Once upon a time, there was a little rat. His fur was the color of dust and his nose was always twitching from excitement. While the rest of his neighboring animals were graceful and pretty, his looks caused fear, especially with that red scar across his face. However, what he lacked in appearance, he made […]
Mari knew enough to be horrified by the little beast sitting oh-so-innocently in the gift box. Her hands, moments away from diving into the package, retreated hastily under the protective shelter of her arms, the motion like that of a turtle withdrawing into its shell. It was a natural reaction; the idea of pets terrified […]
The radar’s bright, blinking dot was becoming brighter and blinkier. It’s close. The chasing T-Rex violently roared. Suddenly, the radar vibrated and wailed. There! Crouching down, the man pushed a pebble until the radar blinked: Timeline Balanced. “Take me to July 24th, 2020.” T-Rex lunged with its snapping jaw, but he was gone. Opening his […]
‘At first it was slow. I noticed, in those moments when we shared the daily cryptic, her mouth would droop, she would stop speaking mid-sentence for a few seconds.’ I shuffle in my seat. ‘Over time the illness quickened,’ like a black fog rolling under a door, or a mind filling with ants. They sit […]
Every day new leaves fall down my backyard. Never fails. Every day the wind blows them into the pool. Never fails. Every spring the cherry trees on Emerald Road bloom, dark pink, light pink, white. Every day the cat tries to escape through the front door and every day the dog barks, offended. Every day […]
Samuel woke up in the hall, but he didn’t think much of it; he sleepwalked every other day. He looked out his peephole first, as per his usual routine. Instead of seeing Sarah heading for her run, he saw her crying form surrounded by police officers. Half an hour later, he was in trial for […]
Decades ago, a university friend I hadn’t seen for five years appeared while I sat outside my neighbourhood pub enjoying a solitary after-work beer. “I always admired the way you ignored everyone and followed your muse,” Susan said after a brief hello, how are you. I stared, bewildered. Since high school, I’d lived in fear […]
Rachel Rachel checked her phone again. John would be here any minute. The pair had met on Tinder four months earlier. Under normal circumstances, this would be a first date like any other. A match, followed by some flirty messages that would eventually lead to coffee or drinks at a local spot. Not this time. […]
Sitting quietly on the dusty ground, Alma explored the clear green tufts of clover with her bony fingers. She picked a stalk and placed the three leaves carefully on the three remaining fingernails of her left hand, hiding the crusts of dirt and dried blood. If she squinted, it looked like she was wearing green […]
It is early, 5 am. The house is quiet as I look in on the bedroom where Ruth and the children are sleeping. I picture their happy faces, hear their laughter, and smile to myself as I hold the memory, for this morning like every other morning may be the last time I see my […]
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