“I prayed for you,” Rionan said. Ingrid paused, stirring the pot over the flames. It was too early for the sun to have risen more than a sliver over the horizon, and a dim shadow infused the woods around them, but the trees were already alive with birdsong and rustling leaves. Ingrid stared, unsure what ...

Over the years, I’ve watched my friends’ relationships with their spouses. They tell me they married their best friend, and I wonder how they can be so “attached at the hip.” They do almost everything together, from shopping to attending interest clubs to watching TV. They like the same shows, the same music, and have ...

Hi, Best Friend! I know life is crazy these days, so I decided to write you a letter! The best thing about our relationship is that even if we haven’t seen each other in a while, when we finally do get to have coffee together over FaceTime, it’s like no time has passed.  Sometimes it ...

                                                Osaka, Japan                                                 Wednesday, October 12, 2 PM                                                 Kaze Tea Ceremony House Hikari sets several teacups down, then kneels to practice her bowing for guests. Her knees ache, and her feet sleep. She attempts to hide her discomfort by smiling. The tea kettle begins to steam, and Hikari crawls over to pour ...

Nia finishes off her toaster waffles and sets her dishes in the kitchen sink. Knowing her parents were not home gives her a sense of comfort.

                                    Monday, September 19, 3 AM                                     Post Office in Monaco Fog rolls in from the coastline and shrouds the streets of Monaco. A distant foghorn alerts ships coming in from the sea to be careful. Only the streetlamps appear visible through it. Unaware of the fog’s arrival, tourists cling to their dreams of winning ...

Read Part 2 My Face For The World To See by Alfred Hayes was an awful book in Deirdre’s opinion, but she kept reading it out of morbid curiosity. When she’d finally flipped the last page, thoroughly disgusted with the characters, it landed on Ian’s nightstand.  “That was pointless,” she said, falling back onto the ...

You know how the little things you dislike about a person made you love him or her even more? Well, that was CJ. On the one hand, he is the best guy friend a girl could ever have. He is caring, funny, and dependable. On the other, he can be such a stubborn, controlling asshole. ...

I am at a loss for words this week. No, it’s not because of writer’s block, or not having confidence in my writing. This week, I am scared. I know Covid-19 is still an issue, but now our country was once again reminded of the horrors of police brutality. A Black man named George Floyd was killed ...

Filled with nervous anticipation, Willie scanned the station. His focus scattered as he looked from face to face, hoping one would be familiar. People bustled everywhere. The troupe glided through the crowd of pedestrians, each man searching for anything out of the ordinary. Tobias lifted Willie on his shoulders to get a better view. “Anything?” ...