Jun 81 minThe Foretelling of FishMadison knelt at the edge of the river and dipped her fingers into the icy water. She smiled; the river was not always this kind. She...
May 111 minShared FateCarl sat on the cement bench outside the ancient administration office and enjoyed his roast beef sandwich. High above, in the nooks and...
Apr 141 minBitter and SweetMarissa stood in the doorway of the nursery and gazed at the basinnet as late afternoon light filtered through the blinds. She and Tom...
Mar 101 minHomecomingKatie clenched her jaw as she stared at her old house. Its windows smiled like broken teeth, and a plywood front door stood eerily ajar....
Feb 101 minTalisman of CourageMarta sat in her car as the sun set. Her art opening tonight would be the ultimate in exposure. She clutched the tiny red lacquered...
Jan 61 minHand of ProtectionThe morning was still cool when Madison wandered into the souk. Copper lanterns, brass candlesticks, and stained glass lamps beckoned,...
Dec 21, 20211 minHow the Love Gets InKaitlyn wore armor around her heart as a knight would into battle. It was invisible to all but the men she inevitably rejected. She had...
Nov 22, 20211 minThe Ring VendorI wandered the streets of Marrakech amidst the din of bargaining and the smell of spices and roasting meat. When I came upon the ring...
Oct 26, 20211 minLast MementoMary struggled to open the old wooden trunk in the sweltering attic of her late grandmother’s house. When the lid finally popped open,...
Sep 27, 20211 minDoom with a ViewRich and I sat and held hands on the rocky outcropping as the sun rose. We’d chosen to come to the wilderness to watch the meteor’s final...
Aug 26, 20211 minUnder the UmbrellaAs Jason and I left the restaurant after one of my best first dates, I could hardly believe it was raining. I’d felt an instant...
Jul 28, 20211 minThe Scent of SummerLaila ambled down the dusty trail toward the river. In the distance, the Gallatin Range rose to meet her, ablaze in the morning light....
Jun 22, 20211 minWisdom in YouthMolly and seven-month-old Ike watched the hills roll away as the train clacked through the verdant English countryside. When the train...
May 26, 20211 minWhere Kansas Used to BeAs Jake and Sarah drove east, she prayed they’d left soon enough. The earth still smelled of smoke, and ash coated the windshield. When...
Apr 29, 20211 minWatcher In the WaterEmily sat beneath the open weave cotton blanket on the beach and inhaled the scent of chocolate and cinnamon from her steaming cup of hot...
Mar 24, 20211 minSecond Generation PioneerCarly discovered the tattered maps as she cleaned out her parents’ closet. Circles and X’s marked the towns, off the beaten path tourist...
Feb 25, 20211 minHolding You, Upon the SeaRegan almost couldn’t bring herself to return to the beach where she’d lost Josh. The rescue team had never recovered his body, and she’d...
Jan 27, 20211 minThank You, DaddyKayla smiled as she sat in the passenger seat and stared at the Route 66 Christmas ornament that hung from the rearview mirror. This...
Dec 18, 20201 minChristmas SurpriseGentle snow fell as Emma and Travis bundled into their red VW bus and set out for home. Emma shook the snow from her hat and grinned at...
Nov 20, 20201 minThe Ghost Cousin of ChristineIn her dream, Madison fled up the forest game trail to escape her vindictive zombie boyfriend. When the chrome bumper and rusted hood of...