By Kim Hayes My mother and I are sitting in her living room, talking about what I can’t remember. Out of nowhere, she says, “You know, Kim, you would be so much prettier with contacts. Why don’t you wear them anymore? I’ll pay for them.” It is the fall of 2017 and I’m in New … Continue reading Pretty Is as Pretty Does
To Whom Is It Granted?
By Asta Bender Binjol placed the rug in the middle of the living room–rolled it further and fixed it properly to align at the center. The rug was too big for the room–wasn't even something he could afford. But he inherited the rug from his grandfather, and wanted to honor his last wish. Binjol never … Continue reading To Whom Is It Granted?
Toy Soldiers
By Seungwoo Lee I remember; as a child, I quietly watched my older brother stationing a troop of toy soldiers on our new wooden floorshinin’ with luster. He had them all lined up, and I just wanted to knock ‘em down, with all my scanty might. And so, I came along with my hands filled, … Continue reading Toy Soldiers
Becoming
By Sydney Frandsen The first time I teleported, I was with Hamish, and we were about to tumble from the edge of a cliff that we had ventured to close too. One second, we were sliding over the loose gravel, about to fall a thousand feet to our doom, the next, we were a heap … Continue reading Becoming
Magical Touch to Autumn
By Vanaja Malathy rugged mountains pose still to the daub of golden paintas the aspens stain the rockies splash to smear yellow and gold, lace orange and red a canvas of spectacular view beautiful landscape turns into a dreamscapeI stand in ecstasy and elationlost in the mesmerizing, magical beauty of aspen’s artof awesome autumn. i … Continue reading Magical Touch to Autumn
No Place for Rain
By Oliver Hickman Raindrops pecked at window sills. Streaks ran down the glass— channels between clinging mist. The clouds had slumped low, visiting the ground in person rather than by gift of drizzle. They hugged the roads, the hills, the gradual moor, laying a blindfold on the town of Teatrees. The views and vistas which … Continue reading No Place for Rain
To my Moon
By Josephine Rudolf The world only knows me when the sun is out,A select few have seen a cloudy day.But never night—I always hid that.Hiding in dark corners, almost freezing to death.Yet the second that corner was exposed,Something came back to life.It wasn’t me, but she looked the part,Which used to be enough. When we … Continue reading To my Moon
A View From My Window
By Leslie Selbst It is snowing heavily, and the flurry at the bird feeder gives credence to the fruitless search for food. The birds are hungry, and the fluttering and chirping grow louder as each struggles to maintain ownership of the seed pile. Their techniques vary, for size is not a predictor of control as … Continue reading A View From My Window
Cloudy Day for a Run
By Megan Nicholson I have felt consciously, emotionally asleep, wanting to stay awake for some unknown purpose other than to be away on these last couple of Saturday nights into Sunday mornings, and not let another day pass to further the timeline of distance between the last time I saw you until the unknown day … Continue reading Cloudy Day for a Run
After Your Funeral
By Mike Zimmerman The five of us promised your mother we would clear out the apartment. Grief-stricken, she’d tried her best, but left us with whatever she couldn’t take or toss. So, we’d divorced ourselves into two cars, and Jessie made an appointment with a disposal company. We had until 8 pm tonight to sort … Continue reading After Your Funeral
Academy of the Heart And Mind 