#jess smith

Come gondola tongue, come narrow passage, come lunar water vapor, nightfall summoning the tide of him up and up

this begging shore, shining cliffs, his hard hands a storm cloud in our shared sky, synchronous orbit luring me to the thunder

of that body, silver satellite, the long milk he laps from the canal of my spine, I'm all eyelash and inhale, all estuary, all course and crushed

by the meteor of him, by the crater pretending to be sea in the telescope's lone and limpid eye, our only cries were answers, crawling

The Amber Family

John Amber (father): He is a workaholic who tends to favor his own ambitions and creations above all else, especially towards his business at Milo’s Pizza Land. He along with James Lynn, are the main founders of the animatronic-themed restaurant, striving to keep up the demand for these types of fun establishments.

He’s very prone to drinking and neglecting the needs of those around him, even if it means pretending to care about others. After the night in 1998, his priorities became very skewed, and he continues to bury himself in his creations rather than facing the consequences.

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Jess Smith (mother): A helpful and courageous mother that acts as the emotional anchor for the family. She’s tried for years to hold everything together, putting her needs aside for John’s dreams of opening a business and care for their children.

After that night in 1998, she called the split and took the kids with her, leaving John alone. She’s grown really protective of Tommy and Violet, carrying a guarded heart and getting quietly strong — love is earned at a slow pace. Sometimes at night, she thinks of her third son.

And regrets not checking if he was still there when they left.

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Tommy Amber (son): The first child of the Amber family who’s got a protective streak, and a calm, thoughtful demeanor. While he doesn’t always speak what’s on his mind, he still observes with a keen eye. He seems to be the adventurous type, and isn’t one to easily show how much something deeply affects him.

He could see the cracks of the family beginning to show before they started to split in half that night. After that, Tommy grew more loyal to both his mother and twin sister, often giving them silent support when they need it most.

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Violet Amber (daughter): The second child of the Amber family to be born right after Tommy, who’s the kind of sister that speaks her mind in a blunt manner and give the harshest of truths. She displays a sharp sense of humor and a quick wit that isn’t afraid to call anyone out.

Beneath that tough exterior however, Violet cares deeply about her family, especially towards her mother and twin brother after the split. She’s the mix of her mother’s resilience and her father‘s ambitions, making her the favorite during family life.

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Parker Amber (son): The youngest of the Amber children. He’s shown to be the forgotten one, deliberately ignored by his father, and overshadowed by his siblings. He’s the observant type like Tommy, but is surrounded by the deep sense of isolation and abandonment.

Coverage of Actual Parade