Fiction

By Eric Alt Every year, the pine tree would leave needles and cones on the lawn for me to rake. My older brother woke up with tears not yet crusted. He ducked his head to avoid the bars from the top bunk, and ran down the hallway to our parents’ room. He stood over our

By Chelsea Pierre Night after night, the darkness brings chaos and cold. Frigid wind paralyzes my limbs. I wish they’d just keep my damn door shut. Pacing, mindless pacing, keeps irrational sanity intact. Numbed fingertips leave hands no longer useful for someone in my profession. A sigh slip my parted lips, breathing turning to ice.

By Hannah Kidder She adjusted her apron and admired the platter in front of her. Grilled cheese cut diagonally. A glass half-filled with 2% organic milk, a bowl of fifteen green grapes and sixteen red grapes. A small vase with a single tulip. She added a dish just big enough to fit two of each

By Misa Gosserand Bright sunlight shone through the window and onto the bed, rousing Emilia from her sleep. Her body moved from its curled up sleeping position and lay stretched out on the bed. The lavender silk sheet slid off her like floating water and exposed her naked body to the sunlight. Her eyes remained

By Richard Dubus The phone buzzed and showed the text saying, “Going to the store. Be there after.” I replied fast with, “I missed you. I can’t wait to see you.” On the screen, three dots appeared, shuffling, but went away. I reached for the sun god-scented body spray, and misted it on my tee

By Eric Alt Her heels make a streak on the mopped dark floor. Sun-soaked hair and Bobby shades do not forgive. In her own world, she is unaware of neighboring gaze. Audible saturation, trance and voices swirl in the small clouds. Wrinkled nose takes in the man-made scent. Lights blink at her presence, briefly leaving

By Hans Allen Jimmy knelt in the sand and held the rifle by its barrel. The desert cooled as the falling sun stained the sky orange, pink, and red. Jimmy stared at jagged mountains that rose like shark’s teeth in the distance. His grip on the rifle tightened as the noise of shuffling feet and

By Trey Acosta We waltzed around the smoldering pit until the last embers zipped upwards. You twirled and said you wanted another dance, twisting my arms, tangling into me, interlocking our limbs, soldering together. I dipped you right before taking the flashlight out of my pocket. Tiny sparkles responded to the high-powered ultraviolet beam cast

By Eric Alt The man pressed his back against the warm stucco wall and dripped to the ground. Cool concrete rested underneath the store letters. From his bag he pulled out a dog bowl with coins in it. Kids came out of the store, each with a different style of pubescent facial hair. The second