By Jill Sisson There were a lot of them, a small crowd of pronghorns, shining like bits of lightning on the sagebrush hills just outside the small town of Worland, Wyoming. I was part of a three-person crew of field biologists, all of us in our mid-20s, crammed in a government rig to inventory and … Continue reading Hardwired
That Smile
By Ahming Zee The fairest day in hapless mortal’s life Is ever first to flee. --Virgil, Georgics I got laid off last summer – the act of Murphy’s Law that is said to occur at least once in a lifetime – it occurred right after I had booked my trip to Beijing to visit my … Continue reading That Smile
Heritage
By Huma Farid My lineage is a black hole, adrift from the reality of my present. I stand alone, an alien amongst those who have casually, thoroughly laid claim to a land that could not be claimed. I wonder: what must it feel like for your ancestors’ memories to shape your history? What must it … Continue reading Heritage
Strangers on the Tram
By Mirela-Andreea Rotariu Trapped in the bronze, weathered gaze of the trumpeter with no body, I willed myself to take a few steps back, realizing I had been staring at the sculpture for too long. It was a rather abstract depiction. Mounted on a lusterless, white pedestal, the figure’s hands stood erect holding the trumpet, … Continue reading Strangers on the Tram
The Endless Day
By Penny Nolte The station is packed and no wonder. Our train is delayed because of the storm and no one knows when it will get through, that’s good news for us because otherwise we’d have missed it. The trip is my present, because I hate to fly. We are taking a sleeper car all … Continue reading The Endless Day
Inspire for Hire
By Alex Andy Phuong As a person transitioned from college to adulthood, conflict came about along with hints of doubt. After all, like after graduation is nothing like High School Musical. Without graduating summa cum laude, this individual had to learn many powerful life lessons that extend beyond academic settings. In fact, this person learned … Continue reading Inspire for Hire
Anton
By Oleg Daugovish On an island of Fyn, washed by two frigid seas, a town of Svendborg roots. A church by the harbor repels rain’s assault with an armor of red bricks and tile. Inside the gloomy cathedral, a scent of sandalwood coats the dark-haired crowd whispering in Tagalog. The Danish Catholic congregation relies on … Continue reading Anton
The Pinny
By Myra Lee Virgil It is a brisk October day in 2024. I am perched on one of four vibrant blue Adirondack chairs made of reclaimed plastic; robust, durable, and heavy, all facing a patch of Grape Bay Beach. The waves of Bermuda’s South Shore at this stretch of the beach pounce to the shoreline. … Continue reading The Pinny
Soulless cars, portable homes
By Milena Filipps Under the influence of time in the shape of years, calendars and sunsets, we learn to believe that every town has a soul. It may be a collective memory, a view, an invention, a dialect, a name or a phantom encompassing a unique structure of history and chaos, care and carelessness, flowers … Continue reading Soulless cars, portable homes
Anthem
By Ryder Smith An Aromantic Love Story Told Out of Order for Dramatic Effect September I’ve never experienced a love like this before. His perfectly tamed, flowing brunette hair. His round, almost frameless golden glasses signifying that he’s clearly queer. I have no idea what his relationship history is, but that’s not important; I know. … Continue reading Anthem
