Wishing for the End
by Aren Lau

Why does the world have to be round? Why can’t it be flat, so I could run to the edge away from responsibility, from fear, from this cycle of stress, Everything? Why do I have to be human? Why not a rock, or a maple tree, or hell, even a Dachshund? Why not a cheetah, so the highway in front of me doesn’t seem endlessly far away despite how far I’ve come despite how tired my legs are, how empty my lungs? Why am I alive? Why am I stuck here? I didn’t ask for this. No matter how far I go my identity always follows Why, my god, if there is one, Why am I trapped? The sun takes so long to rise So long to set If there’s an ending in place, I’d like to see it And I’d like to go down with it, smiling, in flames.
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Aren Lau
Aren Lau goes by the writing alias of Atlas Yen—writing is their whole personality. They identify as genderfluid and are aiming to advocate for more transgender voices in the creative writing industry. Half Chinese, a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and currently practicing karate, Aren drinks so much coffee that they’re running out of money. They’re a huge fan of the Percy Jackson series and see Rick Riordan as an idol (along with Jackie Chan). Aren has written a four-volume fantasy young adult series that is heavily based on the manga and anime that they constantly consume.