By Okereke Emmanuel Chibuike The first time I saw my mother cry, I was seven.The world had thrown another weight on her back—a bill, a betrayal, something she didn’t name. But she wiped her tears, tied her headscarf tighter, and started dinner like the storm hadn’t touched her.She was a woman with fire—not just in … Continue reading Fire in Her Bones
August Summer Competition Fiction Winner: “What the Canvas Revealed” by Farytude
Ironside was a town on the edge of boiling by the time August rolled in. By the third week of the month, the earth cracked like burnt bread. Windowpanes shimmered with trapped heat. Dogs wheezed in doorways, their eyes like dull marbles. The townspeople were exhausted and frustrated by the relentless heatwave that had dragged … Continue reading August Summer Competition Fiction Winner: “What the Canvas Revealed” by Farytude
To the Stars
By Cullin F. Morgan (Year 2151) Carl stood up from the booth and politely shook John’s hand. “Yeah, I’ll reach out! It was nice meeting you, too!” John slipped quietly out of the diner. “I’m not calling him,” said Carl under his breath, sitting back down at his table. He took a copy of Anna … Continue reading To the Stars
My Tree
By Cithara Patra My favorite tree. There are many like it around here, but this one is mine. It calls me. It’s an old friend I get to visit every day, no matter the weather. With its big branches looming over, I get all the shade I need. It protects me from the bright rays … Continue reading My Tree
Pyramus
By Seth Sherman “Can we keep him, Daddy? Please? He followed me home from school today and he's so friendly. Look!” I had to admit that he was good looking, and he sure seemed to like Sarah, but...”I don't know, sweetie. I think he's got a tag on him.” “I know, but look how he's … Continue reading Pyramus
A Life of Song and Silence
By Tim Law Previously published in Sweety Cat Press Sasha peered into the stage spotlight, squinting, plagued by an infestation of butterfly nerves. The stool that she sat upon was uncomfortable, one size fits none. The murmurs from the crowded bar were just that little bit too loud. Clutching her guitar like a security blanket … Continue reading A Life of Song and Silence
Wicherek Way
By Callie J. Smith My mother talked to dead people, and I hated her for it. At 10 years old, I remember pressing myself into the wall beside an old rosewood buffet in the family room. It sat by the doorway to the kitchen, where I’d hear my mother talking with her parents as if … Continue reading Wicherek Way
A Panoramic View
By Abe Margel I thought I understood how my family operated, its rules, habits, prejudices, passions. I was wrong. My sister, Nina, was born first so got the larger of the two bedrooms destined for the children. Her room had a big walk-in closet which, as a kid, was a fun place to hide. From … Continue reading A Panoramic View
Those Goldbergs
By Charlotte Pregnolato The first thing I saw was the gleaming chrome grin twinkling down the street, followed by the biggest car I'd ever seen. When the grinning monster turned into our driveway, I stopped twirling my hips, and my hula-hoop clattered to the ground. Daddy got out with a grin almost as big as … Continue reading Those Goldbergs
Escaping the Shell
By Destiny Hankerson Aretha walked down the shady pathway, right next to the park. As her Black hair blew in the wind, she smiled, feeling the sun rays against her face. It was a brand new morning, and Aretha felt blessed to experience it. Today, she was heading to the audition for her part in … Continue reading Escaping the Shell
Academy of the Heart And Mind 