The writing group was gathering, up on the balcony at Vintage, a Tuesday night regular meet-up, but this one, tonight's, was out of the ordinary. We drew three cards from the Where Should We Begin deck of story prompts: Something I want but haven't asked for; A time I wish I'd dealt with conflict differently; and The best prank I've ever pulled off.
Leading up to this week, I had a sense that the location and the weekly meet-up had a kind of gravity, a compelling reason to gather that I couldn't quite put my finger on, but somehow knew was important. Each week, the energy surrounding the creative writing group had grown, and tonight we caught a glimpse of where it was leading us. We had stumbled, or had been drawn into, a portal.
It sounds crazy, and it is. We were starting to see that things we had written as fiction were becoming real in subsequent days. Things we had written as historical context were becoming unreal, changing, like flickering gaslights. We had tapped into a way of jumping timelines.
Knowing this, not in the mind, but in the body, as a tingling sensation of possibility, we began to use our creativity to rewrite our pasts.
I thought about the prompt: a time I wished I'd dealt with conflict differently. After some pondering, I knew what I had to do, what I had to write, what I needed to get right with my former self. I wish I'd dealt with the inner conflict I'd carried since childhood, the conflict of lying to protect my stepfather.
He had started to spank me, to whip me for some transgression I don't even recall. What I do remember haunts me, and I usually repress it as a way of avoiding that inner conflict. I had been instructed to lie about the reason I needed stitches in my forehead. I had flinched, hit my head on the corner of my toy box, and started bleeding. Likely fearing accusations of child endangerment or physical abuse, I was told to say I had fallen from the monkey bars.
I remember testing out the lie on the playground, and one of the kids didn’t believe me. I insisted it was true, telling the story mostly to myself, avoiding it whenever possible, for my entire life. That inner conflict, where I deferred to bullshit instead of honesty, shaped my intimate relationships for more than forty years.
But writing it down, I could tell a different story. I am telling that story now. The best prank I've ever pulled off is happening in this very moment, as I rewrite my own past, making more informed choices, protecting myself instead of my so-called step-parent. After my mother and he separated, I never looked back until now.
He had died to me in the 1980s, but here in 2025 I brought him back from the dead, just long enough to let him take the burden from me. My timeline, past, present, future, began to align, and the scar on my forehead disappeared.
It's something I've always wanted but didn’t know how to ask for: to tell the truth about what happened to me, to understand it as physical abuse (even if accidental) but also as emotional abuse, selfish and intentional. It's not my fault. I don't even remember what I had done to "deserve" punishment, and I don't need to protect the reputation of an abuser. I will never have gone down that road again. I am free.
This is a work of organic fiction. Any resemblance to me or others is intentional, subconscious, fictionalized, or a combination of all three. I hope it resonates.
🚮 W.A.S.T.E.: Words Assisting Sustainable Transformation & Ecology
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Architectural Transformation (0.00) | Welcome to our exploration of Architectural Transformation, an engaging facet of urban planning that aims to revitalize and repurpose structures to meet the changing needs of our society and environment. Architectural Transformation represents the adaptive reuse and repurposing of existing buildings and spaces to fulfill new functions or to address modern challenges. This not only conserves resources but also breathes new life into historical structures, merging the past with the future. In this section, we dive into the world of Architectural Transformation through the lens of the ReLeaf initiative in Austin. Starting with "ReLeaf: Pioneering a SolarPunk Future Through Creative Urban Greenery," we examine how innovative approaches to urban greening are transforming city landscapes. Our journey continues with "Sustainability's Moment: Embracing Athens' Vision in Austin's ReLeaf Initiative" and "From Windows to Wonders: Transforming Post-War Colossals with Vertical Gardens," showcasing the interplay between architectural transformation and sustainability. We also explore the intersection of Architectural Transformation and SolarPunk fiction, illustrating how creativity and imagination can inspire real-world change in "Shadows of Harmony: A SolarPunk Tale of Unity and Choice," and "Blurring Reality and Fantasy: The Intersection of Gaming, Literature, and Income Streams." Join us as we traverse the exciting landscapes of Architectural Transformation, discovering how the built environment around us can be reshaped to create a more sustainable, beautiful, and inclusive world. |
