Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Fiction.
Deposits
The first week of chemo, Peter sits by you and rambles about everything and nothing for the sake of distraction. You’ve just learned about the money dumped into your bank account — twenty-thousand pounds that isn’t yours. It’s been there for two weeks, which shows how often you bother to check. The bank app labels it a deposit, but it’s a mistake.
By Owen Schaefer5 years ago in Fiction
The Infinite Vastness
Esteban looks at me and claps his little notebook shut with one hand. He walks over to the garage door and leans forward until his head hits the wall with a faint knock. He’s still standing there with his forehead pressed into the plaster when he begins:
By mark wilkes5 years ago in Fiction
Whole New World
Maya stepped out the glass door with a shiver. A strong breeze swept through with such intensity it made her stop and regain her footing – November in the Windy City. Could be way worse, she reminded herself, taking a deep inhale before adjusting her mask. At least the sun’s still out, she thought gratefully.
By Sneha Pradhan5 years ago in Fiction
Diamonds are forever
Susan sat on the subway bench squeezed between two large people. They weren’t overweight, just tall, overall bigger than average. Susan was tall too, but slight and wispy, kind of like a birch tree. One small birch tree wedged between two big oaks. She accidentally looked directly at the man sitting across from her and quickly darted her eyes elsewhere. He saw her. Dammit. On the New York City subway, one does not look people in the eye. One certainly doesn’t speak to anyone unless asking for directions. Directions are allowed, but only if you don't live there. Sometimes, Susan does not pay attention to these rules.
By Faith M Adam5 years ago in Fiction
Come get me, Angel
My fingers were aching, the result of being torn and chewed up from pure nerves. It was a bad habit, but one that gave me the distraction I so desperately craved. It felt like I had been sitting here for days when in reality it had only been a few hours. A few hours since the funeral, since her funeral.
By Casi Alarcon5 years ago in Fiction
The Dead Drop
She had that unsettling feeling the moment the snow lifted and she could see the cabin through the midwinter trees, somber and oddly still in the gloom. There was no sign of life inside, not even the telltale smoke from the chimney, just the eerie quiet of the white, snowbound forest all around. She paused, and that moment of dread rippled over her once again, that moment she hoped would never come but, deep down, knew it would.
By Hamish Alexander5 years ago in Fiction
A Picture is Worth 1000 words
Jim cursed under his breath as he weaved around groups people aimlessly clumped together, staring up at the skyscraper that loomed above them. He doesn't usually get so worked up. He doesn't mind tourists the way a lot of his coworkers seemed to. He actually enjoys watching people who've never been to the city see all the "tourist" stuff for the first time. The sense of awe and appreciation they have for the things he's been taking for granted his whole life remind him of how lucky he is to have grown up in the city. What he did mind was working near the Empire State Building, and-- now that he was late-- the amount of ducking and dodging it took to make it to the building's front door.
By Faith M Adam5 years ago in Fiction
Time
I watched her hypnotize my coworkers, each of them listening intently as she handed out assignments. They were simple tasks, like dinner was to be outside her door at 6PM sharp, and warm towels at 9AM. Simple, but she said each as if it were gravely important, accentuating it with a large tip and a promise of more. She went through everyone on shift, except me. I had come in late and was hanging back, observing the commotion at the front desk.
By Faith M Adam5 years ago in Fiction
A memory of snow
It had been a few days since the last snow. The sidewalks were passable again and the snow was turning the color of, well, that color snow turns when it's been exposed to the worst the city can throw at it for the better part of a week. Grey, green, black, brown with suspicious yellow pits and assorted trash for good measure. City snow.
By Liam Strain5 years ago in Fiction
