It had been a long night. I knew this day would come; there was no preparation for it. As we all stood around the hospital bed, holding hands, I saw a puff of smoke above me. I looked around at our family and friends. Their eyes closed. Was it inappropriate to shout out, “Hey, look ...

Goldfinches and sparrows flit from branch to branch, filling the air with melodic choruses. Daylight warms Jayla’s face and rouses her from a deep sleep. She reaches for her plush blanket but collects something brittle and moist. Startled, Jayla opens her eyes and blinks to clear them. Clasped inside the palms of her hands are ...

time encapsulated warmth embraced love harnessed chaos reigns death begins life ends swirling mists dancing starts lights twinkle in the din of silence everything around us kaleidoscope of image stand your ground break away cry for shelter welcome the rain so many opportunities so little time concentric circles we all become never ending never beginning ...

Emily and Dean hiked deep inside The Fallen Forest to reach an area rumored to be a hotspot for unusual activity. A local had drawn a map for their use, but the elderly gentleman also issued a warning for them to stay away. Dean chose to ignore the gray-haired man and made his way far ...

The light from the lamp flooded over the paper on which she wrote, keeping shadows at bay while the night crept on. Her eyes threatened to shut of their own accord, and fatigue settled into her bones. At times her vision blurred. She found it hard to focus on her task. Every scratch of the ...

Two eyes struck him cold Like snowballs pelting him flush His body frozen in fear, the streets   rising up in him again, shoulders tightening Legs burning in a crouch ready to pounce & catalyze another man’s demise   His nemesis, sitting in his mind’s eye, reached in his pocket for prison house sharpness, the ...

“Lily, slow down!” Lily didn’t want to wait for Mommy. After three days of rain, Mommy finally said it was time visit Daddy. So, Lily kept running, she knew the way. She stopped mid-run, spread her arms wide, and looked up toward the bright blue sky, squinting from the sun that was no longer blocked ...

Thank you for your drooping branches, Graying at the stems and leaves splaying Between me & a race soldier’s bullet. I never knew what made the wind Break so forcefully – left and unfettered, Swaying the grass in unison like a hard jazz step, Seconds before the next Martyr’s lament Whisked in quarter time to ...