By Steve Carr Joe pushed the screen door open with his wheelchair footrests and wheeled out onto the porch. With creaking hinges, the door slowly closed behind him as he stopped at the porch railing. The edges of the lightweight quilt around his shoulders flapped in the cold wind. He pulled it tight around him, … Continue reading Wonderland
Counting Crow
By Yash Seyedbagheri Crows gather on the frozen pond, pecking at the ice. Dinnertime. They peck left and right, cawing, beaks circling their domain. I clutch hole-ridden mittens, coldness rushing. My sister Nan waits, wanting to know if I found any coins today. Or dollar bills. Legs wobble. The sky shimmers pale blue and white, … Continue reading Counting Crow
One Chance
By Medha Godbole Singh It was a foggy morning in her adopted home, Mumbai, as Anisha, a 30-something art design professional, looked out of her bedroom window. The weather was on the cooler side, a bit unlike experienced usually in the maximum city. She had woken up later than usual after a good night’s sleep. … Continue reading One Chance
A Sigh of Relief
By Nancy Machlis Rechtman Leona sighed. It was the morning of Cassie’s high school graduation and Leona couldn’t have been prouder. Her beautiful daughter was about to finish high school as valedictorian of her class and was busy putting the finishing touches on her speech. Leona peeked in Cassie’s room and saw her in her … Continue reading A Sigh of Relief
Memories of Lilies
By Hayley Reese Chow The fresh lilies on the table are from Mom, but they remind me of him, of course. After ten years, they shouldn’t, but my disobedient thoughts wander anyway. Maybe it’s the social distancing, or the fact that I haven’t dated in… I honestly can’t remember, but I open my laptop and … Continue reading Memories of Lilies
Conned
By James Dunn Second Lieutenant James Dawson made his way through the Happy Hour crowd at the Charleston Air Force Base Officer’s Club bar and ordered a glass of white wine. After he took a sip his friend and squadron mate, First Lieutenant John Tamkun came up from behind and nudged his arm. “Glad you … Continue reading Conned
A Bowl of Tum Yum Soup
By Tabassum Tahmina Shagufta Hussein While looking at her regular stray cat friends, Nivi felt so special today. All she can recall from her 14 years of life is a dispute between parents, her grandparent's targeted hostility, and being treated like a second class. No one has ever made her special. She never knew how … Continue reading A Bowl of Tum Yum Soup
The Woods Can Be Good
By David B. Barnes My view of the world had changed after years of being disappointed by people who seemed to be focused on hurting anyone they could, for any reason or for no reason. I started wearing a badge to make a difference. I found that those of us who wanted to help our … Continue reading The Woods Can Be Good
Noise
By Steve Carr The sound of the 5:10 train coming through town was comforting. In the morning darkness of her bedroom Mrs. Lilly sat up on the edge of her bed, pulled her robe that had been draped over her walker from the top crossbar and slipped her arms into the yellow cotton sleeves. She … Continue reading Noise
A Palia for the Mason
By Shalini Ajay Singh The observer, when he seems to himself to be observing a stone, is really, if physics is to be believed, observing the effects of the stone upon himself. ~Bertrand Russell This is a beautiful city, come, burn it with me? There’s no Appian Way, or “queen of the roads” in these … Continue reading A Palia for the Mason
Academy of the Heart And Mind 