By Asmi Mahajan Almost there, but never quite.Bridges half-built, doors left ajar.Chapters cut mid-sentence, ink drying before the thought is done.Dreams linger in rooms we never enter.Echoes of footfalls that never met the threshold,Fingers poised over piano keys, a song unheard.Ghosts do not haunt, they hover—Holding space for what remains undone.If only, if only—your favorite … Continue reading Unfinished
Silence Is Golden
By Steven Bays George was on his way home after a night out with his friends. It was late and since it was a weeknight, he would pay for it in the morning. His alarm would go off on time regardless of when he went to bed. George, in his early twenties, still lived with … Continue reading Silence Is Golden
The Soap Bubble Fairy
By Matias Travieso-Diaz We are blown upon the world; we float buoyantly upon the summer air a little while, complacently showing off our grace of form and our dainty iridescent colors; then we vanish with a little puff, leaving nothing behind but a memory-and sometimes not even that. Mark Twain Elisa was only five when … Continue reading The Soap Bubble Fairy
Me and Myself
By Amir Natan I was sitting alone in the movie theater, enduring yet another one of those quality boring movies that only two other odd people and I came to watch. He arrived late and sat right beside me—another weirdo. Just my luck. Not in the mood for small talk with random people seeking relief … Continue reading Me and Myself
Sun Tzu and Entertainment: Jaws’ Orca Ordeal
By Andrew Nickerson In the field of military tactics/strategy, one name has long stood above the rest: Sun Tzu, ancient philosopher/general/strategist. This ancient genius’ masterpiece, The Art of War, is one of the most venerated of all time, a gem touching on nearly every element of conflict, and all for one unique goal: winning. Its … Continue reading Sun Tzu and Entertainment: Jaws’ Orca Ordeal
Falling Stars
By Dibyangana We burned like dying stars, too bright to last, too wild to stay.And the universe trembled, spilling stardust into our veins.But even the brightest constellations are destined to fade away.The black hole whispers, calling us home.Gravity pulls at our edges, unraveling us thread by thread.If only I could reach you, even beyond the … Continue reading Falling Stars
Chasing the win
By Louisa Prince Just another twenty dollars, then I’ll quit. Neon signs glowed and flickered in the dimly lit room. Mark had been there for hours with his bulky frame hunched on the stool, eyes focused on the screen in front and hand hovering over flashing buttons on the keypad. It seemed like a good … Continue reading Chasing the win
The Secret Song of Shelby Rey – Novel Excerpt Chapter 1
By Rayne Lacko Shelby 2010 The last semester of high school, I kept a list called “Things I Won’t Miss After Graduation” in the back of my chemistry binder. The instigator of the list was the periodic table. It seemed impossible that so much magic should be boiled down, parsed, categorized, and then fenced together … Continue reading The Secret Song of Shelby Rey – Novel Excerpt Chapter 1
The Pond
By Gregory Smith Frank was a real Renaissance man. He was a writer, an artist and musician. He adored nature and animals more than people. Don’t get me wrong- Frank was a sociable guy. But like many tortured artistic souls, he was happiest in solitude. He never married and only tolerated children when he had … Continue reading The Pond
They Came
By Yucheng Tao Originally published in Cathexis Northwest Press Tuol Slenglike a poisonous flowerexhalinga piercing venom.The palm trees swayedbeneath the faltering shadow,a procession of bones —the dead—labeled as intellectuals.They camelike a gust of wind,They camelike a herd of wild beasts.They cameslaughter upon slaughter,cursing Tuol Sleng,damning its streets and rivers.They regarded themselves as fanatical idealists,But never, … Continue reading They Came
Academy of the Heart And Mind 