I open my eyes and all I can see is an old faded couch that I’m lying on. I’m in a basement but I’m not sure who’s basement I’m in. I see the bookshelf of movies and an old guitar. I realize now I’m in his basement. I look around again to see if I’m […]
The Art of Doing the Most
Circa Post-traumatic Breakup, Mistakenly Taken for “Daddy Issues” I have a black thumb. As much as this budding twenty-something would love to engage fervently in the vibrant suburban DIY subcategory of “g a r d e n i n g” and “cultivation”, I am apparently inept when it comes to keeping a goddamn succulent alive. […]
Island of Abandoned Dreams
I live on the island of abandoned dreams. I grew up where others go to forget about their failures and mistakes. This is where I live and not a single soul is happy here. Technically, you’re not supposed to be born here. People are supposed to come here only when they can not make anyone […]
The Feeding
A dusty fan circulated across the room from one end to the other. It’s been a while since Augustus put it to use, so he couldn’t blame the junk for its inability to remember its single duty. Arkansas hasn’t had a summer night like this since he was a child. He lay in his damp […]
The Return
As Stavo reminisced on a time when Lulu wasn’t so ugly to him, he watched the blonde waitress behind Lulu’s head showcase a bottle of wine to a table of businessmen. He was tantalized by her tan, slim legs. She had on a black a-line skirt that flared at the bottom, emphasizing her bony hips. […]
The Distractions Game: Part I
Lottie pretended to read the message on the iPhone that Summer was shoving in her pale face. Summer was whining about the same guy for the tenth time that night. Lottie wanted so badly to rip the Band-Aid of comfort off and shove the thick pill of heartbreak down her best friend’s throat, but she […]
The Anniversary
It was their tenth anniversary. Venus’ curlers were still fresh in her hair, the heat was hot to the touch and almost burning the scalp. She was never really fond of curlers anyway, but her mother always made her wear them for any big event. Her pink silk robe stuck to her warm skin. She […]
The Dance of Time
The persistent sound of prickly Cuban songs from 1950 Chevrolets left a tedious hum in her ears. The days were sprinkled in rain, Cubaton played in every business,and with each breeze from the Gulf came a heavy smell of dust and gasoline. Karla walked the stone paths with a butterfly-fluttering feeling of contrary. She hoped […]
When Rabbits Slip
A gold celestial pattern of the sun, moon, and stars painted on a tapestry hung behind the television set. Willie leaned back into the ugly plaid sofa of his parent’s basement, allowing his body to sink. As Willie focused on the tapestry’s pattern, his childhood friend, Richard, sat next to him playing Zelda on his […]
