Sarah G. follows her lover’s funeral procession at a respectful distance, toward the waiting grave. Snugs her frayed coat collar along her throat.
His fancy woman, they called her. His bit on the side.
She studies his wife’s impassive face, dry empty eyes.
Her grieving heart throbs against her ribs.
Gary Thomson prefers celebration of life gatherings, their conviviality, storytelling, bonhomie, over formalized funeral ceremonies.
One.
Tom was surprised by your skin color when you came out, but that never affected his steadfast love for you. You were always his.
Two.
Grandma held a two-year vigil in the cemetery while waiting for the bell above your grave to ring. Next time we’re going with cremation.
Robert Carlberg is a retired technical writer and magazine columnist.
He tickles her, making her squirm.
My brave daughter shouts, “No!”
If he doesn’t stop, she’ll kick him hard— right where it hurts. I taught her that no means no. I taught her to fight. But I’ll never tell her my secret. That if I’d defended myself, she wouldn’t exist.
Fiona H Evans is a retired mathematician. She lives on Noongar Boodja in Perth Western Australia and is hoping to publish her first novel this year. You can read more of her writing at fionahevans.com.
He had experienced moments of pure joy mixed with frustration, and he’d sung all the songs of satisfaction. He had discovered that discipline was love in its purest form. He had witnessed breathtaking sunsets and star-filled heavens on a clear night. But he would never learn to whistle a Symphony.
Jim Freeze is seventy-three years old, retired, and widowed. He was happily married for fifty-four years and has two grown sons. He began writing in early 2012 to have something to do. His short stories have been featured in many publications including Brilliant Flash Fiction, Calliope Magazine, The Original Writer, and Literally Stories.
He had experienced moments of pure joy mixed with frustration and sung all the songs of satisfaction. He had discovered that discipline was love in its purest form. He had witnessed breathtaking sunsets and surveyed star-filled heavens on a clear night.
But he would never learn to whistle a symphony.
Jim Freeze is 69 years old and retired.