Sunday, February 2, 2020

Wolfgang Armadeus Mozart and William Grant Still Research Paper

Wolfgang Armadeus Mozart and William Grant Still - Research Paper Example One person that understood best Mozarts’ creative process was them man himself. When asked about his process of coming up with compositions, he noted that the ideas that he applied in his compositions came when he was alone and cheerful in spirit. It really did not matter the place as some of these ideas came when he was aboard a carriage travelling to one place or the other, when walking and when resting before falling asleep. Morzat also admitted that he loved to write down his ideas, talk of Barbel, Gretel and to birds leaving no room for common disturbances. He noted that he had no control over how the ideas came and when they started to flow.Whenever the ideas to came to his mind, he would retain the good ones in his memory humming them to himself. He would use the morsels of ideas to come up with a wonderful composition taking into account the peculiarities of the instruments to be used. Furthermore, he would refine his compositions before sitting back and listening to t he final product. He was not so much concerned about originality in his creation process but his works ended up being unique. In the creation of â€Å"Eine Kleine Nachtmusik†, Morzat considers the instruments to be used; the cello, viola, and two violins. The composition, however, is often performed by string orchestras. The creation of this piece was initially not intended for publication but was a serenade written on commission. William Stills’ compositions included chamber music, ballets, symphonies and solo instrument pieces.

Saturday, January 25, 2020

Macbeth :: essays research papers

Effect of Supernatural Forces The presence of supernatural forces in Macbeth is an extremely vital aspect of the play. The Weird sisters are fundamental characters because they prophesizr the futire, adding to the dramatic affect of the play. They show how desire, ambition, and greed, are often more overpowering than reason. Through the predictions made to Macbeth in the second scene of Act I, Macbeth is encouraged, and his mind is opened to the possibilities of actions that he would otherwise not consider. They promise that he will be Thane of Cawdor, and even king.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Shortly after becoming Thane, his thoughts stray to the glory that he could have as ruler. â€Å"If chance will have me king, why, chance may crown me, without my stir.† He says this because he does not wish to take any action to make sure that he becomes king, but he does, in fact, truly desire to take Duncan’s position. He gives word of his encouter to his wife, and she too, is filled with ambition; even more so than her husband. It is she, lacking the â€Å"milk of human kindness†, that persuades Macbeth to carry through with his thoughts. She says to herself, â€Å" Come thee hither that I may pour my spirits in thine ear, and chastise with the valor of my tongue. She is helped by the forces of the supernatural world, and with this aid, is able to convince Macbeth to commit the murder. She gives up all that is feminine about her so that wretchedness and cruelty can envelop her.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  The other supernatural forces that lead Macbeth down his path of evil and insanity are Banquo’s ghost, and the apparitions that the witches conjure. The apparitions especially lead to Macbeth’s downfall. The second one tells him that, â€Å"no man of woman born shall harm Macbeth†, and another says, â€Å"Macbeth shall never vanquished be until Great Birnam Wood to high Dunsinane Hill shall come against him.† This gives him security, which, â€Å"is mortals’ chieftest enemy†, as Hjecate states; and in this security comes his death.

Thursday, January 16, 2020

English Literature Romantic Period

Breeana Whitehead The Art in Romanticism The works of William Woodsworth and William Blake are some of many great examples of Romantic literature. Romanticism was an artistic and intellectual movement that began in Europe in the early 1800’s. It was a reaction to the Industrial Revolution as illustrated in William Woodsworth’s â€Å"Michael. † This poem mourns the changes made by the Industrial Revolution. In Romantic texts, everything written is out of the ordinary and very fictional. The characters in a romantic piece of literature are created from nothing and the plot is often in imaginary places.All pieces of art and intellect were nothing but fantasy put to paper in one form or another. There is nothing realistic about Romantic literature. This is the Romantic Period. Every piece of art, whether it is music or paintings or drawings or literature, was created to make their readers think about their own emotions within the art. William Blake displays the Roman ticism in his poem â€Å"Garden of Love† by showing discussing an aspect of spirituality. He shows how with religion there is a disconnect of freedom. The poem speaks of a chapel that was built where the speaker, whether Blake or an unknown character, used to play.The speaker notices a sign saying â€Å"Thou Shall Not† on the door of the chapel and so he turned to the garden of love. The speaker soon notices that there are tombstones where flowers should be, and priests were walking around in black binding the character’s joys and desires. This shows the captivity that Blake believed came to a person when that person claimed religion. This shows a free thought that well expresses the idea of Romanticism. This shows the intellectual freedom that the Romantic Period brought forth. William Woodsworth showed Romanticism in his many works, such as his poem, â€Å"Michael. Woodsworth romanticizes or dreams up the characters of Michael and Luke. Michael is a shepherd that lives in the forest side of Grasmere Vale, and Luke was his son. Michael’s family happily lives off in this beautiful countryside when a financial burden falls upon them because of a contract that Michael had signed. Instead of selling his land, Michael sends Luke off to work to pay off this debt. While gone Luke prospers well for himself at first but them falls into a criminal line and has to flee. Michael mourns the loss of his son and soon thereafter Michael and Isabel, Michael’s wife, both die.This poem is a good example of the changes from the Industrial Revolution that spurred the Romantic Movement but it is also a great example of the fictional aspect of Romanticism. Another brilliant example of Romantic literature is the poem, â€Å"Hymn to Intellectual Beauty† by Percy Shelley. In this poem Shelley turns inward to this idea of intellectual beauty. This beauty is an intangible, spiritual idea that is different for everyone. This intellectual beauty becomes the freedom from the doom and gloom that Shelley describes the world to be.The spiritual aspect and emotional pull of this poem makes it a perfect illustration of a Romantic poem. The literature and other arts from the Romantic period were created to create emotion within a person and to make them think about their emotions. This poem does a great job at forcing its reader to look inward to determine his or her own intellectual beauty, whether it be love or hope or self-esteem. A final example of a Romantic poem is Lord Byron’s â€Å"When We Two Parted. † This poem definitely pulls at a readers heartstrings. The poem talks about two people who were lovers but something happened to break them apart.It seems that one of the two in the relationship had had an affair or somehow broke their vows and forced a separation between the two lovers. Byron’s poem brings out the emotions of the audience. The Romantic Age was basically an era of an outpouring of feelin gs. All of the works of this time period were based on an effort to make their audience feel something. The works were of religious and intellectual standards that caused the reader or the observer to stop his or her own life for a second and contemplate a deeper meaning to the work and to life.Artists and authors such as William Blake in his poem â€Å"Garden of Love,† William Woodsworth in his poem â€Å"Michael,† Percy Shelley in his â€Å"Hymn to Intellectual Beauty,† and Lord Byron in his emotional poem, â€Å"When We Two Parted,† developed pieces of art that brought this emotional appeal to the table. These pieces of literature represent and explain Romanticism and the Romantic Era perfectly with everything from the fantasy and fictional characters and plots and settings in the pieces such as â€Å"Michael,† to the emotional aspects as shown in â€Å"Hymn to Intellectual Beauty† and in â€Å"When We Two Parted. †