| Authorship Current (0.00) | The unseen force that guides each walker to write the city into being, street by street, step by step. |
| Breakthrough (0.00) | Practice of local repair, reuse, mutual care, and shared access. People use scrap, skills, and trust to keep each other safe and resourced when official systems fail. |
| Bryce (0.00) | A wandering steward of stories and seedlings, moving between libraries and creeks with pockets full of cuttings and unfinished sentences, leaving behind fragments that root themselves into community. |
| Envelope Push (0.00) | The reckless act of testing the boundaries of work, play, and rebellion with fragile materials. |
| Fort Branch (0.00) | Nestled in East Austin, Fort Branch is a lesser-known but equally important waterway that contributes to the city’s ecological and community landscape. Unlike its more renowned neighbors such as Waller Creek and Shoal Creek, Fort Branch often flies under the radar. However, this should not diminish its significance. The area has been the subject of various improvement projects, aimed at enhancing both its natural ecosystem and its accessibility to the public. Serving as a sanctuary for local wildlife and a peaceful retreat for residents, Fort Branch is an underappreciated treasure that warrants greater recognition and appreciation. |
| Future Austin (0.00) | Future Austin invites you to explore a luminous vision of the city’s tomorrow—where imagination and reality intertwine to create a thriving, sustainable urban landscape. Here, grassroots ingenuity and cutting-edge technology power communities, transforming Austin into a place of boundless possibility. Through insightful articles and evocative Organic Fiction, you’ll glimpse futures shaped by innovators like ReLeaf, whose bold strategies—such as Vertical Garden Fairs in schools—seed green revolutions in unexpected places. From unconventional movements like Trash Magic reimagining music distribution, to fictional worlds alive with unseen energy and harmony, this collection offers both practical inspiration and immersive storytelling. Whether you’re drawn to actionable sustainability or simply wish to lose yourself in tales of a resilient, radiant future, Future Austin points toward the city we could create—and the one we must. |
| Glassrain (0.00) | The tingling chill in the air after holographic light refracts through mist, leaving a metallic taste of memory. |
| Grackleclock (0.00) | The syncopated tapping of grackles that lines up with the city’s time flow. A public rhythm you can set your day to. |
| Historic Hunger (0.00) | In this section, we explore a future where hunger is not just addressed but completely eradicated. By considering innovative solutions like those pioneered by ReLeaf, we can see how these initiatives are transforming not only our cities but the very structure of our societies. Hunger, a challenge that has existed since the beginning of human history, is being tackled directly by ReLeaf in Austin, Texas. Their revolutionary vertical gardens are more than symbols of urban revitalization—they offer a glimpse of a future where nutritious, locally-grown food is available to everyone. Through a series of thoughtful articles, we examine how ReLeaf's work is laying the foundation for a world free of hunger. The potential impact goes beyond food; it suggests a profound social transformation where the basic human need for nourishment is universally met. Imagine what a society without hunger could look like. How would our interactions change if the fear and uncertainty of securing the next meal disappeared? Could this foster greater empathy, kindness, and community spirit? ReLeaf’s initiatives give us a glimpse of this possible future. Their work shows that the answers to long-standing issues like hunger are within our reach, inspiring us to envision a world where human dignity and mutual respect become the standard. Join us as we explore this hopeful vision of a future free from hunger. |
| Legacy Fault (0.00) | A fracture seeded into the city’s foundation, timed to crack open when history demands it. |
| Library of Renewal (0.00) | A sanctuary where stories and spaces themselves invite the rewriting of one’s inner narrative. |
| Live Action Role Playing (LARP) (0.00) | Welcome to our exploration of LARP, or Live Action Role-Playing, an immersive form of storytelling that blurs the lines between fiction and reality. LARP is an interactive role-playing game in which players physically act out their characters' actions. Participants not only step into the shoes of their characters but they also navigate real-world environments that have been transformed into dynamic and immersive game settings. In this section, we delve into the intersection of LARP and innovative initiatives such as the ReLeaf project. Our first article, "Blurring the Boundaries: A Look at The Institute and the ReLeaf Initiative," takes a deep dive into the ways in which LARP methodologies are being leveraged in real-world initiatives like ReLeaf. In subsequent pieces, "Blurring Reality and Fantasy: The Intersection of Gaming, Literature, and Income Streams," and "Imagination and Growth: How ReLeaf is Blending Fiction and Reality," we continue to explore the dynamic relationship between LARP, literature, and innovative environmental initiatives. These articles highlight the unique ways in which storytelling and role-playing can drive imagination and engagement, ultimately inspiring real-world action and change. We invite you to join us on this journey into the world of LARP, exploring its potential for creating impactful narratives and catalyzing positive transformations in our society. |
