The first time I met her, she told me her dream. It was a simple dream, one that — in the past, when real estate prices were still somewhat reasonable — could have been realized with ease. It wasn’t a lofty dream like my own. For my ideal future involved becoming a New York Times... Continue Reading →
Traffic Light
Have you ever had the course of your life change in the span of a traffic light? I have. It was a subtle, but rapid change. A change I thought belonged only in scripted novels or films. In order to begin this story, I will have to start at the intersection of Washington and Rogers. I was driving home from... Continue Reading →
The Music Box
The cashier handed Lukas two one-dollar bills, one quarter, and three pennies. He slipped the money into his pocket without looking at her. He then grabbed the plastic bag on the counter and quickly left the store.Outside the shop's entrance, Lukas reached in for the music box and let the plastic bag float onto the... Continue Reading →
The Writer
The writer was attending the meeting of a third book club for the novel In Jest. They had been kicked out of two prior book clubs for disorderly conduct, i.e. instigating verbal confrontation with group members. It had taken them two weeks of scouring online sources to find this book club, and they had to take the Subway... Continue Reading →
Sound and Color
The C major 7 chord is purple. The F chord is orange. The D minor chord is blue. And the G chord is yellow. This is a short story about Lance. And synesthesia. Well, this is my short story. I am Lance. I sometimes refer to myself in the third person. I’m strange. And I always have been. Or... Continue Reading →
Adrift
Naia found herself adrift in the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by varying shades of blue. The serenity of the monochromatic landscape reminded her of a recent trip to the Sahara Desert. For two nights, she had slept outside on the sand with only blankets as a base and covering, awaking at sunrise content and refreshed. Believing that she... Continue Reading →
The Failure
Jessica’s greatest fear was failure. So, from a young age, she organized her life in a way that would impede such an event. As a child, she was the kid all the teachers and adults loved. In High School, she aced her way to valedictorian of her class. In her friendships, she was the leader... Continue Reading →
Like Samson and Delilah
June wasn’t born in June. In fact, she was born on the day of the winter solstice: December 21, 1992. So June was an ironic name, a name that didn’t fit her. She had black straight hair, porcelain skin without the mark of a single freckle, a frail frame, and eyes as black as the... Continue Reading →
Three Tables
About twice a week, I take a walk down Chambers street to a small square park spanning two streets lengthwise and two streets widthwise. At the left corner of this park, a two-seater bench faces the northern façade of a local bar. Its convenient location across from four large windows allows you to study the... Continue Reading →