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

The History, Causes and Effects, and Treatment of Phobias...

The History, Causes and Effects, and Treatment of Phobias Just imagine for a moment that you have a cynophobia or the fear of dogs, would this be how you would feel. Driving down the road the oil light comes on. I must stop the car to add more oil or I will damage the car engine. This looks like a good place to pull over. Ill just stop in front of this house. The oil is in the trunk, so Ill pop the top first, then get the oil out of the trunk. OK, I have the oil, but what if there is a dog at this house. Hurry, I have to hurry. A dog might come running out and bark at me any minute. Just get the oil in the engine. I cant my hands are shaking. Dont worry, there is no dog. Just get the oil in the engine. I dont care†¦show more content†¦Judy Monroe states that Hippocrates lived from about 460 to about 377B.C., and is known as the father of medicine. He recorded detailed descriptions of people with phobias. Over two thousand three-hundred years ago, he wrote of a man named Damocles who could not go near an overhang, or o ver a bridge, or even near a shallow body of water (33). During the 1800s, people began to study how the mind works. Phobias were increasingly described in psychiatric studies and writings. For several decades, people wrote about and named many phobias. Many of those names are still used today. Judy Monroe states that Sigmund Freud (1856-1939) contributed great work on understanding phobias in the late 1800s. He was one of the first people to describe the feelings of anxiety that occur with phobic reactions (36). During the late 1970s, research on the brain and brain chemistry helped scientists better understand human behavior and emotions. Along with research on mental health, this research led to increased knowledge about phobias. Judy Monroe states that the National Institutes of Mental Health (NIMH) conducted the first survey of mental health in the United States, the Epidemiological Catchment Area (ECA) survey. Researchers interviewed nearly twenty thousand people in five c ities: Baltimore, Maryland; New Haven, Connecticut; St. Louis, Missouri; Durham, North Carolina; and Los Angeles, California. This survey uncovered a startling fact: Anxiety disorders,Show MoreRelated An Overview of Selective Mutism Essay1697 Words   |  7 PagesHesselman coined the term â€Å"selective mutism† in 1983 to describe the disorder previously called â€Å"aphasia voluntaria, elective mutism, speech phobia, psychological mutism, and hearing mute† among fourteen other historic terms (Dow, Freeman, Garcia, Leonard, Miller, 2004; Kearney, 2010). The American Psychiatric Association, or APA, characterizes selective mutism by a â€Å"persistent failure to speak in specific social situations where speech is expected, despite speaking in other situations.† SelectiveRead MoreMental Illness And Substance Abuse901 Words   |  4 Pagescomplications on the actual treatment for mental illness. It is very important for the addiction counselor to properly under stand both the differences between acute primary psychiatric disorders and any underlying psychiatric symptoms, caused by alcohol and other drugs. Sometimes the addiction needs to be treated first in order for the mental illness to be properly identified and successfully treated. Also addiction counselors need to understand mental health disorder treatments. Clients with co-occurringRead MoreMental Illness And Social Anxiety1715 Words   |  7 Pagesmonitor the individual but also a way to protect them during the attack, this can include calming them down getting them out of the situation or warning other surrounding them to their condition which also leads to connect. RESEARCH History There is no exact history of anxiety, however it is believed that it has been around since the beginning of time it is only in the recent decades that it has been recognised as a mental illness and through this recognition it has become more acknowledged and treatableRead MoreUnderstanding Depression And Anxiety, Addiction, And Dementia1099 Words   |  5 Pages The biopsychosocial model is a perspective for explaining the causes of mental problems, which collects evidence from the individual’s social, psychological and biological conditions (Toates, 2010, p19). It considers those factors as interdependent and equally important (Toates, 2010, p13). This essay will evaluate this model ability to understand depression and anxiety, addiction, and dementia, and will show that in some cases of mental problems, the biopsychosocial perspective is not the appropriateRead MoreEssay about Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD)1173 Words   |  5 Pagescommunicating. They are very self-conscious in front of people. They convince themselves that all eyes are on them, watching and waiting for them to make a mistake. They are terrified of doing or saying anything that causes humiliation. They are afraid of being judged by others. â€Å"Children with social phobia are often inordinately fearful of criticism.† As a result, they may have a temper tant rum or they may cry when confronted with a situation that scares them. (Social Anxiety Disorder, http://www.childmindRead MoreDifferent Types of Disorders Essay1231 Words   |  5 Pagesdisorders all the way to those considered mental disorders (Disorder.). Functional Disorders According to TheFreeDictionary.com, functional disorder can be defined as a, â€Å"disorder showing symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified (â€Å"Functional+disorder.†). An example of a functional disorder is Irritable Bowel Syndrome. Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders Functional gastrointestinal disorders, also known as FGIDs, are common disorders caused by theRead MoreIrrational Fears: Agoraphobia Essay1305 Words   |  6 Pagesability to limit people from doing their daily activities. Agoraphobia can be divided into two word parts: agora, a Greek term meaning â€Å"marketplace† and phobia, meaning â€Å"the fear of something† (Miller, 2011). It is the fear of being in a communal or open place (Miller, 2011). When people have agoraphobia, they often evade situations that may cause them to panic, such as crowded places, leaving a common place, being unaccompanied, or being confined or humiliated (â€Å"Agoraphobia,† 2011; â€Å"AgoraphobiaRead MoreQuestions On Anxiety Disorders And Mental Health Project1849 Words   |  8 PagesIndex Anxiety Disorders Week 1 Generalized†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦..Page 3 Panic†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦.Page 7 Phobia†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦...Page 11 Generalized Anxiety Disorder Definition Worries about money, family problems and health on an extreme level. Most have trouble going through with everyday tasks. Always thinking the worst that bad things will happen. Constantly on edge. Causes Unknown Researchers suggest it’s like an escape to distract one from deeper troubles. Researches are stillRead MoreEvaluate the Methods Used by the Psychodynamic Approach1096 Words   |  5 Pagesmother noticed this and told him to stop it otherwise she would call the doctor and get him to cut it off. Hans later on developed a phobia of horses, so his father got in touch with Freud and told him about Hans’ strange behaviour and he suggested that he was scared of horses because of the large penis. Later on, Freud and Hans’ father discovered that he had a phobia of horses because he saw his father as a rival and he apparently had a large penis. He saw his father as a rival because he acquiredRead MoreCase Study : Case Study Analysis1690 Words   |  7 Pageslife and has taken nerve medication in the past. Mental Status Adam is dressed appropriately and oriented to time, place, and circumstance. He reports a history of anxiety symptoms. He also states that his mother had panic attacks when he was growing up, and there were times it was so severe she could not leave the house. He denies any other history of psychological difficulties. He states that his physical health is good, as well as his relationship with his wife and three children. Although he has

