Jessie shifted uncomfortably in the pew. The heat was getting to her, making her neck itch under her turtleneck. She tugged it, rubbing it back and forth on her itchy neck and pulling it out to let some air in. If only she could step outside for some air but she sat in the middleContinue reading “Heat and Hellfire”
Tag Archives: short story
Secondhand Adrenaline
Tara climbed the rock face with concentrated ferocity. Her lean and muscular body worked with rote muscle memory, pulling her closer and closer to the ledge on which he waited. Her hands gripped and released, gripped and released, while her legs maintained a steady balance below. From above, her face could be seen as aContinue reading “Secondhand Adrenaline”
War and Surrender
Ralph stood over his son’s freshly dug grave wondering at the drymess of his eyes. As the minister intoned prayers, he turned his eyes skyward, in an act of defiance. How could a loving God have let his beautiful boy die in such a meaningless war? A blood-red sunset met his gaze, the sky aContinue reading “War and Surrender”
Flea Market Surprise
The lamp over the bed had been blinking with increasing frequency for the past few hours. Mason had tried turning it off. He even unplugged it but it continued to blink. On… Off… On… Off… On… Off. It was driving him batty. There must be something wrong with the bulb, he thought, reaching up toContinue reading “Flea Market Surprise”
The Fall
The sound seemed to bounce off the subway tiles and reverberate through the tunnel, amplifying the noise of the crowd tenfold. Brian hated it. It was making his head pound horribly. He pressed on through the throng as quickly as possible. This was the worst part. The pressing of bodies, the heat, the smells… HeContinue reading “The Fall”
The Engagement Party
Looking in the mirror, Pedra took note of the little wrinkles around her eyes. Had they always been there? She sighed, applied some makeup and tried to smile. To her eyes it looked more like a grimace. Did she really have to go out today? She did have to. It was her brother’s engagement dinnerContinue reading “The Engagement Party”
Vipassana
She sat meditating in the moonlight. To an observer, she would have appeared to be peaceful and still, but inside a war raged on violently. Today had brought her to her worst place. Sitting with it took the courage of a warrior. The pain was immense. It lived not only in the reverberation of negativeContinue reading “Vipassana”
Life in the Slow Lane
She was still getting used to her new place and the howling of the nearby coyotes was like ice to her blood. What had made her want to live in the country anyway? The answer, of course, was back in the bedroom, naked, sexy and waiting for her. She finished filling her glass and paddedContinue reading “Life in the Slow Lane”
Another Day, Another Dream
“Hey, Darla, what’s your biggest wish?” He called out into the kitchen where she was cleaning up the dinner mess. He must have been watching one of his goofy shows. She sighed and rolled her eyes but stayed silent. He wasn’t going to love her answer… He didn’t let it go, though, “Darla, c’mon… IContinue reading “Another Day, Another Dream”
Perfume, Nostalgia and Tea
He was overcome by the scent of her perfume, the same his wife had worn all through their short marriage. “I’m sorry. I can’t do this,” he said, when their lips were less than a centimeter apart. She pulled back, her eyes wide with surprise, “Did I do something wrong, Stephen?” “No… No, it’s nothingContinue reading “Perfume, Nostalgia and Tea”
