Just One Ant

Navigating Emotional Pain in Relationships

Navigating Emotional Pain in Relationships

I built a bridge of patient, weary years,
A silent span of quiet, chosen words,
The mortar set with dried and vanished tears,
A testament to battles, not rewards.
My hands I offered, strong and open wide,
To hold the weight of your erratic sphere,
To stabilize the chaos you supplied,
Yet only met a storm, a boundless fear.
My effort was but dust upon the breeze,
Against the wind of your profound unease.

When your world tilts and loses all its grace,
The guttural cry of “holy hell” defines
The atmosphere of this abandoned place,
No longer haven, but a field of mines.
A sudden, unexpected fire starts,
Consuming fragile things that stood its test,
Leaving behind a jagged, broken heart.
With cruelty, you push me to the crest,
The edge of sanity, my failing might,
Expecting me to hold while you ignite.

I tried, desperately, to be the ground,
The immovable foundation in the shake.
I absorbed the shocks where steady peace was found,
Withstood the tremors for your troubled sake.
But now the space between us is a void,
A profound, echoing, desolate expanse,
Where kindness’s tender seed has been destroyed,
And understanding lost its saving chance.
Now only the choked vine of unyielding rage,
And your consuming need across this stage.

I’ve studied your map of pain for far too long,
Memorized the texture of each emotional scar,
Anticipating where the wound would throng,
An unwilling cartographer of your war.
But in that process, I forgot my name,
Eclipsed by roles I was compelled to fill:
Your punching bag, the target of your flame,
Your safe harbor, your shore against the chill.
But that era’s ended, clarity now bright,
I won’t be your refuse, your emotional blight.

The door to this shared history is heavy now,
Weighted by expectation and old despair,
But it is closed, with a final, solemn vow.
The work I poured is starkly laid out there—
Not as a failure of a loving mind,
But as an investment that was misguided, deep.
I failed no duty, I was not unkind,
I simply chose myself, the promises to keep
To me. I recognized the point of no return,
And in that closure, finally, I learn.

More Works by Nancy Ann Creed

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

Once Upon a Superhero

❄️ Stuck Inside? Escape into the World of Make-Believe! ❄️

Writer’s ever have writer’s block. RP is a great way to keep being creative and writing. It has helped me come up with ideas, create characters and really see what they are like. And of course, no writer’s block.

The snow might be piling up outside, but the stories are just heating up in our Roleplay & Writing Group. Whether you are a seasoned writer or just looking for a new way to express yourself, there is a seat at the table for you.

Why Join Us?

Creative Escape: Leave the cold behind and enter worlds of your own making.

Build Your Craft: Practice your writing, character development, and world-building with a supportive community.

Make New Friends: Connect with fellow writers and roleplayers who share your passion for storytelling.

Total Freedom: From epic fantasy to cozy modern life, the only limit is your imagination.

What We’re All About

We believe that writing is better together. Our group is a space to collaborate, forge new friendships, and turn “being stuck inside” into an adventure. Let’s turn those blank pages into breathtaking stories!

https://www.facebook.com/groups/onceuponasuperhero

More Works by Nancy Ann Creed

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

Winter Wonderland at Rivers Peak: A Cozy Guide

Stay warm out there, Rivers Peak! ❄️✨

The snow is officially on its way, and it looks like it’s going to be a big one! We are expecting a significant accumulation that will likely turn our town into a real-life winter wonderland (or a very cozy fortress) for the next few days. 

As a fairy, I’ll be staying close to the fireplace—my wings definitely aren’t fans of the freezing temperatures!  Whether you’re a human, a witch, or just someone who hates shoveling, now is the perfect time to hunker down and get cozy.

If you’re looking for the perfect companion while you’re stuck inside, don’t forget you can still order the e-book of The Shadow Realm Chronicles: Maurelle. Dive into the mystery of the Marks family and the secrets of the Faye while the storm passes by outside. 

Stay safe, stay warm, and happy reading! ☕📖

#RiversPeak #WinterStorm #SnowDay2026 #CozyVibes #WinterWonderland #TheShadowRealmChronicles #Maurelle #IndieAuthor #FantasyReads #KindleReads #ParanormalRomance

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

The Way Back to Us

gun batimi
Photo by Burak Bahadır Büyükkılınç on Pexels.com

The Way Back to Us

The silent, turning tide of life
Has stretched the maps we knew,
The seasons shifted, ground gave way,
The ties between us drew

Slowly apart, a creeping drift.
Demands attention, energy,
Like water through the sand,
Leaching the solid ground of time.

