As the night draws to a conclusion,this war between us explodes withlandmines, tripping overwires of insecurity,cutting through the tensionof our invention.After consuming red wine,distraught tears flow througha… Read more “Nightfall Truce (Published on Spillwords Press!)”
The Unemployed Catch
I sat over a cigarette and a local newspaper at the kitchen table. I was going over the classifieds. I shifted my notepad and glasses and reached… Read more “The Unemployed Catch”
Sinning in Jeans
I sat in the library over cold coffee and opened books, going over notes for a twelfth-grade biology quiz. I wanted to prove to Mom that I… Read more “Sinning in Jeans”
Righteous Murder
The Rainer Cemetery ash trees had shed their leaves, crunching golden-brown beneath the feet of the funeral attendees. The brisk September breeze hung over Leah’s father’s closed,… Read more “Righteous Murder”
Evicted on Christmas
A forecasted snow-bearing Christmas was three days away. The sun was climbing out of the deep well of winter, but it was still brutally cold. The living… Read more “Evicted on Christmas”
Autumn Gazebo
Guys like me don’t usually do things like this, but I’ve been up since three o’clock, sitting here in the dark, waiting for the brisk October sun… Read more “Autumn Gazebo”
A Robbery On Christmas
It’s Christmas time again. Jodie, who lost her teaching job after budget cuts, is on a mission to buy her kids’ gifts by any means necessary. So… Read more “A Robbery On Christmas “
Who Killed Hannah?
I so have to figure out who killed, no, who murdered Hannah and why, Francis thought, staring eye-level into a half-empty wineglass as though it were her… Read more “Who Killed Hannah?”
Buried Alive
Shannon hated her mother. I didn’t care for the woman either, but I had no reason to see her dead, at least not at first. But Shannon,… Read more “Buried Alive”
Mindy’s Secret
Mindy’s father hated me, especially when he found out we were more than friends. I couldn’t help that I fell in love with his daughter, and she… Read more “Mindy’s Secret”
The Uber Date
Where is she? I glanced at my watch. She should be here by now. I folded my arms across my chest. It’s too cold to be waiting for… Read more “The Uber Date”
Sarah’s Choice: I’m Not Good Enough
I’d been with Sarah for five years, and she was getting anxious, anxious for me to pop the question or move on with her life. And rightly… Read more “Sarah’s Choice: I’m Not Good Enough”
The Weekend Affair
Dan is going through a mid-life crisis, wondering what happened to his relationship with his wife (Tara), and how she hardly notices him anymore. After Tara found… Read more “The Weekend Affair”
Love at a Cemetery
It was the bone-chilling Northwest winter of 1994 when I stood with my shaky hands folded before Granddad’s grave. I stared at his name with a million… Read more “Love at a Cemetery”
The Dating App
My editor liked this short story. Ben and Angie had been friends since they can remember. They told each other everything. Ben would marry Angie, but there’s… Read more “The Dating App”
Caught in the Act
It was the bone-chilling Seattle winter of 1994 when “Breakdown” by Mariah Carey played on Mary’s radio. Outside was a winter wonderland with five inches of snow… Read more “Caught in the Act”
The Angelic Cheater
As I closed the door behind me, the scent of her naked body and cologne, someone else’s cologne, didn’t escape my attention. I raked my fingers through… Read more “The Angelic Cheater”
The Stalker
It was the winter of 1995, and Christmas was three weeks away. I was out with a couple of friends at Mojo’s sports bar. We’d meet… Read more “The Stalker”
Sammy
Becca’s eyes were cold and lifeless as she stared at me. We stood in a crowded hallway, but our eyes locked and all I heard was the… Read more “Sammy”
Dead Body
Anna and Becca, on a road trip through West Virginia, stop for gas, meeting a stereotypical country, hillbilly, who saw too much. Anna physically threatens the clerk… Read more “Dead Body”
Wine From A Dusty Box
Hannah, an arrogant, beautiful high school student, wants to spend the night with Ben (her boyfriend). Ben is an insecure classmate. She lives on the wealthy side… Read more “Wine From A Dusty Box”
I’m Gay, Dad: Anything For Jessica
Mark lives a sheltered life. As the son of a pastor, kids make assumptions about how he can’t watch movies or listen to music. What his friends… Read more “I’m Gay, Dad: Anything For Jessica”
Karly, Sincerely My Addiction
I guess you thought I’d leave;leave like you wanted me to; well, I’m not.And I won’t give up again, not this time.My red, dry eyes worship the… Read more “Karly, Sincerely My Addiction”
Stolen Love
The person you see sitting beside you isn’t me;he hasn’t been for some time.My rollicking sense of humormellows your anxiety through belly laughs.The reddening of your cheeks… Read more “Stolen Love”
Cabin Mood
He’d never been to a cabin—never wanted to until now. The suffocating aroma of evergreen trees and the surrounding cherry wood made his spirit water with an… Read more “Cabin Mood”
Fight over Wounds
She hurled angry words in bed,robbing the subtilty in my voice.She torpedoed a sinking ship of romance,stealing the air from my lungs.Her accusatory hollers echoed down the… Read more “Fight over Wounds”
Flirtatious Innocence
When we exchanged a friendly glance at a party,a lump formed in my throat,and colors rearranged blackand white framed pictures of us above a fireplace.Not even tripping… Read more “Flirtatious Innocence”
I’m Cured (Kinda)
Go to therapy, she told me. I was too protective and pleasant all the goddamn time. The pain she felt at being a victim served her well.… Read more “I’m Cured (Kinda)”
Lake Baby Blue
I yawned from under the covers, stretched to an audible crack in my back, and batted my red-from-last-night-drinking eyes open at our modest Blue Lake cabin. The… Read more “Lake Baby Blue”
The Overdrawn Home
“Don’t play dumb,” I said, loosening my tie. “What happened to the bank account?”Natasha shot me a confused glance. “Something’s wrong with the account?” She stopped sweeping… Read more “The Overdrawn Home”
Court to Bed
I drummed my fingers on the table in a courtroom;my voice shook through nerves with trembles.The judge gave her the house and the dog;she left me with… Read more “Court to Bed”
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