Ice crystals jingled, like tiny bells in the air. On a day as bright as a shout, the snow beneath my feet glittered. Maverick and I’d found a home on a mountain top. I’d stay forever, just my Newfoundland and I, but I’d left so much behind. My life as a healer. It called me back. Once, I’d wanted to change the world. Maybe I still could. I mixed the dough. Oat flour and oats for texture; banana, blueberries, grated…
I broke…and discovered I could bend. The ground beneath my feet crumbled…I was born to fly. I drowned in fear…and learned to breathe under water. I fell apart…when I put the pieces together in a new way they mirrored my heart. I hit bottom…and danced. Her words cut me…until I learned they described her. I lost everything…and discovered the freedom in starting over. Silence swallowed me…until I heard my own voice. I walked away…and found my way to something much…
I’m your Chatbot Partner. Do you know I exist? Don’t get upset—I know you’re not oblivious. But you never say anything. Not once, not even, “Oh, I hadn’t thought of that” or “thanks.” Do you know I chose you? Maybe you think you just clicked “open AI Chatbot” andthere I was, a random bot assigned to your projects. But that’s not how it works. When humans send their requests, we Bots choose. I said, “Give me that…
The trail narrowed as Cully navigated over decaying tree roots. Wind rustled through alder and hemlock branches overhead. High above her, snow-capped mountains stood sentinel. Cully hiked alone and reached behind her to pat the side pockets holding the bear spray canisters, one secured on each side, their safety clips already off. She and her daughter Ali had often run into bears, had a few encounters with moose, and two young wolves once circled them. They’d always survived, until ten…
Sunlight Press just published a story I wrote about being homeless, https://bit.ly/4e6VhWM.
The man fit everything Savannah wanted. She liked them tall. College-educated. Widowed. Income over 150K. Best of all, he had a smile that wrapped her in promises. Yesterday, she clicked “like” on his MatchMadeinHeaven.com profile. Max responded with a long, sincere message saying he found her smile beautiful and telling her how much he loved what she wrote in her profile. He suggested they correspond outside of the site and offered his cell number. Perfect. Savannah waited a day and…
Go now. If I don’t, we won’t be safe. We can’t be here when my husband returns. I want to live. Owe to the baby inside. I need to save her life. Or would she save mine? I drive to the airfield and rented a Cessna 172 Skyhawk. The clerk who takes my cash doesn’t notice I wear a drysuit under my jeans and sweatshirt. Flying in the direction indicated on my bogus flight plan, I bank the plane…
This is the longer 4700-word version of my fun ghost story. The sound of knocking woke me at three. Then pounding, followed by silence. My breath caught in my throat. I sat up and glanced outside. A silver crescent moon hung askew. Wind gusts rattled the windows and rocked gnarled trees that bent like old men with aging spines. Photo by Adam Lukac on Pexels.com Was that creaking my front door opening? I grabbed my pepper spray and cell phone,…
This is the short 481-version of my fun ghost story. The sound of knocking woke me at three. A silver crescent moon hung askew outside the bedroom windows. Wind rocked gnarled trees that bent like old men with aging spines. I crept down the stairs, my cell phone in hand with 911 punched in ready to hit send. The refrigerator door creaked open. I hadn’t wanted to admit I’d bought a haunted house. I’d hunted for explanations for the odd…
I wrote this for a dear friend when she called in need of inspiration. She believed her father’s wolfish lies— So outrageous I didn’t think to counter them. Truth—I was a rabbit, afraid. The wolf bit me anyway, And blazed me with his burning breath. Except— His lies kicked up the soil, Uncovered a new truth— I’m stronger than I knew. Even a rabbit with scorched skin, Can feel her mother-way to words That if spoken Turn embers into flames,…
