Fireworks And First Steps

Fireworks and First Steps She almost didn’t go. Crowds. Triggers. What ifs. Her daughter tugged. “Please, Mommy? Just for the fireworks?” She hesitated on the grass, heart racing. A year since the divorce. A lifetime of fear. Never enough. Never free. The first boom cracked the sky. She flinched. Her daughter laughed. And something shifted. […]

The Lights Know

The Lights Know “I loved him,” she whispered. The kitchen light flickered. Across the table, her daughter stared. “Even after what he did?” A long silence. “I knew. Before the arrest.” The chandelier blinked twice, then held steady. The girl’s voice cracked. “You let him stay?” “I was afraid.” The hallway bulb stuttered, buzzed, then […]

Dusty Rodes

Dusty Roads The map fluttered out the window somewhere past Abilene. Didn’t matter. She wasn’t following it anyway. The rearview showed her wedding dress. Crumpled the backseat. Like shed snake skin.  The radio crackled. Maybe dead. Maybe searching for a signal. Dust rose behind her, thick as memory. He always said she’d never make it […]

Fireworks Start At Dark

Fireworks Start at Dusk “Why’s she crying?” the boy whispered. His dad handed him a sparkler, eyes fixed on the woman near the fence. She stood alone, arms folded tight, blinking fast. The sky boomed red and gold. Children laughed. A dog barked. The woman didn’t flinch—just stared upward, lips pressed like a secret. “Maybe […]

Boots First

Boots First She spat blood and grinned. “Is that all you got, sweetheart?” The man blinked. He was twice her size, but she hadn’t flinched. Not when he broke the bottle. Not when he swung. There she stood. Boot on his throat. His lip split wide. Sheriff’s lights painted the dust red and blue. “Again, […]

Left Overs

Leftovers She was crying in the pantry. Third shelf, behind the Chicken Noodle Soup. His favorite Still sealed. The date read October 2022. He said he’d be home by winter. She presses her forehead to the cool can, shoulders shaking.  Small footsteps echo in the kitchen above. “Mom?” She wipes her eyes. Her face. Smiles […]

The Unseen Tug

The Unseen Tug She didn’t hear the whimper. She felt the soft, warm nudge against her knee.  The park bench was hard. Cold. The textbook dense.  Her parents’ argument still echoed.  A knot in her stomach.  She shivered. Pulled her sweater tighter.  The scruffy dog, all ribs and matted fur, gazed up. Hopeful eyes meeting […]

That’s All It Took

That’s All It Took The voicemail was only seven seconds. “Hey. I’m sorry. I miss you.” Jenna stared at the screen. Her hot coffee mug suddenly felt cold.  Two years of silence undone by six words in seven stupid seconds. She’d built a whole life around being over him. New job, new friends, new therapy.  Her lungs […]

Wish Swap

Wish Swap  At 2:12 AM., they met at the crossroads. Old rules said you couldn’t make your own wish come true. But, you could swap. “I wish to forget her,” he said. “I wish to remember him,” she whispered. They Pinky Swore. A spark. A blink. He walked away with no ache in his chest. […]

Night Dive

Night Dive The ocean swallowed her light as she descended. Just her, the black water, and the rhythmic hush of regulator breath.  Below, a flicker. Then then a flash.  She turned, searching for her dive buddy. Nothing. No bubbles, no beam. Then – eyes. Not human. Stalking her. Glaring from the wreck. Panic surged. Breathing […]