Tuesday, December 31, 2019

Fashion Magazines and Body Image Essay - 5340 Words

Fashion Magazines and Body Image Research indicates that exposure to thin ideal images in womens magazines is associated with heightened concerns for body shape and size in a number of young women, although the medias role in the psychopathology of body image disturbance is generally believed to be mediated by personality and socio-cultural factors. The purpose of this research study is to know and gather solid facts and reasons about fashion magazines affecting the teenagers’ body image in a form of research to self evaluation through careful accumulation of acceptable data and relevant resources for such data to be precise and spontaneous in its respected details to support results. Few studies have†¦show more content†¦(1980) found that the percent of average weight of the models declined significantly. For example, in 1960; the average weight of Playboy models was 91% of the population mean. By 1978, mean weight of the models has dropped to 84% of the population mean. A similar trend was apparent among the Miss America Pageant contestants: Prior to 1970, mean weight of the contestants was approximately 88% of the population norm. Following 1970, mean weight of the contestants had decreased to 85% of the population norm. Garner and colleagues also noted a trend toward noncurvaceousness from 1960 to 1979. The bust and hip measurements of Playboy models decreased and their waist measurements increased significantly. These findings are consistent with those reported by Silverstein, Perdue, Peterson, and Kelly (1986) who examined the curvaceousness of models appearing in Vogue and Ladies Home Journal from 1901 to 1981 and of popular movie actresses from 1941 to 1979. The investigators found that among the models appearing in Ladies Home Journal and Vogue, the bust-to-waist ratio dropped significantly. Additionally, the average bust-to-waist ratio of actresses from the 1960s and 1970s was significantly smaller than that of actresses from the 1940s and 1950s. Similar results were reported by Morris, Cooper, and Cooper (1989) in their study of British fashion models. Taken together, the findings of GarnerShow MoreRelatedWhat Are Teen Fashion Magazines?820 Words   |  4 PagesTeen fashion magazines, such as Vogue and Seventeen, feature slender models that increase women’s desire to be thin (Cohen, 2006). A study done by Bradley University found that 3 minutes spent looking at a fashion magazine caused 70% of women to feel depressed, guilty, and shameful (Bradley University, 2016). Bradley University’s research also attributes magazines for causing many eating disorders and negative body image in women. The university’s research states that the images in these magazinesRead MoreEffects of Media on Body Image855 Words   |  3 PagesEffects of Media on Body Image Discussion This study was conducted to analyze the impact of media, mainly fashion magazines, on how women perceived the idealized body weight and shape as well as the impact of media on the decision to diet or initiate an exercise program. Twenty working class women were given questionnaires at different times. The exposure to fashion magazines was assessed by determining whether the participant was a high level frequency viewer of fashion magazines, viewing them onceRead MoreThe Effects Of Advertising On The Fashion Industry1621 Words   |  7 PagesThe misleading body image advertised on the cover of Fashion Magazines such as Vogue and Teen Vogue, create a prejudice among women in the United States that motivates individuals to believe that there is only one body type that is beautiful and successful in society. This harmful advertising has a causal relationship with the increase in eating disorders and depression seen in young women (Kilbourne, 2000). Because Magazines are a powerful marke ting tool; this type of advertising leads to a culturalRead MoreLimitations on BMI Model Bodies1084 Words   |  5 PagesHow many men do you see ogling over the ultra skinny models on a Vogue magazine? They aren’t, most men are ogling over the centerfold of a Playboy magazine. So why do young girls and women all over the world struggle psychologically and physically to look like those models? And what effect does this have on our society? Should the use of models with a low Body Mass Index (BMI) be banned from fashion, media, and print? I will answer all of these questions and more, to support my view on why thereRead MoreEssay about The Fashion Industry Promotes Eating Disorders1133 Words   |  5 Pagesideals created by the fashion industry? People often feel inferior to models because of the contrast between their bodies and the models and pressures on society make them feel they must look like models. Currently the standard set by the fashion industry is to be th in; for some people thinness to this extent isn’t easily attainable causing people to adapt unhealthy dietary habits. Pressures from the fashion industry promote eating disorders. This is because the fashion industry largely influenceRead MoreMass Media s Influence On Society962 Words   |  4 PagesOver the years mass media has become more available and favored by society through avenues such as magazines, television, newspapers, print ads, internet, and including social media. According to U.S. Census Bureau (2007), individuals spend nearly a total of 3,518 hours of their time on mass media outlets. Mass media has become widely popular among individuals, in particularly young adults.73% of U.S adults aged 18–29, have been reported regularly visit at least one of these outlet, and 42% use moreRead MoreThe Fashion : Unrealistic And Harmful Perceptions Of Beauty1500 Words   |  6 PagesThe Fashion Industrys’ Unrealistic and Harmful Perceptions of Beauty As you are flipping through the pages of any fashion magazine, you see that they are plastered with freakishly skinny, young women made up to resemble perfect barbie dolls. If you are the average american girl, you would probably be feeling a little more insecure about yourself than when you first opened the magazine. You begin to realize everything that you wish you could look like and are stuck comparing yourself to images thatRead MoreMagazine Advertisements Send Unhealthy Signals to Young Women655 Words   |  3 PagesBritish doctors yesterday called on the media to use female models with more realistically proportioned bodies instead of abnormally thin women who contributed to the rise in the numbers of people suffering from eating disorders. A report by the British Medical Association claimed that the promotion of rake-thin models such as Kate Moss and Jodie Kidd was creating a distorted body image which young women tried to imitate. It suggested that the media can trigger and perpetuate the disease. FemaleRead MoreGlamour: An Exciting Allure1465 Words   |  6 PagesGlamour Its an exciting allure, high-fashion good looks and a magical spell. By: Tracy Baker BUS. Marketing Glamour Glamour is defined as an exciting allure: an irresistible alluring quality that somebody or something possesses by more exciting, romantic, or fashionable than ordinary people or things. Its no wonder why the company Condà © Nast Publications decided to use the word glamour as the title for one of their many magazines. In the Condà © Nast website theyRead MoreSocial Media And Its Effects On Society1447 Words   |  6 Pagesmodern society is more accepting of different body types than in the past, there is still too much pressure on girls to have the ‘perfect’ body due to emphasis from media, pressure from peers, and American culture. A recurring theme Americans see via today’s media is beauty. This isn’t necessarily the problem though, what needs to be looked at is how the ‘ideal’ look emphasized by the media is unachievable for most people. Whether it be through magazines, television, or social media, individuals are

