That day, an unfamiliar face stood in the butcher’s shop. A tall, rounded man with a trimmed beard and two emerald green eyes sold her the pork shoulder. Belle stood behind the counter, watching the world play out outside the shop windows. The silence stretched between them. Sounds from outside the building echoed in the ...

Cancer: The word means nothing to most people. But to the people who have it, or those close to them, the word means everything.

If I had only known the last timeWould be the last timeI would have put off all the things I had to doI would have stayed a little longerHeld on a little tighterNow what I’d give for one more day with you ‘Cause there’s a wound here in my heartWhere something’s missingAnd they tell me ...

My first time working for my new employer, I had yet to see a day of sun since the Mississippi. The train had arrived in a cloud of low-hanging, foul black soot that matched the smiling mouths of some fellow patrons I tipped my head to along the way. What had been a normal blend ...

Thirteen years ago we walked across a church stageNow, so many of us are deadIraq, Afghanistan, or from drug overdoses[Mostly drug overdoses]Some of them? farming or fishing accidents – ButMostly drug overdosesShe called me on the phoneCame down the stairsTelephone cord like a nooseDid you hear about William?Did you hear about Carolyn?Did you hear about ...

I have found myself thinking about the way things end. The ending of a television show can affect the entire journey for viewers. I mean look at the Game of Thrones television show. This would be the perfect time to rewatch the show, but the finale was met with such anger that fans refuse to ...

The nefarious nighttime monster stepped out from the portal, and an evil smirk possessed his face. The vile red-eyed beast never knew where the gateway would end up, nor did he care. All that mattered was making a kill—and receiving a reward of a whole-body judder when the human’s heart ceased. The forceful vibration sent ...

Part 1     Part 2 Pyper rode in silence with Abigor on the shiny black horse. The massive animal trotted with grace through the ash-filled streets of the in-between—the after death realm. Sadness filled her heart. Why did I have to die? An aneurism? How is that possible? My family needs me! She averted her eyes ...

a twist in your gut marks this violent path a heartbeat taken a breath driven out his smile shadows your memories and the blood that soiled his face when he died father’s ghost taunts you in the night where peace can find no purchase in your dreams thirstful vengeance marks your violent path bodies in ...

Raindrops fell from the sky, blowing sideways from gusts of wind. Felix took cover under a large oak tree and glanced at his watch: 4:20 a.m. An evil smirk spread across his face. He slipped the black hood over his head and walked through the rainy darkness toward Mara’s car. She never locked her Land ...