Panic

The overactive imagination She had been driving for over an hour. The thick blanket of deep forest green trees choked out the blazing orange of the setting sun. Shadows like claws reached out across the road as she made her way through the forest. She saw the blood-red truck peeking through the trees. Smoke billowed… Continue reading Panic

The Pushcart Prize: A Peek into the Prestigious World of Small Press Recognition

That is what I asked when I received the message I sat tapping away at the keyboard. Messenger dinged. Initially, it looked like another random man attempting to message me about how hot they thought I was. Photo by Pawel Czerwinski on Unsplash. Altered by Jennifer Brewer via Canva. The name sounded familiar though so I… Continue reading The Pushcart Prize: A Peek into the Prestigious World of Small Press Recognition

Trapped

Revised 1/23/2024 I sit on a cot, wrists shackled to a chain attached to a wall made of damp, musty rock. I walk ten steps and the chain pulls tight. The scent of damp earth and excrement fills my nose with every breath. There is squeaking and scratching from above. My skin crawls. The hairs… Continue reading Trapped

The Day the World Turned Red

The calendar above her purple desk held bold red X’s, leading the countdown to the purple and yellow stars surrounding the 17th day of June. It was finally here. For months, she’d been excited for this day. Today she turned thirteen and was finally a teenager. The birthday party was still a couple of hours… Continue reading The Day the World Turned Red

Stale Cigarettes: A Tale of Two Thieves

The mirror behind him, spotted and hazy, held the room of half-empty tables, a few regulars, and deep shadows. Smoke danced through the dimly lit room. The bartender wiped down the bar, covered in nicks and dips. He poured drinks as he moved up the bar. An old Wurlitzer 1700 jukebox, blue and red shone… Continue reading Stale Cigarettes: A Tale of Two Thieves