Monday, December 23, 2019

College Admissions Vs. Affirmative Action - 1536 Words

College Admissions Race â€Å"Congratulations! You have been granted admissions to one of the most prestigious universities in the world and have been chosen from among hundreds of thousands of applicants to attend our university.† These are the sentences that every high school senior dreams of seeing, however, it has become a more difficult task as the college admissions process has become increasingly competitive. Complicating the admissions situation is the fact that most elite universities give extra weight to underrepresented minorities in the admission process, creating a so called â€Å"uneven playing field† (Introduction to College). Middle and upper-class non-minority students and parents have protested the use of affirmative action in†¦show more content†¦All four times, the Supreme Court upheld affirmative action policies (Snyder and Lai). Because there are a greater number of applicants competing for a very limited number of admissions slots, worried parents and students a re trying to find any loopholes in the selection process and many are now turning their attention to the debate on whether affirmative action should be kept or banned. Racial preferences in university admissions compensates for our history of institutionalized discrimination and extends educational opportunities to those who conventionally could not access them. From Jim Crow laws to Brown V. Board of Education, the United States has had a history of disenfranchising minorities (Jenco). Historical discrimination, especially against people of color, has created social imbalances and inequalities. The consequences of that history are clearly seen with the presence of achievement and wealth gaps. Between whites and blacks the wealth gap is a whopping 10:1 and between whites and Latinos, the gap is more than 8:1. (Wise). African American students were the lowest-scoring racial subgroup on standardized tests and on average only about 29.6% of black students met or exceeded state standards in math at Waubonsie (Jenco). Gaps in education and wealth are due to many factors including parents unable to help their kids with schoolwork, low expectations, and l ack of role models (Jenco). Educators have been hesitant to enact reform toShow MoreRelatedAffirmative Action And Its Effects On College Demographics Essay1389 Words   |  6 PagesDue to strong racial tensions, colleges believe admitting individuals in accordance to race is a positive liberal act, however affirmative action is evolving into quite a social strain. Colleges that endorse affirmative action are alleviating racial pressures based on college demographics but creating repercussions that are impacting all races and ages. If we continue burying the issues with affirmative action, we will not only be lessening the meaning of education but creating isolation betweenRead MoreDebate, Suspicion and Controversy Created by College Admission Policies1275 Words   |  6 PagesThe Silence is Over College admission policies have caused tremendous controversy, debate and suspicion in the eyes of Americans today. Causing students to stress out even more and call into question the merit and validity of such policies. Because students feel certain admission policies are preventing their chances of admissions. The most controversial admission policy is affirmative action. Since whites and other non-minorities feel that this admission policy doesn’t benefit them, so they attackRead MoreIs Affirmative Action in Higher Education Outdated?783 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Is Affirmative Action in Higher Education Outdated? Affirmative action policies have been in place since 1957 (Rubio 144). Presidents Kennedy and Johnson signed executive orders in 1961 and 1964, respectively, requiring government agencies and their contractors to take affirmative steps to ensure minority participation. Johnsons order was modified two years later to include women. The Civil Rights Act of 1964 outlawed discriminatory hiring, promotion, and retention practices in both the privateRead MoreRacial Discrimination : The Worst Form Of Inequality1388 Words   |  6 Pagesdifferent people. In America,the individuals who are usually discriminated against are the minorities like African Americans and Hispanics. Affirmative action is a policy that was created and has been claimed to be positive discrimination. The policy was created to give equal opportunity to groups of people who are usually discriminated against. Although Affirmative action has been named to be positive and support minorities, it is still unjust. There should be no positive aspects of racial discriminationRead MoreAffirmative Action- Negative Team1486 Words   |  6 PagesModule 03: Group Position Paper: Affirmative Action Affirmative Action: Negative Team 1 Diversity in the Workplace Professor Linda Noeth Center for Distance Learning SUNY Empire State College Slavery in America can be traced all the way back to colonial times, or as historians have dated; 1619. Although slavery had technically been abolished by the late 1800’s, issues over race still remained prominent. Regulations such as â€Å"Jim Crow Laws†, that claimedRead MoreAffirmative Action Is Important For The Future Of The Diversified Generations Of America Essay1641 Words   |  7 Pages Affirmative Action In Martin Luther King’s I Have a Dream Speech, he states â€Å"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character† for this reason affirmative action in higher education admission should alter for it creates a perpetual racial preference in admission. Affirmative action is controversial due its issue of whether the generation of today should pay for the past injustices done to certain ethnicities. It questions the constitutionalityRead MoreAffirmative Action And Its Effect On Society Essay1639 Words   |  7 Pagesbased on a person’s race is wrong. For this reason affirmative action in higher education admission should alter for it creates a perpetual racial preference in admission. Affirmative action is controversial due its issue of whether the generation of today should pay for the past injustices done to certain ethnicities. It questions the constitutionality of its existence and whether it perpetuates racial discrimination. Although affirmative action greatly promotes diversity and exposes diverse perspectivesRead MoreThe Issue Of Affirmative Action Essay1667 Words   |  7 Pagesthe content of their character† for this reason affirmative action in higher education admission should be altered for it creates a perpetually racial preference in admission. Affirmative action is controversial due it s issue of whether the generation of today should pay for the past injustices done to certain ethnicities. It questions the constitutionality of its existence and whether it perpetuates racial discrimination. Although affirmative action is a great start in promoting diversity and exposingRead MoreAffirmative Action and Higher Education Admissions Essay1664 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Known as one of the biggest obstacles in higher education to date would arguably be the use of affirmative action within the higher education admission process for both private and public institutions (Kaplin Lee, 2014; Wang Shulruf, 2012). The focus of current research is an attempt to either justify or deny the use of affirmative action within current practices through various higher education institutions, and though any one person could potentially be swayed to side withRead MoreEssay on Pro-Affirmative Action1059 Words   |  5 PagesPRO-AFFIRMATIVE ACTION What is it? Well affirmative action is, in plain text, the consideration of your class, race, gender, color, ethnicity, national origin, and disability when deciding who gets a certain job or admission into a school. If you are amenity applying for a job and there are other people that are applying as well then you will be considered for the job over one of the other people, even if they have more experience. It is not only for jobs, it is also used in any situation

