Latest Stories
Most recently published stories in Psyche.
The first entry.
Mei's small but slender fingers traced delicately over the notebook bound by an old shoestring atop a stack of other similar ones. Dad's choice was always black, now a deep dusty grey. She had her own. It was an expense they couldn't afford; the damp smell in her dad's arms-width office was evidence of that. The scent made her insides twist with pain. It had been two months since his funeral and she still spent almost every day curled up under his desk, scared to open his drawers unless his perfume escaped to mix with the air becoming eternally lost. She often thought about opening and reading his notebooks, like they once did and yet a deep fear of something terrible happening held her back. Curious, she placed her index finger under the tattered shoestring and pulled gently; it held taut despite its years. If she unravelled them, would the words he had scribed lift off the page and float away? She lay on the floor, knees tight to her chest picturing that. Words floated, shimmering through the air around her, letters forming from specs of gold as the sunlight trickled through a small window. It made her smile watching her little world fizz and crackle with life.
By Tiffany Kee5 years ago in Psyche
A Gambler's Remorse
A Gamblers Remorse “Oh my God, I can’t believe I did it again. Oh no”, Lisa thought to herself. It was at that very moment she realized she had both won and lost over twenty thousand dollars. Her heart dropped to her stomach and she instantly felt numb. The slot machines at the casino were lit brighter than New York Times Square on a Saturday night. No longer could Lisa hear the chimes, chings, rings, whistles, bells, or laughter she had enjoyed just moments ago. She was stuck in a trance until she felt a tap on her shoulder. It was Judy, the cocktail waitress. “This one is on me”, said Judy. Lisa grabbed the glass of white moscato offered to her and drank it rapidly. Immediately Lisa felt embarrassed because she knew Judy was all too familiar with the face of defeat.
By Tarika Walker5 years ago in Psyche
A Desperate Game
You sit down on the park bench, feeling completely drained. Too worn down to even think of tears, you simply sit with your head in your hands. Another trip to the clinic with your wife, another confirmation that the cancer was spreading. You got her home and resting comfortably. She told you to go take a walk, she knows you always feel better after getting some fresh air.
By Kenny Francis5 years ago in Psyche
The Seventh Blue Bird
It had been two years since the sides of her mouth curled upward. Natasha had dropped out of school to chase after a boy she had met that summer. She didn’t know what drew her to him, but she was nuts about Travis. They ran away together and, at the time, she truly felt he was the love of her life. Then, a month into the relationship, things began to change. Natasha discovered the true nature of her lover. He was a narcissist and now she was sure of it. He forced her away from close family and friends, fearful they might persuade her to leave him. She became a far removed version of herself. Who she was had withered away into nothing. Now, in the form of a shell, she took demands and mostly kept quiet. She felt like a stranger living in her own body. It was as if she had been brainwashed. Sometimes she felt she had been. Every day she grew increasingly numb to the pain. Eventually, the vacancy of her emotions began to shift. Something stirred inside her and Natasha couldn’t ignore it any longer. She was angry, but not with Travis. Her feelings for him were mostly those of resentment and compassion. Knowing what he had experienced as a child was part of the reason she put up with the abuse. The anger she felt was directed at herself for giving away her control. She had to find a way out of this relationship or it would destroy her if it hadn’t already.
By Antonia Kimball5 years ago in Psyche
The Perfect Place
"We are so lost." Elle was skeptical of the old maps we found in his car. We didn’t have much of a signal out here in the middle of nowhere either, so GPS was hopeless. Had to rely on old school methods like a couple of wandering settlers in search of paradise. In this case a couple of college kids on vacation. Our first cross country road trip. We were on our way to an amusement park in Florida from Chicago for some much-needed relaxation.
By Nick Spivey5 years ago in Psyche
