Fiction from Dawn Tasaka Steffler
Photo: Pexels So Tightly Wound Roland and I have been arguing the whole way to Coachella: I hate camping, it’s too hot, we can’t afford this. But I never actually said no. When we arrive, some band’s bass is making the air jump. We find his friends in the car camping area, getting drunk under […]
Fiction from Pia Quintano
Photo: Austin Human Monster Men from Outer Space The monster men came from outer space, their sideburns fizzing as they burned through the atmosphere, space dust beading up on their brows. They landed right in the crotch of the country and traveled inward through all the women who stood like trees with parted roots on […]
Fiction from YJ Jun
Photo: Lluis Bazan TrueCompanion When I unpackaged my mother I tried not to notice she was naked. I’d selected the option to have her fully clothed upon arrival. If I hadn’t already returned a doll to TrueCompanion I would’ve asked for an exchange. I took her by the hand and lifted her up. She rose […]
Fiction from Andrew Bertaina
Photo: Lucas George Wendt In Amalfi after Jack Gilbert Mother used to tell us that if a bird fell from the nest, it was best to let it go. That the drama had already ended. After we parted, everyone said we were always wrong for each other, that the affair was doomed from the beginning. […]
Fiction from Kim Magowan
Photo: Viktor Forgacs The Last Faculty Meeting The last full faculty meeting of the semester was held a mere two days after Commencement—two days since they had been sweating in their heavy regalia, thirsty and bored. The silver lining was that the meeting had been moved from in-person to Zoom. The rumor was the college […]
Fiction from Sudha Balagopal
Photo: Justine Camacho We Have Little Time Left I should have listened to the doctors who said I can converse with you, even if you aren’t able to respond. I should have caressed your hands, your papery skin. I should have kissed your palms instead of withdrawing and submerging into worry after your stroke. Never […]
Fiction from Jeffrey Hermann
Photo: József Szabó How to Be Soft in a Hard World Imagine aliens on an alien plant. Now imagine them with broken hearts. Now imagine a new shape for a heart. Find someone with a terrible tattoo and tell them you love them for it. Tell them it’s forever. Take pride in lifting something heavy […]
Fiction from Frances Gapper
Photo: Tuva Mathilde Løland Stepmother Is neurotic / very highly strung. Stepdaughter, I trust you not to murder me. But in my experience bad dreams often come true. Fact: I just want her to eat you know something. Garden strawberries probably ok. But make sure they’re clean she says. Soak for at least 15 minutes […]
Fiction from Elena Zhang
Photo: Pranjall Kumar Once, a Long Time Ago We leave home and fall asleep in apple orchards. We sink teeth into red skin and white flesh, and we learn about carnal sins, awakening lust and licking mirrors with our reflection pooled on the surface. We invite wolves into our beating hearts and consume our ancestors. […]
Fiction from Avalon Felice Lee
Photo: Maddy Baker The Chilla Before gloving up, Ellen strokes the fur shawl on the mannequin. It’s chinchilla, brown, so soft it feels abstract, like the idea of a thing rather than the thing itself. Bora peeks around Ellen’s thigh, fidgeting with her apron string. “Was the chilla killed, Mama?” she wonders, her voice littler […]
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