Sunday, December 15, 2019

Succubus on Top CHAPTER 16 Free Essays

I rang Bastien’s doorbell for the third time and then glared peevishly at the house. Where the hell was he? I was a little earlier than our agreed meeting time but not significantly. I gave the door a petulant kick as I imagined Bastien â€Å"held up† in the arms of some panting housewife. We will write a custom essay sample on Succubus on Top CHAPTER 16 or any similar topic only for you Order Now â€Å"He’s not here,† said a cool voice nearby. I looked over and saw Dana standing there, a small leashed dog by her feet. It looked like the product of a tragic accident at the cottonball factory. â€Å"Nice dog,† I said. â€Å"My sister’s. I’m taking care of him for a few days. You want to walk with us?† No, but I had promised myself the other day that I would pick Dana’s brain to figure out how I might aid Bastien, and this seemed as good an opportunity as any. Besides, he’d kill me if he knew I’d passed up a chance for â€Å"reconnaissance.† I fell into step beside Dana and the fluff ball, congratulating myself for the hundredth time on being smart enough to choose cats over dogs. Tutu – yes, that was his name – pranced along daintily, small tongue hanging out. His beady black eyes peered everywhere as he trotted merrily, but otherwise seemed oblivious to the wet sidewalk dirtying his tiny white feet. â€Å"How’s your rally going?† I asked after we’d exhausted dog topics. â€Å"Excellent. I’m surprised you haven’t heard about it in the news. We’re getting a lot of press.† â€Å"Haven’t paid that much attention to the news.† She told me the date and time. â€Å"Think you can make it?† â€Å"I think I’m working that day,† I said automatically. Dana gave me a knowing look. â€Å"Tabitha, I get the impression you’re not entirely settled on that issue.† You think? I looked away, again fighting the mental battle of speaking my mind versus causing trouble for Bastien. I finally opted for something that sounded vaguely like the truth. â€Å"I just think†¦there’s a lot of different ways to look at it, that’s all.† â€Å"It’s okay to be unsure, you know.† That was astonishing, coming from her. â€Å"Is it?† â€Å"Of course. That’s why groups like the CPFV exist. To help you see the truth of an issue.† I repressed a snort. I’d thought for a moment she might startle me with a display of open-mindedness. I let the silence collect again. â€Å"So,† she began after a moment, â€Å"what do you believe then?† â€Å"Er, on what? Homosexuality? Or homosexual marriage?† â€Å"Either.† My opinion was simply that people wanted who they wanted, end of story. There was no regulating love or saying it was wrong. But Dana’s views on that were religiously based, and I of all people knew better than to argue the right or wrong of faith. â€Å"I’m just not sure people choose who they’re attracted to,† I explained, not exactly attacking her question head-on. â€Å"So, I guess, it seems weird to me to talk about ‘helping’ or ‘changing’ people who can’t really do anything about their natures, regardless of whether that nature is right or wrong.† â€Å"So you think homosexuality is inborn?† That sweet voice couldn’t entirely hide her scornful surprise. â€Å"For some people. I think there are those who engage in†¦uh, same-sex activities for the fun of it, but for others, it’s biological.† I had a feeling Dana wouldn’t describe same-sex activities as fun, but I still felt better at having voiced my opinions. â€Å"You express yourself very well,† she admitted. â€Å"Even if I don’t necessarily agree with you.† I laughed out loud, and she looked at me strangely. â€Å"No, I didn’t think you would.† We grew quiet again, and I remembered I was supposed to be sounding her out on what she found romantic for Bastien. â€Å"I wish I could choose who I was attracted to,† I said out of the blue, bringing up personal matters in a manner that was out of character for both Tabitha Hunter and Georgina Kincaid. Dana seemed appropriately startled. â€Å"Things aren’t going so well with your boyfriend? What was his name? Sven?† â€Å"Seth,† I corrected, feeling only a little bad at dragging him into the cover story. Things with Seth were actually beautiful at the moment, but for the sake of appearances, I kept lying. â€Å"He’s okay, I guess, and I like him†¦but he’s not very, you know, romantic. â€Å" â€Å"Ah,† she said neutrally. â€Å"Am I crazy? Is that too much to ask? Maybe I should focus on other things.† â€Å"What do you consider romantic?† â€Å"I don’t know. Little touches and flourishes here and there. Gestures to show how important you are, how much the other person cares about you.† Irises, smiley-face pancakes. â€Å"What do you think it is?† She shrugged. We were rounding the corner back to Bastien’s now. â€Å"I’ve come to see romance as not quite so important anymore,† she admitted. â€Å"Neither Bill nor I have time for it.† â€Å"Oh.† â€Å"That’s not a bad thing. I’d say, more important than superficial flourishes is being able to connect with someone. To talk openly with them and share yourself. To know they’re feeling what you’re feeling.† â€Å"Oh,† I said again, surprised. Her comments almost made sense. In some ways, they were a variation of Seth’s views on honesty in a relationship. Biting my lip, I plunged on. â€Å"And what about†¦you know, attraction and sex appeal?† She gave me a sidelong glance. â€Å"What about it?† I shrugged. â€Å"I don’t always feel it around him.† Liar, liar, pants on fire. â€Å"Do I have the wrong ideas about it? What do you think is sexy?† Her answer took a long time in coming. â€Å"I don’t know.† Bastien stood by his front door as we approached. He waved a hand in greeting. â€Å"Hello, ladies.† He looked pleasantly astonished to see us together – and getting along. Dana thanked me for the company and returned to her own home after refusing Bastien’s automatic invitation to come inside and stay a while. Once she was gone and we were in the car headed to my photo shoot, I gave him the scoop on our talk. â€Å"She doesn’t know what’s sexy?† he exclaimed. â€Å"She’s practically begging for me to ravage her. Hmph. And Bill’s not romantic. Well, no surprise there. You think she was lying about saying it wasn’t important? Sort of a defense mechanism?