The Old House

By Gretchen Keefer A sound startled the old house awake from its long slumber. A familiar sound, but he couldn’t quite place it. It was not like the steady stream of cars on the highway that consistently lulled him to sleep. Thinking about the sound, he realized there was indeed a vehicle involved, but it …

Mia’s Tree

By William Kitcher A sapling sprouted between the asphalt of the driveway and a wooden beam that was the border of a flower garden left to grow wild. The only person who noticed it was Mia, who was four years old. Naturally, she didn’t know much about trees – not many people do – but …

Little Dom’s

By Niles Reddick Christina and I got engaged at Griffith Observatory overlooking Los Angeles at sunset. We had done most pre-marriage necessities--met each other’s dysfunctional families, shared about previous relationships, and agreed on future goals. We paid the fee to park, walked to the edge of the cliff nearest the Hollywood sign, and stood breathing …

For Harmony

By A.L.F. Fagan My nursing shift at the hospital was finally ending. I’d lost track of time, and my boss, Karen Baker, had to inform me that it was almost time to go home. “Frank,” she says, “Tina just arrived to take over for you. Once you and her have completed the change-of-shift, you can …

Sydney’s Missing Eye

By Luke Beling Sydney had one eye. I used to ask him, when he’d drive me to school, what happened to the other one. He'd tell me a different story every day then laugh through a set of crooked, stained teeth. I marveled at how he'd reverse our big car down the steep driveway. It …

As the Door Opens

By Samantha Kennedy  Thump, thump, thump, Sadie heard someone walking up the front steps.  “Who could it be?” she thought. Suddenly she felt very scared. She always worried that someone would break into her house. She ran over to the bedroom and hid behind the door. She could feel her legs shaking.    “It’s all in …

Road Closed Ahead

By Divya Manikandan “I’ve never seen them shut like this,” Meena said, bending her head away from the scorching Indian sun. Her forehead burrowed into a frown as she twisted her sandals into the gravel. A small pebble entered her chappal and she pressed down on it. “I didn’t even know they could close,” Sid …

Losing Friends

By Victor Schwartzman Earnest stood on the edge of a cliff. He hated losing friends. People came and went. He hated losing connections. He hated losing people. Casual friends dropped out as casually as they dropped in. Some were charming and he missed them. Those losses caused some pain. People he’d known for years was …

The Hollow Heart of Pewabic Mountain

By Christopher C Tennant In the spring of ’87 she left me, so I packed up my things and went east. I wandered far from civilization, across ragged hills and barren deserts, across the open byways and empty ravines that mark the contours of the great and endless West. I was alone for a time, …

A Moment of Synchronicity

By Ruby Pressman Today, I was sitting outside a church with my friend Christina. "Do you think --" I paused. "Do I think that God really exists?" We both laughed. "No," I chuckled, "I meant -- do you think that life makes any sense?" "No, are you kidding me?! Of course not!" I thought she …