated.  It makes you appreciate your health.  Failure is underrated.  It makes success more satisfying. Struggling is underrated.  It makes easy times even more enjoyable.  Grief is underrated.  It makes happiness more joyful.  Death is underrated.  It makes life more valuable.  Everything in life serves a purpose and has a deeper meaning. Sometimes we can't always see the meaning in that moment but it doesn't mean it's not there....

"Definitions" By: Brendan Cadman He was born a boy. It did not define who he was. He was raised in religion. It did not define who he was. He was a student. It did not define who he was. He was heterosexual. It did not define who he was. He graduated and found a job. It did not define who he was. He worked his whole life and made a living. It did not define who he was. Then he died and when they asked me who he was, I told them. He was a son. It helped define who he was. He was a brother. It helped define who he was. He was a cousin, nephew, uncle, and a grandson. It helped define who he was. He was a traveler and saw the world. It helped define who he was. He was a boyfriend, fiancé, husband, and a father. It helped define who he was. He was a grandfather. It helped define who he was. The places that he went and the things that he saw, the people he knew and the ones...

The Confession Brooklyn. 1968.  Cigarette smoke pollutes the air. Andrew Murray, slouching in his steel chair, clasps his hands over his head. The silhouette of Officer James Rodriguez of the Brooklyn homicide division can be seen through the dim lighting.  Rodriguez stands silently in the corner of the room taking a final deep drag from his cigarette. He smothers out the flame of his cigarette butt right onto the table top and pulls a second chair out, never breaking eye contact with Murray.
  Rodriguez pulls another stick from his pack.  This time Rodriguez offers Murray a cigarette. "Smoke?" Murray nods yes. The officer plucks out two sticks and shares one of his cigarettes with the suspect.  Rodriguez pulls a lighter from his pocket and lights his own cigarette. Murray leans over the table waiting for Rodriquez to light his cigarette. Rodriguez instead stashes the lighter back into his pocket. "Legally we can det...

The Red Door Dense, charcoal clouds hang over the land. Heavy rain saturating the earth resurfaces the soot and worms once hiding underneath the dirt.  The storm has washed away any traces of civilization except for a black, unmarked Crown Victoria that sits in neutral on the shoulder of the empty road. Light from its head beams refracts off the glazed concrete. Smog emptying out from the exhaust pipe adds to the layer of fog blanketing the ground.  Despite the dark tinted windows preventing outsiders from seeing inside, one could sense there are eyes behind the glass watching. Like a predator stalking its prey.   Inside the vehicle, Detectives Wallace and Kelly share a small flask of whiskey. It's just after midnight on a Friday in October. Both the years and the heartbreak have started to show on the detectives. Only the soft chatter buzzing through their police radio interrupts the constant sound of rain pelting down on the car. With the ...