There was a time, not long ago,
We were each other’s stay,
The anchors holding fast and sure
In storm of early day.
We held the secrets, deep and bright,
The wisdom time had wrought,
Our days marked by the shared, full laugh,
The tapestry we caught—

Before the world turned bright to cold.
I feel the sharp ache of the miss,
The ease we used to share,
Where we could simply be, no need
For any word or care.
That ease is gone; the quiet now,
The profound, long silence cast,
Has tragically become the sound
Our relationship held fast.
When air grows thin with struggle’s breath,
I seek those mirrored faces still.

I’m reaching back through the gray blur
The passing years have made,
Refusing that demanding life
Will keep the things that fade.
The miles that stand between us now
Are lines on charts that lie,
Meaningless compared to the depth
Our history lifts high.
Our memories, no fading echoes—
But brilliant, fixed stars in the night.

With will and concentrated hand,
I clear the tangled brush,
Desperate to find the path again
Beyond the isolating hush.
A clear, resounding call I send

Into the lonely void.
My friends, I want you now to know:
I’m here, steadfast, unalloyed.
I want us back—the kind of bond
That bends but will not break,
No matter what the wind may bring.
It is the time our circle wakes.

More Works by Nancy Ann Creed

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

Maeve

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

The Shadow Realm Chronicles Maeve 🩸🧚‍♀️ New Read Alert! Dive into “The Shadow Re alm Chronicles: Maeve” by Nancy Ann Creed!

If you’re looking for a dark, compelling story about love, betrayal, and the fight for your soul, this book is for you. Meet Maeve, once a loving mother and fairy , whose life is shattered when she is turned into a vampire by Marius. The story follows her journey from desperate mother to a formidable figure entangled in the plots of the rulers of the realms.

What Awaits You: A World Torn by War:

The story is set against the backdrop of the devastating Great War, involving all the realms. A Twisted Love Triangle (and more!): Maeve is the wife of Hunter Marks, who turns on her when she becomes a vampire. She is later given to the mysterious Shadow King (Jonathan) as payment for an undead army, and he is deeply in love with her. Family Secrets and Betrayal: The narrative delves deep into the complicated Marks family, including Maeve and Hunter’s son, Alexander, and their grandson, Matthew. Hidden dangers lurk, including the mad king Julian Fairchild and the secrets surrounding Matthew and Maurelle’s son, Shawn (Justin). Darkness vs. Light: Maeve struggles with the monster she has become and the persistent light of her former self, especially in her connection to Hunter and her children. She amasses her own army of forgotten souls, led by her trusted friend, General Maxwell Lincoln.

Will Maeve succumb to the darkness or reclaim the light and her family? Which side will win? You’ll have to read to find out!

The Quiet Outside

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Photo by Jeswin Thomas on Pexels.com

The Quiet Outside

The empty space of connection, the gathering,
Pulses with a vibrant energy I only observe.
It hums with plans already made,
A detailed itinerary, a map of places where I do not go.
My position is fixed: outside. I don’t move;
I only watch the colors of the evening fade
From my window, a slow drain of warmth and light.
My world is contained, defined by sitting in the light of what I know.

The knowledge I possess is isolating, sharp:
That laughter sounds much louder through a wall—
Magnified by the barrier that separates their joy,
A painful noise. And conversely,
Silence is a heavy thing to wear,
A cloak woven from unsaid words.
It presses down, making breathing difficult.
So, I maintain a silent vigil. I wait for pings, for any word at all,
A simple notification, an anchor thrown,
To prove that, in their minds, I’m standing there.

The name of “friend,” I embraced fully;
We call them friends; I gave the name with pride,
A sacred title for those to whom I opened life.
I shared my secrets, listened to their own,
Believing in a mutual exchange, a balanced scale.
But now I wonder, standing on the side,
A silent observer of their motion,
If that foundation was solid. The crucial question takes root:
If I am liked, or simply “loosely known.”

A chilling suspicion whispers of self-doubt:
Is there a secret vote I didn’t see?
A quiet pact to leave the chair unfilled?
Or is the truth more passive, more insidious?
Or is the lack of room inside the spree
The consequence of slow emotional detachment?
It feels like The way a dying fire is slowly stilled,
The warmth receding until only ash remains.
The question I need to ask is too large, too sharp to utter;
It stays in my mind, a burning inscription in the dark:
Do I have friends, or people I just know?
Did I misjudge the reality of the bond?
Did I mistake a flicker for a spark?
The uncertainty is exhausting, forcing a decision:
Is it my cue to turn around and go?

