I am thrilled to have stumbled upon this contest. For one, it just seems like a ton of fun. Second, the piece that came out of me surprised me. It broadened my view of myself as an author and opened my mind to exploring new styles and genres. Last, the connections and openness of this community is incredible and welcoming. As a result of less than 200 words I have been fortunate to cross paths with amazing critique partners with whom I hope to continue collaborating. Ima