† â€Å"I don’t know. Possibly. But even if she does miss romance, I think too many over-the-top gestures would throw up a flag. She isn’t stupid. Profound conversation might be the way to go.† â€Å"Then the cooking thing is a good idea. Lots of talking there.† â€Å"I guess.† I didn’t tell him that I had doubts about the efficacy of that method. Honestly, I wasn’t sure what he could do anymore. We’d decided to pull out all the stops for my pictures. He drove us downtown to the Hotel Andra, one of the nicest local spreads, despite its plain exterior. Through some charm I didn’t know about, he’d even managed to book us the hotel’s one-of-a-kind Monarch Suite on practically no notice. It had more room than we could possibly need, but its true selling point – for me – was an utterly sumptuous, utterly sexy bed. Enclosed in its own romantically lit alcove, it had a deep, royal purple spread and a headboard of gleaming, black wood. The whole effect was dark and sensuous. We shape-shifted out of Mitch and Tabitha upon clearing the door. â€Å"This bed alone,† declared Bastien, â€Å"will sell these pictures. Well, that and your naked flesh. But really, it’s a tough call.† He raided the mini-bar and made us improvised Grand Marnier martinis, which I gulped down with surprising eagerness. Suddenly, facing these pictures seemed a lot more daunting than I’d originally believed. â€Å"Nothing to it,† he said, sensing my nervousness. â€Å"Put on something sexy and sprawl on the bed.† I hadn’t brought anything in particular to wear, for once willingly opting for shape-shifting. I started with a basic black nightgown. Super short, super low-cut. It seemed like a safe bet. Bastien positioned me on the bed, lying back in a sort of languid pose. He mussed my hair and requested a lazy pout. â€Å"The point here, Fleur ,is to make it look like if you don’t get fucked again soon, you’re going to be very, very upset. Men go for that.† My apprehension melted away as Bastien took over, directing my postures and expressions, snapping away with his digital camera. We ran the gamut. Some shots I did completely naked, hiding nothing. For others, we found the suggestion of nudity could almost be more provocative. The way the slipped strap of a chemise could nearly reveal a breast. The way a sheer bra and panty set could cover and yet not cover. Nor did we give all of them the just-got-fucked look. In some, I was very elegant, unbelievably perfect in every possible way, not a strand of hair out of place. In others, however, we played up the messy, wild look – â€Å"unplanned,† as Seth would say. We also didn’t limit ourselves to the bed, as gorgeous as it was. I posed by windows, by a sofa, by the bathtub, in the bathtub. Both of us, as was requisite for our jobs, had pretty good imaginations for what was sexy and alluring. Nonetheless, we had brought along a few lingerie catalogs and adult magazines for inspiration. We would take breaks to plan, both of us frowning and giving each new pose serious thought. All in all, it was an exhausting endeavor, but Bastien’s energy never flagged as he guided me through it all with a professional ease. And honestly, after a certain point, I didn’t need his coaching. I knew I was sexy, and it was easy to play that up, especially knowing that Seth would view all of this. When the incubus had filled up the memory card, we finally called it quits. Sprawling on the bed beside me, he called room service and ordered us some professional martinis, since we’d run out of Grand Marnier. They arrived, and we luxuriated in a well-deserved rest, sipping our drinks. â€Å"Thanks Bas,† I told him, touching his arm. â€Å"You’re a good friend.† â€Å"Easy to be one when the subject matter is so nice to look at. You’re going to have a bitch of a time getting these printed, though. Take them to a store, and you won’t get them back.† I’d already thought of that. â€Å"Hugh has a snazzy, state-of-the-art printer. I’ll do it there.† I considered. â€Å"Although, he might keep a few too.† â€Å"I wouldn’t blame him.† Bastien set his drink down and rolled over to regard me affectionately, face almost serious for a change. â€Å"You’re a beautiful woman, Fleur ,and that means something when you can perfectly control your appearance. It’s not your physical side – as nice as it is. It’s something in here.† He tapped my breastbone. â€Å"Something warm and sensual and lovely that shines out. I’d know you in any body, in any place. â€Å" I curled up against him, happy. â€Å"I’m glad you’re here. Even if it’s because of the Barton and Dana mess. We’re going to fix that for you, you know. I promise. I’m not letting them ship you off somewhere horrible.† A faint, playful smile curled his lips. Affection shone in his dark eyes, affection that was no doubt mirrored in my face. Suddenly, he leaned over and kissed me. Whoa. It wasn’t a friendly kiss either, not the kind we so regularly planted on each other’s lips in a careless way. This was a deep kiss, an erotic kiss. His lips felt like velvet, his tongue slowly sliding over mine. I was so floored by what was happening that for a moment I couldn’t do anything except sink into that kiss and let it send shockwaves through my body. My senses returned to me, and I broke away, sitting up. â€Å"What the hell are you doing?† He sat up as well, as surprised by my reaction as I had been by what triggered it. â€Å"What do you mean?† â€Å"You kissed me. I mean, really kissed me.† He grinned, sensual and provocative. I shivered. When incubi targeted you with that charm, it was bewildering, even for a succubus. â€Å"What’s wrong with it? You mean more to me than anyone else in the world. This is a natural step for us. We should have been doing it a long time ago.† I shook my head, backing away. â€Å"I like the way we’ve always been.† â€Å"Only because you haven’t tried anything else. Look, I’m not asking you to run off into the sunset here. We’re friends. I know that, and I like that. But you’ve said it yourself – sleeping with people you don’t care about is wearying.† â€Å"Yeah, but†¦I don’t think this is necessarily the answer.† â€Å"Then what is the answer?† he demanded. â€Å"Sleeping – or rather not sleeping – with a mortal you do care about?