From above, Tina imagines she and Tony look like fleas on the spine of a slumbering beast. In their drab hiking attire, they’d merge with the landscape were it not for their backpacks — his blue, hers pink. Up close,… Continue Reading
I’ve forgotten something, I know I have. In fact, now I come to think of it, I’ve forgotten everything. “Hey, Smith,” someone shouts, “move it!” I seem to be dressed in combat clothing; green camouflage. I’m holding a weapon, though… Continue Reading
“Why am I even in here?” the shade whined. “It’s not like I hurt anyone.” I’m professional, I reminded myself. I was not going to reduce her to ghost dust. I was not going to cause an incident in my… Continue Reading
Jean-Pierre Dimarche looked up from his book. His study was perfectly lit in warm yellow light, and his chair pleased the senses: the smell of leather wafted up from it while the soft perfection of its texture caressed the skin.… Continue Reading
When Rhianna saw the first dead bird on the front step she sighed and bent down to where the bird lay on the morning’s newspaper with its wings outstretched, as if it were still flying; soaring down from the top… Continue Reading
I was about to give up when the hold music — a few looping bars of infuriating non-jazz — abruptly cut out. “Hello, Lost Drafts,” a voice said. I fumbled with the receiver. “Hi, I uh… I was told to… Continue Reading
When Keegan is alone and his insides rumble in turmoil, he remembers the day he swallowed the spark. It charred his tongue with its smoky texture and smoldered down his throat to plunk into the acid of his gut. Delicious.… Continue Reading
It was approaching midnight as Marsha, an ER nurse, piloted the Toyota sedan along the winding country road. Today’s rain had left the air misty, with steam rising from the warm road. The temperature was falling. Marsha just wanted to… Continue Reading
Sunday, 9/9 The date had been circled on my calendar for months. The night before my flight from Nashville to NYC I used a red ballpoint to circle the word Tuesday and the number eleven. And then again and again… Continue Reading
They were right, it all passes too quickly. Demetria both regretted and cherished every extra minute it took to get little Anton into the bath. She wanted to get him into bed early, but he was so happy playing with… Continue Reading