| Neon Spores (0.00) | Fictional festival or real infection, a cultural bloom that disperses memory like pollen, seeding futures that never officially happened. |
| Noir (0.00) | A lens of shadow and reflection where truth is glimpsed only through distortion, the city itself becoming both accomplice and suspect in every story. |
| Organic Media and Fiction (0.00) | The rapid pace of urbanization and its environmental impact has inspired various speculative genres in literature and media. Organic Media and Fiction, a recent addition, offers a refreshing counter-narrative to dystopian futures, focusing on optimistic, sustainable societies powered by renewable energies. ReLeaf, an Organic Media and Fiction-inspired platform, epitomizes this genre by blending reality with narratives that envision a world where humans coexist harmoniously with nature and technology. ReLeaf's ethos is rooted in the belief that a hopeful future of sustainable living is not just an ideal but a reality. It combines engaging storytelling, visual arts, and direct action to showcase the possibilities of an Organic Media and Fiction future. By merging immersive narratives with tangible solutions, ReLeaf serves as both a creative outlet and a catalyst for change. The narratives in ReLeaf are set in cities that integrate renewable energy and green technology into their architecture, infrastructure, and daily life. From urban gardens atop skyscrapers to solar-powered public transport, these stories offer a glimpse of future urban landscapes grounded in existing technologies and practices. They provide an encouraging perspective on how our cities could evolve by amplifying sustainable practices we are already exploring. ReLeaf's stories feature diverse, inclusive, and community-oriented societies, emphasizing social justice, community empowerment, and equitable resource distribution. These narratives reflect societal structures that could foster a balanced coexistence, highlighting the importance of these values in creating a sustainable future. Beyond storytelling, ReLeaf engages in direct action, promoting real-world initiatives that echo Organic Media and Fiction principles. By supporting community-led renewable energy projects and sustainable urban farming, ReLeaf bridges the gap between the Organic Media and Fiction vision and our present reality, making the dream of a sustainable future feel achievable. ReLeaf broadens the understanding of the Organic Media and Fiction genre by presenting a balanced blend of reality and narrative. It underscores that Organic Media and Fiction is not just a literary genre or aesthetic movement, but a lens through which we can view and shape our future. The Organic Media and Fiction vision put forth by ReLeaf invites us to imagine, innovate, and create a future where sustainability is the norm. By intertwining fiction with reality, it presents Organic Media and Fiction as a plausible future, offering a hopeful counterpoint to narratives of environmental doom. ReLeaf helps us believe in—and strive for—a future where humans live in harmony with nature and technology. |
| Planthroposcript (0.00) | The living blueprint written by vines that overwrites floor plans with botanical intent. |
| ReLeaf (0.00) | Welcome to the ReLeaf Cooperative, where we dive deep into an innovative and revolutionary model of sustainability and community building. ReLeaf is a pioneer in developing scalable engagement strategies that foster community participation and work towards addressing pressing social issues such as homelessness. In this category, you'll find articles and Organic Media detailing ReLeaf's groundbreaking initiatives and visions. From creating sustainable gardens in Austin elementary schools to providing transparency in a world often shrouded in deception, ReLeaf serves as a beacon of hope and innovation. ReLeaf's approach of intertwining real and fictional elements in their work—such as characters, materials, techniques, and labor—sets a new standard for cooperatives worldwide. Its business model, which compensates for labor and knowledge contributions, creates a lasting benefit and helps people who have historically been marginalized. By meeting people with compassion, as resources in need of support instead of liabilities, ReLeaf has shown that everyone has the potential to contribute to society meaningfully. Explore this section to discover how ReLeaf is redefining the way we approach social issues and sustainability, with stories of inspiration, innovation, and hope. |
| Vintage (0.00) | A modest bookstore on Rosewood whose shelves sometimes rearrange into corridors, known as a threshold site where maps reveal hidden paths and readers become co-authors of the city. |