† I climbed out of bed. â€Å"That was harsh. And it’s unrelated. I don’t want us to be anything more than friends, Bastien. Sex,ll mess things up.† He stayed on the bed, watching me pace. â€Å"Sex will fix a lot of things. It’s about time we got some satisfaction that wasn’t all business. It’ll be therapeutic for both of us. We need it.† I turned away, staring out the window without seeing. â€Å"I don’t need it.† â€Å"Don’t you?† Only the voice that asked me that wasn’t Bastien’s. It was Seth’s. I spun around, eyes wide. â€Å"Stop that! Change back right now!† Bastien – as Seth – lay back easily against the pillows. He wore jeans and a Whitesnake T-shirt, just as Seth might have. His hair was unkempt. He’d even perfected that cute, distracted smile. â€Å"What’s the problem, Thetis?† I stormed up to the bed, wanting to give him the full force of my fury even as I longed to run away. â€Å"This isn’t funny! Change back now.† Sitting up again, he slid to the edge of the bed. â€Å"Come on, how have you not seen this coming? This is the perfect solution to all your problems.† â€Å"No, it’s not. It’s really not.† He stood up and walked toward me, not touching me but coming close enough to make my heart race. I stood rooted, unable to move. â€Å"Of course it is. If you ever want to get Seth out of your system, this is the way to do it. You spend all this time pining for him, wondering what it’d be like to touch him and be with him. Well, this is your chance. This is the only safe way, your chance to do everything you want without hurting him. Do this now, and you could save yourself a lot of grief in the future. â€Å" I shook my head, as my mouth apparently couldn’t move now either. Too many conflicting feelings. The entire scene was unreal. Mind blowing. I was still shocked by Bastien’s audacity in doing it in the first place. I knew he was rash and bold, but this was crossing the line, even for him. On the other hand, Bastien had mimicked Seth down to the last detail, and seeing him had the effect it always did on me. Everything was the same. Cute and flawless. More intoxicating still was the truth of Bastien’s offer. I really could do what I wanted here. It was wrong on so many levels, but I couldn’t deny the pull. The perfect temptation. â€Å"I won’t cheat on Seth.† â€Å"What’s cheating between you guys? You do it all the time.† â€Å"Then I’m not going to be one of your conquests,† I snapped. â€Å"Fine.† He shape-shifted the shirt away so I saw only lovely, bare chest now. He drew my hands forward, resting them on his skin. I discovered it was almost entirely smooth; there were just a few soft and silky golden hairs. â€Å"You do the conquering.† â€Å"I’m not doing any conquering.† â€Å"All right. Then take your hands away.† I stared at where my hands lay on his chest. On Seth’s chest. He was warm. My hands matched him almost perfectly. We both had light, barely tanned, golden skin. Take your hands away. That’s all I had to do. I just had to move my hands, step away, and leave this ridiculous game behind. I was only a hair’s breadth from normality†¦yet I couldn’t seem to move away. I knew it wasn’t Seth, but the illusion was so powerful, I could easily imagine that this was exactly how it would feel to touch him. Without thinking, I ran my fingers down his chest, down to his stomach. Seth was no bodybuilder, but he was lean and trim from swimming and running. I had seen him in boxers before; the strong muscles were firm and exactly where they should be. Again, a perfect illusion. My hands had brushed this same part of Seth in bed before, but I never allowed myself to sensually explore him, the way I could now. I moved my fingers further, tracing the lines and contours. For his part, he didn’t say or do anything. But whenever I looked up, those brown eyes were on me, brimming with heat. They made my body respond with a heat of its own. Would Seth look at me the same way if we were together like this? Somehow, I expected the answer would be yes. I knew Seth viewed sex as a serious matter, despite his characters’ casual attitudes. He would treat such an encounter seriously. Also – although I had no proof – I thought Seth would be just as cautious as Bastien was being now, letting me take the lead. Nothing aggressive. My hands slid farther, down to the edge of his jeans where blue flannel boxers barely peeped out. I ran my fingers under the edge, arousing myself further with this dangerous game. Being this close to hitherto forbidden territory was heady. My scouting fingers started to tremble. Never, never would I have let things reach this point with Seth. Not with both of us pressed together. Not with both of us in so little clothing. My common sense would have long since kicked in before something dangerous might happen. But Bastien was right: nothing dangerous could happen tonight. At least not physically. I looked back up. His own breath had quickened. The space between us sizzled. He was so like Seth, I realized. So very much like him. It would be so easy. Easy to pretend. I leaned up and kissed him, again tasting those soft lips, pushing my tongue past them so I could fully savor him. His hands moved around my back, touching silk and bare skin. I was in the same outfit I wore for the last picture: another chemise, this time with a revealing top of ivory lace and a rose-pink silk skirt. I pushed into that kiss, letting it burn me. He kept his hands carefully neutral the whole time, not taking liberties, instead letting me dictate the terms. Reaching around, I grabbed a hold of his hands and moved them over me. I wanted to know what it was like to have him – Seth – touching me. I moved them down to my backside, then over to the sides of my thighs, urging him to push the chemise up. He did, letting silk gather up in his fingers as it slid up, up over my breasts and then over my head. I exhaled as those hands traveled up my body, every part of my skin electric and alive as I stood completely naked now. â€Å"Lay down,† I said, surprised at the rough note in my voice. He obliged, and I crawled onto the bed after him, straddling his hips with my legs so I leaned over him, letting my hair brush his chest as it had that night at Terry and Andrea’s. Seth. I had Seth. And I could do anything I wanted. I kissed him again, harder than I had before, as if my mouth realized this could stop at any moment and had to get as much as it could right now. Pulling back slightly, I placed his hands back on me. â€Å"Don’t stop touching me.