By: Alan Swyer Four days after their mother’s funeral, Richie Kalt and his sister Bonnie strong-armed their father into joining them for dinner at his favorite neighborhood Italian place. There were a few awkward attempts at chit-chat while the three of…

By: M.A. Lang Brainard Freeson slowly and methodically put away his tools. He glanced over at the small girl who sat on her bed, quietly sobbing. He snapped the case shut and left the room. The young girl’s mother sat…

By: Gary Van Haas Strange eerie rumblings began underground at CERN laboratory near Geneva on the Franco-Swiss border. The gargantuan particle accelerator whined ominously in a low grinding pitch. The device was used for boosting particle beams, turning them into high energy…

By: Jean Lagacé Gulfport, Mississippi. 1990 Lyn (short for Pralina) was not herself that morning. She had forgotten to bring him jam with his toast and never came back to refill his cup with fresh coffee after he had finished his breakfast….

By: Alan Berger He first got the news while painting his last painting. He was born in America but left for good, or bad, for Paris and never planned to go back, unless as an artistic hero. Nothing less will…

By: Matthew Roy Davey You pull in and let the engine idle for a minute before you switch it off. The hand that turns the key is trembling. You are early. You buy a coffee in a building that is the…

By: Demond J Blake   There are several universal truths for folks in their twenties, but the main one that stands out for me is roommates. You’re going to love them but mostly you’ll end up hating them but it’s something…

By: Christina Berchini Every weekend for the last year echoed with the guidance counselor’s useless advice, and reminders that I do not really have any friends. To make matters worse, Sunday mornings were now occupied by church pews that I’d rather…

By: Jennifer Benningfield Fourteen months, and still Donita had not experienced a night of uninterrupted sleep. The first nine of those months could be simply–perhaps rightly–attributed to the fetus developing inside of her body. Adapting to life in a new…

By Andrew Pence “Where are you going?” Carl asked, knowing the answer. “Out,” Emily answered without elaboration, putting the finishing touches on her makeup. “Again, Christ. That’s three times this week and it ain’t even Friday.” “So? You can go…