Tuesday, September 30, 2025
Long Term - Chapter 1
"Hello." The woman at the front desk was about my age. She wore an old-fashioned braid and looked at her computer screen instead of at me. Her voice sounded drained, as if the excessive use of this greeting formula during the previous hours of her shift at the counter had cost her all energy.
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
The Messenger
Firfir protests sleepily as I push him off my stomach and fold back the two layers of blanket I'm buried under. He shakes his head, yawns, and hops off the sofa, his eyes sparkling in the dim light as he stretches and scratches his claws on the carpeted floor before vanishing toward the door.
Right. There was a knock at the door—the reason I woke up. I squint to find my warm flannel house shoes and hurry to slip my feet inside. It's almost dark in the living room, the light over the table off although I'm sure I switched it on earlier. Another blackout. The fireplace is barely giving light; the wood is too wet for a decent fire, and it took me half an hour to get it burning in the first place.
"Ma'am?" A low voice, muffled behind the door.
"Dawit?"
I hear the door handle creak. The door opens and when I turn my head, I see Firfir‘s tail slipping past two black feet clad in dusty sandals.
Sunday, June 1, 2025
Benjamin, the Dragon, and I - Chapter 1
I met Mr. Carlson right in front of the door, my key already in hand.
“Oh—Miss Goodman.”
“Good morning, Mr. Carlson.”
He looked rushed, his hair less tidy than usual and his coat only half on. He clutched his black leather case and a scarf in one hand, about to close the door with the other—only to hold it open for me instead.
Third Wheel - Chapter 1
The first time he heard the noise coming from the other side of the wall, Ethan thought his roommate must have had a terrible accident. He lay frozen in bed for a split second, heart hammering as he listened in shock, before throwing the heavy comforter aside. The cold stung with the contrast to the warmth of the bed as Ethan‘s body was suddenly exposed to fresh air, but he pushed himself upright and hurried into the hallway. No doubt Jared needed his help.
Assisting David - Chapter 1
I blink against the sunbeam slicing through a gap in the blinds, landing square on my face. Black silk sheets. The wall papered in matte purple. A framed picture showing two bodies intertwined in shadow. Next to it, a pencil sketch of a nude woman. I pause—his ex? A full laundry basket in the corner. Beside a glossy black wardrobe, a stack of throw pillows.
I let my head sink back into the remaining pillow on my side of the bed and close my eyes. Late twenties, I'm thinking. Reasonably successful. Charming. Probably surprised I came home with him last night, but not overly so. Single for... a year?
Tuesday, April 1, 2025
Onsight
Climbing spots aren't quiet. You'd think you need silence to concentrate when there's hundreds of feet of air below you, or maybe people would keep quiet out of respect for nature or others around. But no. Usually there's lots of yelling—requests for more rope or less rope, questions about route direction or comments on its quality, the general screams of support (best if offered as a choir), and then of course the frustrated cry from the climber and collective groan from spectators accompanying a fall. There's rarely silence at climbing spots.
Monday, January 1, 2024
More than a Man in a Red Sheet
Sarah boarded the train, her eyes routinely scanning for her assigned seat. She finally spotted it by a window, next to a man she hadn't noticed until now. His long legs, draped in what appeared to be a red sheet - or was it his jacket? -, partially extended into the aisle.
"Excuse me," Sarah said politely, attempting to navigate around his legs. “I think I’m seated next to you.”
The man looked up from his phone, slightly startled. "Oh, I’m sorry,” he apologized but didn’t move to stand. Sarah couldn't help but notice his striking features - dark hair, remarkable jawline, and piercing blue eyes. "Um... I'm afraid I won't be able to get up to let you through. One moment, please..."
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Crashing
“Hi,” I say, somewhat reluctantly but I remember my good manners. I even extend my left arm, the right one being occupied with the cane.
Thursday, December 1, 2022
Turbulence
Okay, that probably makes me sound like a douchebag. I’m not an asshole. Maybe a little, sometimes. When I’m hungry, or tired, or when the person in line in front of me orders the last piece of cake that I have set my eyes on and can practically taste in my mouth already, the one with glistening dark chocolate and raspberries, or the handmade earrings I scout out on a market that match perfectly to my favorite blouse, or that hamster in the cage, with the white spot on the snout, when I’ve just come up with a name and subconsciously added it to my family tree (true story). Then I might get cranky. But otherwise I’m totally zen. Really.
Tuesday, August 31, 2021
Sunday, August 1, 2021
Lobster With a Straw - Chapter 1
Some people have the gift to make an entire hall fall silent.
I’m proud to say I can do the same. Only I’m none of those people you’re probably thinking of.
Of course, it would be kind of great if it were my stunning looks that make people stop talking mid-sentence, or the beauty of my smile causing them to stare wide-eyed. Sure, I try to keep my appearance as immaculate as possible. Which isn’t easy if you don’t dress yourself in the morning, shave your own face or brush your own hair. And yes, I’ve heard a few times that I have a sunny smile (mostly from women over fifty, though). But no, I don’t think any of that applies here. I’m pretty certain that those rows and rows of mostly middle-aged, gray-faced men in dark, pin-striped suits aren’t turned toward me now in almost perfect silence because of my style in clothing. Neither is it my voice, because I haven’t spoken yet and don’t really plan to.