Tag Archives: coping

DAVID McTIGUE: Rage

Amusing, Submissions, , , ,

Raymond shifted uncomfortably in his armchair as Suzanne raged at him.

“I don’t know why I bother here. I asked you to do one thing, and you forgot. You’re pathetic!”

She left the room, slamming the door.

Raymond shifted uncomfortably in his armchair and switched his hearing aid back on.

David McTigue lives in Liverpool UK, and enjoys reading, crosswords, music, concert going, cooking, and of course writing. Several of his short stories, poems, and crosswords have been published in various magazines and anthologies.

KIM FAVORS: The Illusive Garden

Artistic, Submissions, , , , ,

Exposed to light, the misunderstood memories skitter away like startled insects. Slowly, I clear more rocks from the landscape of my childhood.

When I find the courage to pull weeds, I might replace them with roses: Their beauty comes with thorns. Or perhaps cacti, which can survive neglect, even abuse.

Kim Favors worked as a newspaper journalist. She grows her literary garden on California’s Central Coast.

DANIEL ROGERS: Stabilisers

Artistic, Submissions, , , ,

It’s Eric’s first time on two wheels. Mary watches him through the kitchen window as he pedals faster and faster, becoming a blur.

The walls start to close in again and she reaches into a drawer for her little bottle of pills. One day, she hopes, she won’t need them.

Daniel has always loved the stabilising influence of words.

MICHAEL A YARRANTON: Rain

Artistic, Submissions, , ,

I love “people-watching” on rainy afternoons.

Some of them walk with a run, their collars up, heads in shoulders, hands in pockets, then they scatter into doorways and bus shelters.

Some look up into the falling drops with outstretched hands.

Some open their umbrellas and just get on with life.

Over the last few years, Michael has completed a YA psychological thriller and a couple of children’s (animal and toy protagonists) chapter books. He is currently working on a 1930s-themed sci-fi. Michael is living with heart failure, but confesses: “I love writing!”

LINDA IRISH: Still Breathing

Artistic, Submissions, Top Stories, Touching, ,

He thought he heard Marion in the house, her rusty rattle-breath.

He checked her recliner (re-plumping cushions), the tidy side of their bed (still indented), the bathroom floor (heaven forbid).

Finally he rang through to Ward 6, pressed her discordant song to his ear. Danced it from room to room.

Linda Irish wrote this story.

JOHN FOWLER: Grief

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , ,

We gathered in small, always changing groups.

Strangers, family, and friends.

Uncounted words filled the room with copies of the same conversation.

Regrets mingled with the pebbles of ordinary life, to gave rise to our victory cry. Hand-in-hand, we proclaimed, “Life still goes on.”

Thus we denied death his victory.

John Fowler served twenty years in the US Air Force before retiring
and starting a second career in the IT field. He is also a Lay Pastor
serving a small church near his home in Texas. His hobbies include
reading, golfing, writing, and now oil painting.

JOHN FOWLER: Grief

Artistic, Submissions, Touching, , , ,

Grief, heavy like sticky syrup poured over pancakes, filled the room.

It coated the mourners, making it hard to move. Hard to speak. Hard to breathe.

I hardly knew him, but stopped to offer my condolences.

To hug and be hugged, as we remembered the days of this stranger’s life.

John Fowler served twenty years in the US Air Force before retiring and starting a second career in the IT field. He is also a Lay Pastor serving a small church near his home in Texas. His hobbies include reading, golfing, writing, and now oil painting.

MYRON A TETREAULT: That Sinking Feeling

Artistic, Submissions, , , , , ,

She appreciated, more than ever, the smell of her coffee and the sunlight reflecting off her back porch. The weather was unfairly perfect. Soon enough, the kids would know. But, for now, she let her smile hide the hopeless, sinking feeling welling up in her gut.

The cancer was back.

Myron Tetreault is a Calgary-based businessman, athlete and author.

DEBRA PASCARELLA: Carry On

Submissions, Top Stories, Touching, , ,

Despite how tumultuous our relationship was
my expectations of her were the broken promises I made to myself.
Yet gone forever, I often find myself wishing
for just one more angry phone call, one more harsh word
because in the end one of us would always say I Love You.

Debra Pascarella wrote this story.

AMBER D TRAN: Flora Highway

Submissions, Touching, , , , , ,

I brought her some West Virginian wildflowers fresh from the Star City exit on I-79.

She cradled them like an infant wrapped in burlap. The little bluets danced along the dewy glow of her paling face. “What should we name them?”

“Honey …” She wanted to name everything.

Ever since.

Amber D. Tran graduated from West Virginia University in 2012, where she specialized in lyrical non-fiction and contemporary poetry. She currently lives in Alabama with her husband and miniature dachshund. Her first novel, Moon River, will be released this fall.