Aksel saw his life in ruins. Annelise, the girl he had loved since childhood, had wed another man — another man who had money and therefore the approval of Annelise’s father. Aksel had begged Annelise to elope. She said it… Continue Reading
Honey, this story’s been passed down from mother to daughter for six generations, and it’s done right by me more than once. Now that you’re getting married, maybe it’ll do right by you, too. So put your Billy Boy out… Continue Reading
Snow whirled in soft lazy circles. Marya no longer felt the cold. She walked on, hunched over, a man’s thick black coat clutched to her chest. Beneath the coat, Elena lay strapped against Marya’s torso. Weeks of hunger had rendered… Continue Reading
Before the ghosts of the old couple braved the house, they armed themselves with tools from the garden shed. Bill liberated an iron trowel from the cobwebs and clutched it in a clammy hand. His wife, Matilda, chose a rake,… Continue Reading
The man who answered my knock was a twitchy, weaselly-looking fellow. His eyes darted around nervously as he cracked open his front door and demanded, “You him?” “I’m him,” I agreed, holding up my briefcase. “I have the contract, right… Continue Reading
Ben shows up at Haley’s place after dinner one night. He knocks on the door, and she opens it, cautiously, leaving the security chain in place. One of her blue eyes appears in the crack. “Oh… Ben?” “Surprised?” “Well…” She… Continue Reading
I was dead. Lying on the floor thinking: why me? It seemed so unfair. There were so many things I wanted to do with my life. It was too late now. There was no one to give me the kiss… Continue Reading
The lightning flashed. Alice sat by the window and watched the storm. There would be no trick-or-treaters tonight. She smiled and lit a cigarette, watching the rain beat down. The house shook as thunder rolled across the sky. The storm… Continue Reading