She would’ve been born in June if I’d done more. I’m just saying she. That feels right to me, her father. This stop light, a street corner, anywhere really, I hold her to me, mentally. For her birthday I send checks to shelters like that’s something. Like gifts.

Michael Gigandet is a retired lawyer in Tennessee. His stories have appeared in Bending Genres, Quarencia Press, Great Weather for Media, Palm Sized Press, Pure Slush and The Hong Kong Literary Journal. His published stories are available at michaelgigandet.com. He administers a music page on Twitter/X at @motobec810.