NOW YOU NEVER CALL ME ANYMORE by David Swan
Tina’s watch said 5:45 a.m. Central time. Though it was an hour later at home, and Bill’s rigid morning routine would have him in the shower with his phone out of reach, she dialed...
TWO WOMEN by Penny Page
At first, the knock startled me—two quick raps of the knuckle followed by one hard strike—a distinctive and demanding announcement, leaving no doubt in my mind who was standing in the hall. I ran...
A GIFT FIT FOR A QUEEN by Dru Richman
Olivia sat under a painted sky watching the suns go down. Her husbands had put the children to bed and now she was enjoying a moment of blissful quiet. It had been over ten...
WHEN SARAH SMILED by Marc Levy
Most good people go quietly.—Frank Serpico
Steven walked briskly up the stairs, signed forms, entered the crowded elevator, strode down the corridor, finally entered a small overheated room. He looked about. Curled up beside Theo...
ALTERNATIVE CHOICES by J. L. Higgs
During our lifetimes, we each encounter countless numbers of people. Most are soon forgotten. But then, there are those like Lindsay.Three years running, my relationship with Jules was beyond the excitement stage. We’d grown...
INVENTING LAUGHTER by Shari Lane
The pineapple sat on the counter, contemplating suicide.Wait! Don’t go! I know what you’re thinking: This is ridiculous—pineapples don’t contemplate.I agree wholeheartedly. Why do you think I’m considering ending it all? As far as...
THE PHOTOGRAPHER by Peter Farrar
It’s difficult to say when it started. Perhaps between the third and fourth coffee during that Friday morning. It could’ve been as I rasped the broom around ceiling corners where cobwebs swirled and bent...
TWIN SISTERS by Tom Revitt
As the two old widows were starting up South Pearl Street a sharp sudden wind hit them full in the face. It had decided to gust on cue just as they were turning. They...
AXEL ‘N’ LULU by Gene Goldfarb
By the time he was four, Axel knew the most important verbs in six languages. Be, make, do, go, have, want, say, know and think. He also knew the six basic words of inquiry....
A CHANGE IN THE TIDE by Katalina Bryant
Salt tickled my nose from the ocean spray. Coarse sand rubbed against my palms as I leaned back. In the distance, Emelie smiled at me, her wet hair whipping in the wind. I raised...