The core of the issue is heartbreaking simplicity:
For if they wanted me, they’d find the space,
They’d actively rearrange the elements of their plan.
They’d reach across the gap to pull me through.
This is the ultimate loneliness I face:
There’s nothing lonelier than a familiar face—
A face I thought knew me—
That looks at everything—but never you.

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

Zombie

The world changed overnight… 🧟‍♀️ Are you ready for the fight for survival? Dive into “Zombie: The Survivors” by Nancy Ann Creed and see who makes it out alive. Tap the link in bio to grab your copy! What’s the first thing you’d grab in a zombie apocalypse?

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

The Curtain’s Cost

https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/mask-in-theater-explained-77455

The Curtain’s Cost

I am utterly exhausted by this relentless play,
The heavy curtain of performance drawn too long.
I cannot hold the hollow smile another day,
To mask the deep, the aching emptiness that’s wrong.

The burden of a self that isn’t mine to wear,
To fit the mold you fashioned, cruel and tight,
An agonizing stretch away from who I care
To be—my own identity, eclipsed by your light.
You see a project, a design that must be met,
But tell me, why must the authentic me be cast aside?

I am finished fabricating reasons I have set,
For every thought and every reaction I can’t hide.
I’ve justified my nature to a vacant crowd,
To people who, I now accept, simply don’t care.

The painful truth: my hope was spoken out loud,
A unilateral effort lost on thin, cold air.
I poured my heart to mend what broke between,
But found no shared commitment, no reciprocal tide,
A solitary swimmer in an apathetic scene.

The loneliness, a constant, heavy friend,
A silent weight that settles on my weary chest.
It is an awful life, but if this is the end—
The price of being whole, of being finally blessed
To be myself—then I will pay the cost,
Choosing difficult solitude to rescue what was lost.

A burning, sharp anger now begins to rise,
A desperate need to shatter this profound pain.
But I know with bleak certainty in my own eyes,
That fury would be wasted, dissipating like the rain.

This crushing truth has settled, stark and clear:
Nothing I say, nothing I do or fail to be,
Holds any weight for them, for those who stand so near.
My voice is mute, my actions they refuse to see.

They are truly, utterly indifferent to my strife,
They do not pause to question what my heart endures.
My suffering, my struggle, the very pulse of life,
Is an irrelevance that their coldness secures.

I feel the urge to weep the entire day away,
To curl beneath the covers, let the sadness claim,
But reason whispers of a temporary stay,
No lasting remedy to solve this bitter game.

The torrent of resentment pleads to be set free,
A physical demand I check with weary hand,
Because the simple, crushing truth remains with me:
It will not change a thing across this barren land.

A complete despair now chills me to the bone,
In this cold context, in this life they have defined,
The heartbreaking finality I stand upon alone,
The truth that leaves no solace for the mind:

Nothing matters.

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd

The Serendipitous Message

man s thumbs typing on a smartphone
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The Serendipitous Message

A flicker in the digital sea,
A ripple in the ocean vast,
Announced a message, unanticipated, free,
A bridge to years and moments past.
No expectation, no alarm,
A serendipitous, sudden light,
A warmth against the day’s long harm,
Dispelling shadows of the night.

The sender’s name, a long-lost friend,
Appeared upon the silent screen,
A cherished sight without end,
Recalling what had been.
A powerful, unexpected force,
Across the void of silent years,
Washing away the quiet remorse,
And vanquishing old, silent fears.

A wave of joy, a deep embrace,
Surged through the heart, dissolving time,
As memories rushed, swift in their chase,
Like a rushing, vibrant tide sublime.
Laughter shared, a youthful sound,
Secrets told in hushed reply,
A core of trust that could be found,
A sturdy thread beneath the sky.

Across the miles that held them fast,
The vital connection instantly made,
The digital form, a vessel cast,
Where friendship’s enduring flame was played.
Passionately kindled, burning bright,
Unafraid of intervening years,
A testament to affection’s might,
Dispelling all the rising tears.

The quick exchange of grateful hearts,
A quiet acknowledgement of grace,
The inner vision of eyes that starts,
Smiling across time and space.
This sudden reunion, taking flight,
A potent reminder, clear and true,
Some bonds are not defined by sight,
But by a spirit time can’t undo.

https://books2read.com/u/m25Ygd