“Hey, you…” “Hey. Let me adjust my screen so we can see better… Okay. Sorry to keep you waiting.” “Another long day, huh? You, the essential worker. We thank you.” “Haha. I just wish the things get calmed down a bit. Instead of worse.” “Yeah…” “And I miss you. It’s been a while since I last saw you in person. How are you?” “Let’s see… … Continue reading video chat
Stillness and darkness are among us, and I can only see his bowed head held by the palm of his hand. I know he’s alive because I can see the blood vessels on his knuckles, shone by the moonlight leaking in from the windows. The sound of banging explodes, and I crawl to the corner. With my trembling hands tightly against my chest, I curl … Continue reading the king and i
The bed is uncomfortable enough to make her wish she were dead. She sighs, and the bleary ceiling stares at her. “Are you awake, Ms. Wise?” A cheery voice enters the room, along with a squeak made by shoes on the linoleum floor. As the door opens and closes, Ms. Wise catches a glimpse of colorful objects glide down the hallway, passing by her … Continue reading the invisible
“Happy Birthday, Grandma!” The old living room smelled of new paint and was filled with a cacophony and commotion of children and adults whom she barely recognized. She sat in the family heirloom wingback chair, which the daughter-in-law had recently reupholstered with the “candy apple” cover. She missed her husband, her children’s father, who had passed away years earlier. She thought of her friends, … Continue reading and many more
“You can’t do this.” “…Mom…” “They’ll find out… “It’s fiction, mom.” “You can’t write about us.” “It is not us. They are fictional characters and events.” “But, still…” “This is my first novel, mom. I worked really hard, you know that.” “I know, honey. It’s hard to make a living as a…writer. I wanted you to get a stable job with benefits, get married, … Continue reading rickety
The girl felt the wet ground of the mall parking lot. The soles of her shoes had no tread, and one of them was flapping. The other had no shoelace. “I can’t walk, mommy. My shoes…” Her mom stopped and looked down at the girl’s beaten shoes. She knelt and stared into her daughter’s face. “It’s time to get you another pair.” She looked … Continue reading treasure
“Hello, darling. How are you?” “I’m fine. How about you?” “Oh, you know, same, same. Where have you been, though? I haven’t seen you around…you weren’t even at the annual event.” “Uh…I…I wasn’t doing well.” “Oh? Are you okay?” “Yes, I’m fine now. It’s just…it was tough for a while. That’s all.” “Why didn’t you say something.” “Well…” “You always said you were doing … Continue reading road to nowhere
Surrounded by the dense vegetation, the little house was quiet. No light glowed, no laughter erupted, and a lone girl sat in the corner. Splinters from the hardwood floor poked the girl’s bare feet. She, however, stayed still. They had told her not to go outside, the jungle loomed, to stay away from the door and window, and that she was safe inside. She … Continue reading i hope you dance
She looks at her reflection. A pug-nosed, slant-eyed, round face stares back at her. It is snowing and dark outside, and she can see, on the windowpane, the mirror image of the classroom and other pupils who look much different from her. The teacher has told the class to draw trees and flowers. Other kids are tackling their projects with marker pens and crayons. … Continue reading a splash of color
When the first one fell, I cried. It tugged at my heart. Why does something so vibrant have to perish, I thought. I felt frightened. Then, I got used to it. Daily grind numbs your soul and makes you oblivious to many things. Dozens could be falling, and I didn’t even notice anymore. Remnants lay on the ground, and I walked by, feeling nothing. … Continue reading fallen
