Lila
“You never loved me?” It was more realization than question. “You’re nothin’,” Lila spat through her cigarette smoke. “Like your father,” she muttered and took another drag, her too-red lipstick leaving its stain on the butt. He hated her. Hated her cheap clothes and frowsy hair, her bra straps sticking out of blouses forever unbuttoned and…
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Curtain Call
Breathe in. Breathe out. Visualize. See yourself in front of the room, comfortable, confident, smiling as you go through the motions… “Rubbish,” she muttered. It never works. You can’t deliver a convincing portrayal when your heart isn’t in it. Not really. The words you say are just a script to fool the world into thinking that…
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The Red Chair
Rob’s heart beat faster as he parked his pickup and climbed the steps to the porch. The little red chair sitting in the corner couldn’t be the same one he lost years ago, but he had to ask. It had been his dad’s chair first, then his. Rob couldn’t remember if it was lost by…
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How Does Your Garden Grow?
“George, your yard and gardens are holding up so much better than anyone else’s on the street during this heat wave,” said Sam, pausing his morning walk to wipe the sweat from his neck. “Yeah, Betty’s taken to spending a lot more time out here since several of her friends have passed lately,” said George…
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Anticipating Harvest
Where did he go, she wondered, when he left her? His retreat was much more than physical absence. No, this separation ran deeper. He left not only her, but himself and the world as well. While he remained in that suspended state, efforts to harvest even the slightest sprout of affection from him proved fruitless;…
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Riptide
Sometimes when I stand on the rocks, the water is gentle. The sun throws splashes of daylight stars to tickle my feet. Other days, the water is playful. The breeze laughs, blows bubbles around my ankles and knees, pretending these small waves can topple me. On darker days, the water churns by swiftly, and it…
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In the Morning Light
Looking at Paris in this light, Jean-Luc mourned the passing of time. He sat easily on the park bench with one arm draped over the back and pulled a slow, hard drag from his cigarette. The slightest whisper of morning rose behind the trees and bathed the park in elegant rose-gold dew. As the hour…
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A Familiar Content
It is almost time. Steam rises in front of me, blurring my vision slightly. I inhale deeply, taking in all that I can by breath. A gentle heat kisses my cheek, turning my skin warm and moist. Bright flashes of orange and green swim before my eyes, darting impishly in and out of bouncy cream-colored curls. Metal brushes…
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On Wisdom
“Am I wise?” I asked the Sky. Can you balance dark and light? Hold within you the vast potential of the future? “Am I wise?” I asked the Sea. Can you wash away just enough of the past to refresh yet leave a lasting impression? “Am I wise?” I asked the Earth. Can you take…
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The Perfect Thing
“I would give just about anything for a cheeseburger right now,” I said, thinking of that perfect state of meltiness achieved by marrying hot, juicy beef to cool, creamy cheese. I drove on, debating whether pulling into the drive-thru was wise. After a moment, a small voice chirped from the back seat of the car.…