† I returned to his lips, crushing his in return, letting my teeth nibble that soft flesh. All the while his hands roved over me as I’d commanded, coming to rest under my breasts so that he could cup them and stroke them. His fingers trailed to the nipples, which were already standing erect, brushing them lightly at first and then squeezing with greater intensity. I cried out, my own savage urges stoked, and I moved my lips to his neck. My mouth worked fiercely against that tender skin, pressing and biting, as though by leaving a mark I could somehow brand Seth as mine forever. Breaking away at last, I raised myself up slightly on my knees and moved his hand between my legs. He stroked me without being told to, letting his fingers slide over my clitoris, building up the mounting, scorching sensation in my lower body. His fingers moved easily, aided by my own wetness. Greater and greater that swelling ecstasy grew until it was almost agony, but I stopped him before I peaked and could find release. Frantically, I tore at his jeans and boxers, getting them off as fast as I could. I sighed shakily, looking at that long, perfect hardness as though it could keep me alive when nothing else could. I moved myself back down and ground myself against him, rubbing myself against that hardness, letting it finish the job his fingers had started. I came almost instantly, having been already on the edge, and before those spasms could even begin fading, I slid him inside of me, letting him fill me up entirely until it seemed there was nothing left of me in my own body, only him. He was still letting me take charge here, but he wasn’t unaffected. His breath came heavy and hard now, his own lips parting slightly with desire, eyes begging me to do more. As for me†¦I was losing myself. I didn’t care about anything else but him inside me, as close as I’d ever been able to get to Seth. It still seemed like something had to give, something had to stop us. But it didn’t. I became more than a conqueror. I was a ravager, taking what I wanted with no thought of the consequences. I rode on top of him, bringing myself down hard each time, willing him to pierce right through me. My hands held him down as I thrust, not that he was trying to get away. My breasts shook as our bodies moved together, the nipples still hard and sensitive. I heard the slap of skin on skin each time I moved down, forming a rhythm with our ragged breathing. I was drowning in Seth, in his sweat and in his touch. I was liquid and golden, merged into him. My body ached, unable to get enough of him, and I moved harder still. I knew exactly which angle I needed to make myself come, and I didn’t even try to hold back the waves and waves of pulsing bliss that racked my body. Small crackles of energy passed between us occasionally – not the usual absorption that occurred with a victim, but the inevitable sharing that happened between an incubus and succubus, two creatures whose bodies were made to collect the power of life. I needed to consume Seth, take as much of him as I could. I had no other purpose. Time passed. My body took its pleasure greedily and often. I said his name over and over, sometimes whispering it, sometimes screaming it, until finally exhausted, I couldn’t move anymore. I stopped, nearly collapsing against him. Barely able to work my lungs anymore, I struggled to get the air I needed. He was still inside me, still ready, but I had nearly rubbed myself raw. My throat was dry and painful. Sweat formed a slick coating on me, and I hung over him panting and desperate, an animal who had just sated her hunger with no concern for who lay beneath. He watched me intently, running a careful hand over my damp cheek. Then, at some unspoken signal between us, he flipped me over onto my back to at last finish himself off. Gripping my ankles and putting them over his shoulders, he knelt before me and pushed back inside. A soft whimper passed over my lips. I was jelly now, unable to do anything but lay there and let him have his way with me. My arms spread out carelessly over my head, fingers brushing the black headboard, and I closed my eyes, just letting myself feel Seth taking me now. I was weak and spent, but it still felt wonderful. I opened my eyes and watched him working hard against my body, at last able to give in to his own pleasure. He’d held back for so long for my benefit, waiting until I had satiated my lust. Now he was the greedy one, ravaging me in the way he wanted. At last, he climaxed with a small groan, closing his eyes briefly, holding himself against me as he came into me. When he finished, he slumped forw ard and pulled out, lying beside me. We stayed like that for several moments, and then he pulled me roughly to him so we spooned, the back of my body pressed against the front of him. Both of us still breathed in heavy, torn gasps as our hearts gradually slowed. I let my cheek rest against his arm. I still shook all over from sex with Seth, with the feel of Seth inside of me and the way he had broken my body with that devastating ecstasy. Then, as one hand tightened on me and his other ran gently over my hair, I noticed something. He didn’t smell right. I don’t mean to imply that he smelled bad. He didn’t. He just didn’t smell like Seth. The sweat wasn’t the same. There was no fleeting smell of apple, leather, and musk, no unique Seth scent. He smelled like Bastien. He was Bastien, I reminded myself sternly, and with that, the illusion shattered, the spell broke. I wasn’t with Seth, no matter how perfect the shape. I was with my friend the incubus. â€Å"Change back,† I whispered. â€Å"What?† â€Å"Change back to yourself.† He didn’t ask why, and a moment later, I rested in Bastien’s arms. It wasn’t Seth, I realized with a dull and terrible emptiness, but it was the truth. We said no more after that, staying in bed together for the rest of the night. Sleep never came for me, however. I lay awake the whole time, staring off into the shadows. How to cite Succubus on Top CHAPTER 16, Essay examples